Leather chair repair - Stretching old leather

[dad911]

I have 6 of these chairs. 3 have grommets where the springs attach, I can only assume they were a newer batch. These 3 are fine.

2 of them most of the springs in the front have slit the leather, and 1 (see pic) I want to fix now before it fails.

I bought a grommet kit from Amazon, but I need another 1/2" to get it where it was for the existing springs to work.

Possible? Of just follow my gut, install the grommets and use zip ties.....





I was going to put grommets in between the existing holes. Is there a better way to strengthen it and re-attach the springs?

[Bill Douglas]

I get some nylon beading (I don't know the proper word for it) and get it sewn onto the inside of my jeans waist so they don't endlessly stretch and fall down. I think the same stuff hand sewn along the edge would spread the load of the springs or zip ties so it doesn't tear. It's just woven nylon stuff about 25mm wide and 1mm thick.

[Por_sha911]

My experience has been that stretching old leather (if it is dry) is a fools errand. The best you can do is keep it from stretching any further.
Grommets and springs seems best to me. The springs will have a little give when someone plops down on the chair and the grommets will protect from having the leather tear.

[herr_oberst]

I'm most likely misunderstanding the issue, but if it were me,

Install the grommets. Use the zip ties to cinch it tight, a little at a time along the width of the chair, install the springs next to the zip ties, and then cut the zip ties off.

[911 Rod]

I would sandwich the leather where the holes are with strips of plastic. Maybe glue or rivet the plastic. Then drill holes for the springs.
You didn't say it had to look nice.

[nota]

thick leather strip is the old fashion way to reinforce that
and if not done it will tear even with grommets
you can use heavy canvas or plastic or wood or metal
may not need the grommets but they can hold the layers together
if sewing a sailors palm and curved needles help
normal thimble and strait needles will work
as does a perfing wheel https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=perfing+wheel
to get even strait stitches

glue or rivets will work also

[dad911]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I would sandwich the leather where the holes are with strips of plastic. Maybe glue or rivet the plastic. Then drill holes for the springs.
You didn't say it had to look nice.

Good points. It doesn't have to look nice. Nobody is going to lay on the floor and look up. I just don't want to revisit this.

Maybe 2 strips of aluminum.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by nota

thick leather strip is the old fashion way to reinforce that
and if not done it will tear even with grommets
you can use heavy canvas or plastic or wood or metal
may not need the grommets but they can hold the layers together
if sewing a sailors palm and curved needles help
normal thimble and strait needles will work
as does a perfing wheel https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=perfing+wheel
to get even strait stitches

glue or rivets will work also

If I could sew I'd fold it over and sew a bar into the damaged area, then put the springs between the two bars.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by dad911

if i could sew i'd fold it over and sew a round rod into the damaged area, then put the springs between the two bars.

f i f y

[stevej37]

Don't forget the Hog Rings and Pliers.

[stevej37]

take it to an upholsterer.

[stevej37]

Those springs in the OP will not hold in the leather.