Filed under: upholstery fabric
Question:
Patti Wrote : Thanks to all who gave suggestions on where to find a cat fabric for my mom! I still haven’t found one, but I am still looking. I am having my sister look in North Carolina also. I hope to have some by christmas.
"snip" Hi, I’m new here, this is my first post! My house and I are owned by a 9 y/o tuxedo named Casey. I receive a catalod and have ordered fabrics from Hancocks of Paducah, they do have some nice cat fabric, here’s the link http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/shopsmart/search.cgi Pat
Response:
Hi, I’m new here, this is my first post! My house and I are owned by a 9 y/o tuxedo named Casey. I receive a catalod and have ordered fabrics from Hancocks of Paducah, they do have some nice cat fabric, here’s the link http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/shopsmart/search.cgi Pat
Ooh, ooh, another fabric fan in here. Thanks for the URL, I’m checking it out between posts. BTW welcome to the group. Nice people are very welcome here. Pam S. who is usually a nice person
Response:
Thanks to all who gave suggestions on where to find a cat fabric for my mom! I still haven’t found one, but I am still looking. I am having my sister look in North Carolina also. I hope to have some by christmas. Somebody here wanted fabrics to use to make cat beds for shelter cats – I can’t recall who it is right now. My company just did some fabric updating on one of the lines, so I grabbed the discontinueds, and want to offer them to that person. Most of these are heavy upholstery fabrics. PlJust let me know if you still want them! Patti
That would be Sherry. I’d like them, but I still have projects from years ago stacked up and wouldn’t be able to get around to it for a long time. Sherry at least does the projects she plans on. I still have the fabric for those kitty tents stacked in my closet. Pam S. procrastinating as usual
Response:
Hi, I’m new here, this is my first post! My house and I are owned by a 9 y/o tuxedo named Casey. Pat
Welcome Pat! It’s always nice to see a new face. I’m looking forward to hearing about you and Casey. Regards and Purrs, O J
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -use to make cat beds for shelter cats – I can’t recall who it is right now. My company just did some fabric updating on one of the lines, so I grabbed the discontinueds, and want to offer them to that person. Most of these are heavy upholstery fabrics. PlJust let me know if you still want them! Patti That would be Sherry. I’d like them, but I still have projects from years ago stacked up and wouldn’t be able to get around to it for a long time. Sherry at least does the projects she plans on. I still have the fabric for those kitty tents stacked in my closet. Pam S. procrastinating as usual
Yes! Thanks, Pam. I sent Mishi an e-mail, let me know if you didn’t get it. Yeah, Pam, don’t give me too much credit. I have enough projects to last 2 years stacked around here. It’s not that I don’t have time. I just haven’t been in the mood. Maybe when it turns cold! Sherry
Response:
Yes! Thanks, Pam. I sent Mishi an e-mail, let me know if you didn’t get it. Yeah, Pam, don’t give me too much credit. I have enough projects to last 2 years stacked around here. It’s not that I don’t have time. I just haven’t been in the mood. Maybe when it turns cold! Sherry
I keep telling myself that same thing. Meanwhile, Rob has a fit every time I even talk about fabric, craft stores, or projects. Talk about sour grapes…. Pam S.
Response:
I keep telling myself that same thing. Meanwhile, Rob has a fit every time I even talk about fabric, craft stores, or projects. Talk about sour grapes…. Pam S.
That’s the coolest part about when the kids move out. You can seize their rooms for your projects. Sherry
Response:
Hi, I’m new here, this is my first post! My house and I are owned by a 9 y/o tuxedo named Casey. I receive a catalod and have ordered fabrics from Hancocks of Paducah, they do have some nice cat fabric, here’s the link http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/shopsmart/search.cgi Pat
Hi Pat, welcome to the group. — Adrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat.
Response:
I keep telling myself that same thing. Meanwhile, Rob has a fit every time I even talk about fabric, craft stores, or projects. Talk about sour grapes…. Pam S. That’s the coolest part about when the kids move out. You can seize their rooms for your projects.
That’s if Rob doesn’t go ahead with is current "plan" of wanting to travel the USA in an RV. Sometimes I’m ok with it, others I’m not. Pam S.
Response:
Hi, I’m new here, this is my first post! My house and I are owned by a 9 y/o tuxedo named Casey. I receive a catalod and have ordered fabrics from Hancocks of Paducah, they do have some nice cat fabric, here’s the link http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/shopsmart/search.cgi Pat
Welcome to the group! I look forward to reading about your Casey; I live in south Georgia and am owned at home by longhaired black Tallulah and her six week old tabby kitten, Hubert; at the office I am enslaved by orange Ozzy and tabby Tiger. I’m not going to check out your link, as I’d *much* rather play on the computer than do something constructive like sewing. ;-) —— Krista
Response:
Thanks to all who gave suggestions on where to find a cat fabric for my mom! I still haven’t found one, but I am still looking. I am having my sister look in North Carolina also. I hope to have some by christmas. Somebody here wanted fabrics to use to make cat beds for shelter cats – I can’t recall who it is right now. My company just did some fabric updating on one of the lines, so I grabbed the discontinueds, and want to offer them to that person. Most of these are heavy upholstery fabrics. PlJust let me know if you still want them! Patti
Response:
Thanks to all who gave suggestions on where to find a cat fabric for my mom! I still haven’t found one, but I am still looking. I am having my sister look in North Carolina also. I hope to have some by christmas. Somebody here wanted fabrics to use to make cat beds for shelter cats – I can’t recall who it is right now. My company just did some fabric updating on one of the lines, so I grabbed the discontinueds, and want to offer them to that person. Most of these are heavy upholstery fabrics. PlJust let me know if you still want them! Patti
I saw some really cute cat plush fabric at our local Wal-mart last week so you might check at your Wal-mart again. — Nan and the furkids A wise man talks because he has something to say; a fool talks because he has to say something.
