Which is why I suggested stripping it himself, so nothing got damaged. I'm sure YOU could make it work with minimal disassembly, but I'm not sure I'd trust some guy at a muffler shop to not hurt anything.

I had a very similar problem with the drivers seat in my e36. I pulled out the seat and unbolted the seat back. I used pliers to removes the staples/clips holding on the leather to get to the broken bit. This took ~30 minutes.

The welding took about 2 minutes. Drill a hole in the area for more surface area and cut a piece of extra stock to weld in for support. Use a welding blanket or at least some wood or thick gloves to protect the padding, that's the hardest part. The last thing you want to screw up the seat material with a stray spark.

If you take the seat to a shop ready to go, I bet a 12 pack and a $20 will get it done.

Step 1: http://yp.yahoo.com/
Step 2: Click the "Location" link, Type your address, city/state/zip and click "continue"
Step 3: In the "your search" field, type "welding" and click the "Search" button.

Where would I go to get something welded?

My garage.

I'm certainly no welding expert, but I've been learning. It's not that difficult. Probably one of those things that "takes a day to learn but a lifetime to master". I definitely wouldn't trust my own welding for precision/high-strength structural applications or anything like that, but for everyday, run-of-the-mill stuff? Sure. Why pay someone else to do something you can do yourself? Plus you get to learn a skill and improve it.

Trust me- if I had a garage, this would be much easier. My seat is currently in the middle of our apartment's kitchen.

You can still get a 110V Lincoln or Miller MIG welder for about $6-700.
Makes more economic sense long term than paying someone a hundred bucks each time(and is a great party conversation starter to boot).
That, a vice, and a drill will give you the ability to shape and rearrainge metal. Metal!

Storage might be an issue though. Mabye a local "services wanted" ad on Craigslist or the phone book?

Frankly, I don't think much of the 'welding' I see at most muffler shops. I certainly would not go to a franchised Mieneke type of shop unless you really want to get hosed. A local college will have some welding students and one could take the seat in for a project. The bonus here is that the instructor will supervise the weld.

There are a number of independents such as Tim and myself. Be patient. Someone here close to you will surface. Do understand that your seat frames have probably been heat treated and any welding will not be as strong as the original.

Can you substitute a mechanical fastener like bolts, screws or rivets?

Go to a local Harbor Freight (or on Craigslist) and pick up a cheap stick or wire-fed welder for <$200 and do it yourself. Practice on some scrap metal. This repair isn't rocket science with exotic materials!

Nothing that I would care to trust my life on would be welded by a muffler shop.

Go to a pro welder for a seat.

The 2001 seats I have in the truck have the seatbelt receiver as part of the seat frame. The seat, when bolted to the unibody, is a structural part of the seat belt system.

if the break is anywhere near the receiver location, have a professional weld it. I still think nice later seats are a better option though.

The break isn't in an area I would deem important to structural safety. Its where the bottom side bolster attaches to the base. Its just an annoyance really, and I can't stomach driving around when something I touch every day is broken. If it was out of sight, perhaps I could put it out of mind. I'm going to pull the upholstry out of the area tonight and go around town tomorrow and find someone to do it.

THEN--- I need to figure out why the vertical adjuster isn't working.

You're in Miami... I got an idea.


Take it by these guy's shop (they are the closest):

http://owlsracing.fau.edu/

They'll have some kids who can weld and a MIG or TIG, tell them you'll donate $20 to their team if they can weld it back together.

And tell them Missouri sent you.

In addition to the machine shop and transportation department at work, I'm in charge of the weld shop.
8 full time welders and 3 contractors, these guys can write their names on a beer can and not leave a ripple.

No welder recommendation
 

I finally got a great exhaust system put together for my 1987 Carrera (3.6L transplant). The headers are hand fabricated S-Car-Go units but have no heater boxes. I would like to have someone weld up some heater boxes. They must look great!!!! I have read similar posts. I am not interested in going to some local Meineke Muffler Shop. I want someone who is familiar with these cars and their unusual exhaust/heater systems. I would consider shipping the headers for the right person.

Thanks mark masotto
Irvine, CA 92603

check my reply in your other thread.