Response:
Question:
Two of our cats never scratched the the leather furniture, but when Fluffy moved in she went right to the sofa and it became her scratching pad, We always stopped her when we caught her, but the damage was already done. I found if I keep a cardboard scratching board well charged with catnip she will use it and leave the sofa alone. I’m not too upset about the sofa anyway. It’s a cheap IKEA creation. We had it about two years and my fat butt has already broken down the padding and I sink in too far. Fluffy just added an extra excuse to get a new one.
Response:
We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do?
Thanks to everyone for the answers so far. Thin, tight leather seems to be a no-no. — David Cowie david_cowie at lineone dot net Containment Failure + 3987:19
Response:
We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do?
Having never had leather furniture, I don’t have any personal experience. That said, my three can wear out a siscal rope scratch post in six months. At one point, they started to scratch the corner of my fabric couch, but stopped when I put a scratch post right next to where they were had been scratching. — Steve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html
Response:
What is feliway? when Wilson started scratching mynew fabric chair, I got some clear contact and covered the parts he liked to scratch, mainly the front , which goes down to the floor and the front of the arms it was all I could think of to do. Jean.P.
Feliway is aproduct that we don’t seem to be able to get easily in Australia. It is a mimic of "happy cat" pheremones that a cat produces fromt heir cheeks (and their paws) and it seems to settle a nervous or anxious cat. From what I re here, its great whilst introducing a new cat into an already occupied household, and helps with all sorts of anxious behavious such as spraying, nervous over-grooming and "marking" furniture by scratching. It is available in Australia, bit AFAIK, it has to be imported, is hideously expensive, and only some vets bother to get it. But I have seen Bach Flower’s "Rescue Remedy" around, which is supposed to help as well. Yowie
Response:
I don’t know if your cat will use the leather sofa as a scratching post. We had a wonderful leather sectional and Vino never once scratched it. Now we have a leather couch and 2 chairs and he leaves them alone too. He does however scratch on fabric furniture. We will therefore continue to have leather couches. Much better with Vino. Your cat may be different though. — Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that’s covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do? — David Cowie david_cowie at lineone dot net Containment Failure + 3962:45
Response:
Thanks Yowie, nice to hear from you went out shopping today hey hey. Jean.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is feliway? when Wilson started scratching mynew fabric chair, I got some clear contact and covered the parts he liked to scratch, mainly the front , which goes down to the floor and the front of the arms it was all I could think of to do. Jean.P. Feliway is aproduct that we don’t seem to be able to get easily in Australia. It is a mimic of "happy cat" pheremones that a cat produces fromt heir cheeks (and their paws) and it seems to settle a nervous or anxious cat. From what I re here, its great whilst introducing a new cat into an already occupied household, and helps with all sorts of anxious behavious such as spraying, nervous over-grooming and "marking" furniture by scratching. It is available in Australia, bit AFAIK, it has to be imported, is hideously expensive, and only some vets bother to get it. But I have seen Bach Flower’s "Rescue Remedy" around, which is supposed to help as well. Yowie
Response:
I had leather furniture before Maya arrived to boss the place around and it was something I worried about. She doesn’t like leather at all. She will walk across it but never lay on it or scratch it. Bruiser seems to be the same way. Some cats like leather and some don’t. I got lucky.
You certainly did! Melisande isn’t QUITE as bad as Patches was – he dedicated himself to finding every unscratched inch, and remedying the oversight.
Response:
Mary, the first poster to this thread, has the right idea, I think. Our large couch is thick, distressed, loosely-upholstered saddle leather…I keep the girls’ claws closely clipped; Rowdy doesn’t have any; once in awhile Maluce will have a go at an exposed corner, but unlike some fabric furniture, she barely makes a scratch on it. I also keep large woven throws all over arms and sides, and back is uptight w/wall. I shudder to imagine what the girls could do to these thinner, shiny, slick colored leathers displayed in all furniture ads lately…….maybe the saddle leather smells more like a cow, I dunno, they don’t mess with it much.
: I don’t know if your cat will use the leather sofa as a scratching post. We : had a wonderful leather sectional and Vino never once scratched it. Now we : have a leather couch and 2 chairs and he leaves them alone too. He does : however scratch on fabric furniture. We will therefore continue to have : leather couches. Much better with Vino. Your cat may be different though. : — : Britta : Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that’s covered : in fur! : Check out pictures of Vino at: : http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album : : : : We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get : leather. : If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could : she do? : : — : David Cowie david_cowie at lineone dot net : : Containment Failure + 3962:45 : : :
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We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do?
Think leather covered with pin-pricks! Unlike fabric, every single puncture shows! (Even if you can’t see them all, you can certainly feel them when you run your hand over the surface.) I got leather furniture because someone told me cats don’t like the feel of leather on their claws. (WRONG!!!) Personally, I think there’s a lot to be said for old-fashioned plush upholstery (if you can still find it). It doesn’t show claw damage any worse than any other fabric, and the shed fur lies on top of the plush, where it’s easily brushed off. (Instead of weaving itself into the fabric so that couches and chairs soon look like dirty angora sweaters.)
Response:
Put double sided tape on all corners of your couch. Bad idea! I did that – something called "Sticky Paws". When I tried to remove it (it quickly lost its "stickyness" due to the layers of shed fur adhering to it) the finished layer of the leather came with the tape. I learned the hard way that leather furniture is just one of those luxuries a household with cats should reconsider.
Response:
We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, they don’t. Cat’s don’t like working out on leather. They’d rather claw the carpeting.
Depends on the cats, apparently – mine will choose my nice leather chairs over the ratty carpet or their plentiful scratching posts and mats, any day of the week!
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It isn’t that they don’t scratch leather or that it doesn’t leave marks. It is just that leather hold up to the damage without looking ratty so much better than say a nice tweed. Our cats have destroyed three regular sofa’s in the last 16 years. The leather set we bought for the family room 16 years ago does have "pin holes" in the arms but is still serviceable. Jo
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do? — David Cowie david_cowie at lineone dot net Containment Failure + 3962:45
Response:
We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post,
they don’t. Cat’s don’t like working out on leather. They’d rather claw the carpeting. how much damage could she do?
The damage is in the form of pinholes from kitty jumping to/from the couch.
Response:
I had leather furniture before Maya arrived to boss the place around and it was something I worried about. She doesn’t like leather at all. She will walk across it but never lay on it or scratch it. Bruiser seems to be the same way. Some cats like leather and some don’t. I got lucky. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It isn’t that they don’t scratch leather or that it doesn’t leave marks. It is just that leather hold up to the damage without looking ratty so much better than say a nice tweed. Our cats have destroyed three regular sofa’s in the last 16 years. The leather set we bought for the family room 16 years ago does have "pin holes" in the arms but is still serviceable. Jo We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do? — David Cowie david_cowie at lineone dot net Containment Failure + 3962:45
Response:
We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do?
Oliver has scratched our leather but didn’t puncture it. Eventually the scratches darkened up and you can’t tell where they are (the sofa is navy leather). He doesn’t scartch anymore. We used Feliway on the leather and it stopped him in his tracks. If you apply it too heavily you might get a white residue on the leather but it wipes right off. Interestingly, we no longer have to feliway the leather but we do have to re apply it to the only piece of fabric furiture we have left. I LOVE my leather and I don’t think I will ever go back to fabric. — Margaret Fine
Response:
What is feliway? when Wilson started scratching mynew fabric chair, I got some clear contact and covered the parts he liked to scratch, mainly the front , which goes down to the floor and the front of the arms it was all I could think of to do. Jean.P.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do? Oliver has scratched our leather but didn’t puncture it. Eventually the scratches darkened up and you can’t tell where they are (the sofa is navy leather). He doesn’t scartch anymore. We used Feliway on the leather and it stopped him in his tracks. If you apply it too heavily you might get a white residue on the leather but it wipes right off. Interestingly, we no longer have to feliway the leather but we do have to re apply it to the only piece of fabric furiture we have left. I LOVE my leather and I don’t think I will ever go back to fabric. — Margaret Fine
Response:
We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do? — David Cowie david_cowie at lineone dot net Containment Failure + 3962:45
Response:
We’re going to get a new 3-piece suite. If the price is right, we may get leather. If the cat uses a leather sofa as a scratching post, how much damage could she do?
One, make sure you get thick, distressed, loose leather. Don’t get tightly upholstered thin perfect leather or their claws can go straight through it just walking on it or jumping off. Two, put a cat tree in the living room. Rub catnip all over it. Put double sided tape on all corners of your couch. Do not let your cat in the room with the sofa unsupervised initially. While you watch her, if she starts to try and scratch it, take her and place her on the cat tree. Reward her with treats and praise when she uses the tree. I have a thick distressed baggy leather sofa and my cat sits on it and does no damage. I had a thin tight perfect leather sofa which was totally in 15 minutes by my old cat just walking on it. You can also trim your cats claws every 7-10 days. I put a cat mat on the couch so my kitty has her own place to sit.
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Question:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
speaking as a commercial carpenter who comes home filthy every day, yes, scotchguard works. In my case, I still keep a blanket over my 2001 Taco’s seat… The truck’s interior stil looks new but for the mats, and steam cleaners fix that.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective. Make sure you get the reformulated version. It may not be as deadly as the original version: "perfluorooctane sulfonate" (cancer, exema, liver damage, birth defects, brain damage, etc.)
I think I’ll deal with dirty upholstery.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
Make sure you get the reformulated version. It may not be as deadly as the original version: "perfluorooctane sulfonate" (cancer, exema, liver damage, birth defects, brain damage, etc.)
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
It does work, better on some stains than others. As to reapplying, Read The Instructions on the can… But remember it works just as well if you buy a can of Scotchguard at the market for $10 and Do It Yourself as it does when you pay the dealer $200 for the "Upholstery Protection Package" and the lot porter grabs a can and sprays it on for you. ;-) –<< Bruce — — Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA – Desktop Electrician for Westend Electric – CA726700 5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545 Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
It does work, better on some stains than others. As to reapplying, Read The Instructions on the can… But remember it works just as well if you buy a can of Scotchguard at the market for $10 and Do It Yourself as it does when you pay the dealer $200 for the "Upholstery Protection Package" and the lot porter grabs a can and sprays it on for you. ;-) –<< Bruce — — Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA – Desktop Electrician for Westend Electric – CA726700 5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545 Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
Make sure you get the reformulated version. It may not be as deadly as the original version: "perfluorooctane sulfonate" (cancer, exema, liver damage, birth defects, brain damage, etc.)
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective. Make sure you get the reformulated version. It may not be as deadly as the original version: "perfluorooctane sulfonate" (cancer, exema, liver damage, birth defects, brain damage, etc.)
I think I’ll deal with dirty upholstery.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
speaking as a commercial carpenter who comes home filthy every day, yes, scotchguard works. In my case, I still keep a blanket over my 2001 Taco’s seat… The truck’s interior stil looks new but for the mats, and steam cleaners fix that.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
It does work, better on some stains than others. As to reapplying, Read The Instructions on the can… But remember it works just as well if you buy a can of Scotchguard at the market for $10 and Do It Yourself as it does when you pay the dealer $200 for the "Upholstery Protection Package" and the lot porter grabs a can and sprays it on for you. ;-) –<< Bruce — — Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA – Desktop Electrician for Westend Electric – CA726700 5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545 Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
Make sure you get the reformulated version. It may not be as deadly as the original version: "perfluorooctane sulfonate" (cancer, exema, liver damage, birth defects, brain damage, etc.)
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective. Make sure you get the reformulated version. It may not be as deadly as the original version: "perfluorooctane sulfonate" (cancer, exema, liver damage, birth defects, brain damage, etc.)
I think I’ll deal with dirty upholstery.
Response:
I am thinking of getting a new car soon and would like to protect the fabric from stains. Does anyone out there use Scotchguard regularly on their auto carpet and fabric? Does it work well to make stains come out easier? How often do you need to re-apply for it to be effective.
speaking as a commercial carpenter who comes home filthy every day, yes, scotchguard works. In my case, I still keep a blanket over my 2001 Taco’s seat… The truck’s interior stil looks new but for the mats, and steam cleaners fix that.
Response:
Question:
Leather is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Go with fabric. Patrick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
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Fabric. Leather is better, but only if it is full-thickness good quality leather, which nobody seems to be putting cars these days. So it tears and wears out in 5-8 years no matter how gentle you are on it.
Response:
The leather seats my ‘94 LHS with 165,000 miles still look great.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hah! I’ve got you beat 
My 1996 T&C has 135K, and the leather is beautiful. All it needs to last for a REALLY long time is to periodically clean and condition it. Love your seats and they will return that love for many years With fabric, I’ve always had more problems than I’ve had with leather in terms of wear/damage. Don’t forget that heavenly smell…. :) Lisa Hi, My 1996 Grand Caravan has 102,000 miles, and the leather upholstery is just fine. Years ago, leather used to crack and turn brown after 2-3 years, but modern leathers are treated against this, and usually do well. Enjoy. Morton We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
Response:
says… We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
If you care for leather, keep it clean and treat it once a year, it is very, very durable. It will last longer than cloth with proper care. If you can’t take the time to take care of it, get cloth. Alex
Response:
Leather. Especially with children Ken
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
Response:
Hah! I’ve got you beat My 1996 T&C has 135K, and the leather is beautiful. All it needs to last for a REALLY long time is to periodically clean and condition it. Love your seats and they will return that love for many years
88 New Yorker Mark Cross with over 240,000Km – interior is like new. Never garaged either. I find the leather stands up better to sun than fabric. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -With fabric, I’ve always had more problems than I’ve had with leather in terms of wear/damage. Don’t forget that heavenly smell…. :) Lisa Hi, My 1996 Grand Caravan has 102,000 miles, and the leather upholstery is just fine. Years ago, leather used to crack and turn brown after 2-3 years, but modern leathers are treated against this, and usually do well. Enjoy. Morton We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
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| We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between | leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but | I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a | Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas | any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. | Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? | Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years? I have a 2004 Sebring with Leather. It looks very nice, but I personally prefer the feel of the cloth seats in my wife’s 2003 Stratus. The leather is cold at 1st in the winter and hot as hell on the buns when 1st getting into the car in the summer. Same with the leather-wrapped steering wheel…can hardly hold on to it in the summer time, yet the materials used on the wife’s Stratus steering wheel stays relatively cool to the touch, even with the sun shining on it. I probably wouldn’t get leather again. But, that is just my personal preference. As far as durability, I’ve heard that today’s leather is better…not sure how that is the case unless they’re feeding the cows something different these days. But, that’s what they say! :-)
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Haven’t kept a leather interior car more than 7 years (started buying leather with a 94 LHS) but they looked new when I sold them. Probably if I drove a big dog around I would stay away from leather.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
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We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
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Hi, My 1996 Grand Caravan has 102,000 miles, and the leather upholstery is just fine. Years ago, leather used to crack and turn brown after 2-3 years, but modern leathers are treated against this, and usually do well. Enjoy. Morton – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
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Hah! I’ve got you beat My 1996 T&C has 135K, and the leather is beautiful. All it needs to last for a REALLY long time is to periodically clean and condition it. Love your seats and they will return that love for many years With fabric, I’ve always had more problems than I’ve had with leather in terms of wear/damage. Don’t forget that heavenly smell…. :) Lisa – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, My 1996 Grand Caravan has 102,000 miles, and the leather upholstery is just fine. Years ago, leather used to crack and turn brown after 2-3 years, but modern leathers are treated against this, and usually do well. Enjoy. Morton We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
Response:
We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
Response:
Hi, My 1996 Grand Caravan has 102,000 miles, and the leather upholstery is just fine. Years ago, leather used to crack and turn brown after 2-3 years, but modern leathers are treated against this, and usually do well. Enjoy. Morton – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
Response:
Hah! I’ve got you beat My 1996 T&C has 135K, and the leather is beautiful. All it needs to last for a REALLY long time is to periodically clean and condition it. Love your seats and they will return that love for many years With fabric, I’ve always had more problems than I’ve had with leather in terms of wear/damage. Don’t forget that heavenly smell…. :) Lisa – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, My 1996 Grand Caravan has 102,000 miles, and the leather upholstery is just fine. Years ago, leather used to crack and turn brown after 2-3 years, but modern leathers are treated against this, and usually do well. Enjoy. Morton We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
Response:
The leather seats my ‘94 LHS with 165,000 miles still look great.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hah! I’ve got you beat My 1996 T&C has 135K, and the leather is beautiful. All it needs to last for a REALLY long time is to periodically clean and condition it. Love your seats and they will return that love for many years With fabric, I’ve always had more problems than I’ve had with leather in terms of wear/damage. Don’t forget that heavenly smell…. :) Lisa Hi, My 1996 Grand Caravan has 102,000 miles, and the leather upholstery is just fine. Years ago, leather used to crack and turn brown after 2-3 years, but modern leathers are treated against this, and usually do well. Enjoy. Morton We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
Response:
| We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between | leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but | I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a | Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas | any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. | Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? | Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years? I have a 2004 Sebring with Leather. It looks very nice, but I personally prefer the feel of the cloth seats in my wife’s 2003 Stratus. The leather is cold at 1st in the winter and hot as hell on the buns when 1st getting into the car in the summer. Same with the leather-wrapped steering wheel…can hardly hold on to it in the summer time, yet the materials used on the wife’s Stratus steering wheel stays relatively cool to the touch, even with the sun shining on it. I probably wouldn’t get leather again. But, that is just my personal preference. As far as durability, I’ve heard that today’s leather is better…not sure how that is the case unless they’re feeding the cows something different these days. But, that’s what they say! :-)
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Haven’t kept a leather interior car more than 7 years (started buying leather with a 94 LHS) but they looked new when I sold them. Probably if I drove a big dog around I would stay away from leather.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
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Leather is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Go with fabric. Patrick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
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says… We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
If you care for leather, keep it clean and treat it once a year, it is very, very durable. It will last longer than cloth with proper care. If you can’t take the time to take care of it, get cloth. Alex
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Leather. Especially with children Ken
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
Response:
Hah! I’ve got you beat My 1996 T&C has 135K, and the leather is beautiful. All it needs to last for a REALLY long time is to periodically clean and condition it. Love your seats and they will return that love for many years
88 New Yorker Mark Cross with over 240,000Km – interior is like new. Never garaged either. I find the leather stands up better to sun than fabric. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -With fabric, I’ve always had more problems than I’ve had with leather in terms of wear/damage. Don’t forget that heavenly smell…. :) Lisa Hi, My 1996 Grand Caravan has 102,000 miles, and the leather upholstery is just fine. Years ago, leather used to crack and turn brown after 2-3 years, but modern leathers are treated against this, and usually do well. Enjoy. Morton We are about to purchase a new Pacifica and we are torn between leather and fabric for the seats. The leather looks really nice, but I worry about durability. The only car we’ve had with leather (a Mazda Miata) showed serious signs of wear after 40,000 miles whereas any fabric interiors looked great until 100,000 miles or more. Have we just had bad luck, or is this a common problem with leather? Anyone out there with leather that looks great for 10 years?
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Fabric. Leather is better, but only if it is full-thickness good quality leather, which nobody seems to be putting cars these days. So it tears and wears out in 5-8 years no matter how gentle you are on it.
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Question:
The leather driver’s seat on my ‘91 EB Explorer is getting pretty worn. Where can I find the best deal for a replacement seat ?? Or, is it cheaper to find a shop to re-cover the small portion of the seat which needs help?? Mike
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Probably cheaper to have a local upholstery shop repair it and certainly a higher likelyhood the vehicle will look like it originally did. If the leather seat comes apart like the fabric upholstered lumbar/bolster adjustable seats it’s pretty simple to take apart. I bought an insurance right off to repair that the lower frame broke in the accident. Very simple procedure to remove everything, 5 bolts including seat belt get it out of the car, 3 bolts remove the back, 4 plastic channels to unhood from the seat frame, 3 hog rings and 2 metal clips to spread and it’s off. Take the cover in and have the worn segments replace. Steve
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The leather driver’s seat on my ‘91 EB Explorer is getting pretty worn. Where can I find the best deal for a replacement seat ?? Or, is it cheaper to find a shop to re-cover the small portion of the seat which needs help?? Mike
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Question:
I reported on this ng a good while back an incident when I flew a C172 thru a flock of swallows. Could see the whites of their little beady eyes but didn’t hit a one…. the little buggers simply zotted out of the way in the last microsecond…. That was nearly 30 years ago over the patch where I’ve subsequently built my hacienda – the southern tip of the Berserkers, which is one of the reporting points between Rockhampton and the Capricorn coast. Now there has been some discuss about see and be seen in E – and I’ll give you the mail I thought I was going to brass up bulk swallows years ago, but having watched them this afternoon there was no way I’d hit one in a C172. Now it may be the little buggers rock up here each year, but in fact this is the first year I’ve seen ‘em in the same patch where I flew thru ‘em years ago. I’ve asked/commented on bird "g"s before, but these bloody swallows have racked thru 90 degrees in (being charitable) 2 bloody body lengths this No wonder they have short fat hairy legs like me – can you imagine the forces involved in keeping their u/c/feet tucked up during those sorts of manoeuvres? At least they don’t have to peer down and twiddle with knobs to make sure the transponder is working……
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Same thing happened to me at Prospect one afternoon on the way back into BK. Probably about 6 or 7 Ibis in formation heading straight at me. Couldn’t have been more than 100 feet away when the "wingman" went into what looked like stall/incipient spin/spiral dive combo thing, dived to the right and the others followed. Couldn’t believe I didn’t hit one!! On the other hand, Wedgies are mongrels and don’t move for anyone. Talk about unalerted see & avoid in Class E. Reckon I came within a bee’s dick of one at 10,000ft between Innaminka & Alice one day! MQD_117.3 — mqd_117.3 Posted via OziPilots Online [ http://www.OziPilotsOnline.com.au ] – A website for Australian Pilots regardless of when, why, or what they fly –
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Wedgies are mongrels and don’t move for anyone. Talk about unalerted see & avoid in Class E. Reckon I came within a bee’s dick of one at 10,000ft between Innaminka & Alice one day! MQD_117.3
Mongrels – and the rest mate ! They assume they have their own Class-A ! One attacked me 27 Jan 78 at Leeton ! PC
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Wedgies are mongrels and don’t move for anyone. Talk about unalerted see &
avoid in Class E. Reckon I came within a bee’s dick of one at 10,000ft between Innaminka & Alice one day! MQD_117.3 Mongrels – and the rest mate ! They assume they have their own Class-A ! One attacked me 27 Jan 78 at Leeton !
The wedgies at Rocky generally stay over the ranges – but there can be a bloody lot of pelicans about. Hah! But what goes around, comes around – er, and then it comes around again…. Did a C of A (yes, that’s what it was called) on a Piper J2 (Cub) which necessitated some fairly severe fabric removal. Found a bullet hole thru the main spar. Did some gentle questioning of the owner – sheep farmer. Turns out his wedgie discouragement procedure was to chase ‘em, stall up beside ‘em, and about then his pistol would go off while he was cleaning it…… Bummer! That was the same bloke who took a mate shooting pigs along the river at dot (don’t remember if it was the Namoi, Mooki or Peel, but suspect the Namoi) with the shooter draping his legs over the edge as you would, and enjoying himself immensely. Eventually, the owner/pilot realised the river had narrowed to the extent that the J2 wingtips were overhung by the trees along the banks. With many skiddy turns and much upholstery being bitten off his seat he managed to stay operational until a wider patch appeared, enabling him to pop up above the trees. The passenger reckoned it was great and wanted him to do it again!
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I reported on this ng a good while back an incident when I flew a C172 thru a flock of swallows. Could see the whites of their little beady eyes but didn’t hit a one…. the little buggers simply zotted out of the way in the last microsecond…. That was nearly 30 years ago over the patch where I’ve subsequently built my hacienda – the southern tip of the Berserkers, which is one of the reporting points between Rockhampton and the Capricorn coast. Now there has been some discuss about see and be seen in E – and I’ll give you the mail I thought I was going to brass up bulk swallows years ago, but having watched them this afternoon there was no way I’d hit one in a C172. Now it may be the little buggers rock up here each year, but in fact this is the first year I’ve seen ‘em in the same patch where I flew thru ‘em years ago. I’ve asked/commented on bird "g"s before, but these bloody swallows have racked thru 90 degrees in (being charitable) 2 bloody body lengths this No wonder they have short fat hairy legs like me – can you imagine the forces involved in keeping their u/c/feet tucked up during those sorts of manoeuvres? At least they don’t have to peer down and twiddle with knobs to make sure the transponder is working……
What a good yarn ! Thanks very much. Can you or others, tell me about the sort of damage a bird strike from say an Ibis, would do to a prop on C172 for example ? Or a wing or a control surface for that matter ? And how often do you reckon this happens in Oz ? DN
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I reported on this ng a good while back an incident when I flew a C172 thru a flock of swallows. Could see the whites of their little beady eyes but didn’t hit a one…. the little buggers simply zotted out of the way in the last microsecond…. That was nearly 30 years ago over the patch where I’ve subsequently built my hacienda – the southern tip of the Berserkers, which is one of the reporting points between Rockhampton and the Capricorn coast. Now there has been some discuss about see and be seen in E – and I’ll give you the mail I thought I was going to brass up bulk swallows years ago, but having watched them this afternoon there was no way I’d hit one in a C172. Now it may be the little buggers rock up here each year, but in fact this is the first year I’ve seen ‘em in the same patch where I flew thru ‘em years ago. I’ve asked/commented on bird "g"s before, but these bloody swallows have racked thru 90 degrees in (being charitable) 2 bloody body lengths this No wonder they have short fat hairy legs like me – can you imagine the forces involved in keeping their u/c/feet tucked up during those sorts of manoeuvres? At least they don’t have to peer down and twiddle with knobs to make sure the transponder is working…… What a good yarn ! Thanks very much. Can you or others, tell me about the sort of damage a bird strike from say an Ibis, would do to a prop on C172 for example ? Or a wing or a control surface for that matter ? And how often do you reckon this happens in Oz ?
Cannot talk about a C172, but I can say that a bird strike was perhaps the most expensive single aircraft accident in history. A Pelican took out a B1 bomber. Hit the wing leading edge, and ultimately caused a catastrophic Hydraulic failiure. In the 1970’s a 727 ran down a Goose at 20,000+ feet, it came through the windscreen. Very messy…….
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I reported on this ng a good while back an incident when I flew a C172 thru a flock of swallows. What a good yarn ! Thanks very much.
Ta Can you or others, tell me about the sort of damage a bird strike from say an Ibis, would do to a prop on C172 for example ? Or a wing or a control surface for that matter ? And how often do you reckon this happens in Oz ?
I’ve had to repair the mainplane leading edge of a C182 that hit a Wedgie, which I suppose is about the same as an Ibis. The leading edge was flattened back to the spar. Fortunately the impact was just outboard of the strut fitting. If it had been out near the wingtip I would expect the rear spar to fail, since I’ve seen rear spar fitting damage from a wingtip impact that didn’t even disturb the nav light. Lot of leverage out there…
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I’ve had to repair the mainplane leading edge of a C182 that hit a Wedgie, which I suppose is about the same as an Ibis. The leading edge was flattened back to the spar.
Same deal with a C172RG that was lent to a certain TV adventure cowboy out of Bankstown. Both leading edges were battered and covered in blood and guts and bits of feather. I had the distinct impression the prick had gone after the wedgie(s) deliberately.
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I’ve had to repair the mainplane leading edge of a C182 that hit a Wedgie, which I suppose is about the same as an Ibis. The leading edge was flattened back to the spar. Same deal with a C172RG that was lent to a certain TV adventure cowboy out of Bankstown. Both leading edges were battered and covered in blood and guts and bits of feather.
BOTH leading edges!!!! What? I had the distinct impression the prick had gone after the wedgie(s) deliberately.
Mmmm – if that was the case it’s a bloody shame one didn’t hit a wingtip and take the bloody wing off. Who was/is this character?
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I had the distinct impression the prick had gone after the wedgie(s) deliberately. Mmmm – if that was the case it’s a bloody shame one didn’t hit a wingtip and take the bloody wing off.
My thoughts exactly when I read your post.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve had to repair the mainplane leading edge of a C182 that hit a Wedgie, which I suppose is about the same as an Ibis. The leading edge was flattened back to the spar. Same deal with a C172RG that was lent to a certain TV adventure cowboy out of Bankstown. Both leading edges were battered and covered in blood and guts and bits of feather. I had the distinct impression the prick had gone after the wedgie(s) deliberately.
Oh Geez I hope that’s not the same long haired wanker that tried to get a free plane at PF a few years back. — Trevor Fenn There are too many zz’s in my email address above. Take two zz’s and email me in the morning. "Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just" The Star Spangled Banner Francis Scott Key
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Question:
Everytime I drive my 02 Intrepid I get shocked when I exit the car. This is very annoying. Does anyone know how I can stop being shocked everytime I drive the car?
Response:
In dry cold weather, static electricity is commonplace if certain precautions are not met. Two foolproof methods of combatting this nuisance is to either inhibit static charge generation or facilitate its discharge via grounding. In the first case, may I ask what material your upholstery consists of? Do you have polyester or leather? It makes a difference. Then, what kind of material is your wearing apparel made of? Is it cotton or polyester? It makes a difference. Try neutralizing any charge in your pants by carrying a 2 x 2 inch neatly folded wad of aluminum foil in your hip pocket to the outside of your billfold. In the second case, are you wearing a metal watch band or the more common black plastic? Plastic is an insulator and will will not ground your body’s static charge. If your watch band is plastic, try wearing a conductive metal, preferably gold chain necklace. A little science on the part of Chrysler Corp. would have solved this problem before it started. Fine metal threads in the upholstery, tied to a grounding wire running to the car body or chassis would have provided 100% relief from static problems.
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Everytime I drive my 02 Intrepid I get shocked when I exit the car. This is very annoying. Does anyone know how I can stop being shocked everytime I drive the car?
I had the same problem with one car I owned. What I did was make sure I grabbed hold of something metal on the car door before starting to slide across the seat. That worked for me. Might be able to find a spray treatment for your seat cloth th help as well, but for me grabbing the door frame was a cheap and easy solution. Matt
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Everytime I drive my 02 Intrepid I get shocked when I exit the car. This is very annoying. Does anyone know how I can stop being shocked everytime I drive the car?
Depends on where the charge is. If your being shocked when you step on the ground outside then touch something metallic on the car, the problem is your car tires are acting as an insulator and the earth ground is at a different potential than the body of the car. You step on the ground (probably with leather-soled shoes not rubber boots) and when you touch the door you complete the circut and zap. The voltages involved here are in the hundreds of thousands of volts and a few layers of paint are no object. (but they have exceedingly weak currents, thus don’t kill you) In this case you can try dangling a lightweight chain, like a light switch chain, off the rear bumper set to have about a quarter inch of the chain on the ground when the car is unloaded. This is the same trick they use with the gasoline tanker trucks to drain off the static charges. Otherwise if it’s caused by sliding across the seat, then wear cotton and avoid wool and 100% polyester, sometimes the sprays can help, also you could cut down an anti-static mat (available in any computer store) to a floormat and ground that. Ted
Response:
In dry cold weather, static electricity is commonplace if certain precautions are not met. Two foolproof methods of combatting this nuisance is to either inhibit static charge generation or facilitate its discharge via grounding. In the first case, may I ask what material your upholstery consists of? Do you have polyester or leather? It makes a difference. Then, what kind of material is your wearing apparel made of? Is it cotton or polyester? It makes a difference. Try neutralizing any charge in your pants by carrying a 2 x 2 inch neatly folded wad of aluminum foil in your hip pocket to the outside of your billfold.
The static is created by the separation of the two non-conductive materials – the seat cover, and your clothes. The wad of foil (electrode) is on the other (back) side of the dielectric (your pants), just like you already are. In the second case, are you wearing a metal watch band or the more common black plastic? Plastic is an insulator and will will not ground your body’s static charge. If your watch band is plastic, try wearing a conductive metal, preferably gold chain necklace.
It won’t help. It has to "ground" to something. If you were to wear an anti static wrist band, that would eliminate it, but that has to be tied to the other side of the separating materials – the car. http://www.anti-staticmat.com/WristStrapDirectory.htm A little science on the part of Chrysler Corp. would have solved this problem before it started. Fine metal threads in the upholstery, tied to a grounding wire running to the car body or chassis would have provided 100% relief from static problems.
That also won’t help, as the metal threads would collect the charge from the still non-conductive fibers – the seat fabric. You need to make the whole seat slightly conductive with something like http://www.greenlightoffice.com/product/displayproduct.aspx?sku=KMW19… . Check the laundry isle of the store, as I think they sell static guard spray that’s used for dresses. The other possibility is that the charge is not between you and the car, but between the car and the earth. This results from the moving rubber tires. The whole car gets charged compared to the ground. This happens pretty rarely, as most tires are actually slightly conductive due to the carbon in them. There’s straps that can be hung from under the car that touch the ground when you stop. This whole situation can be dangerous when fueling the car. If you were to start fueling, get back in the car, and get back out when the pump stopped, and touch the fuel nozzle while still charged, the spark can ignite the vapors. It happens, and it happens to Women more than men because of the clothes, and the fact that they tend to get back in the car while fueling. (don’t shoot me, I saw that one on TV). The real disaster occurs if the fuel nozzle is removed while the fire is still going as it goes from the equivilent of a candle to a full bore fireball.
Response:
To minimise the unpleasant feeling touch whatever it is you are touching with your KNUCKLES first. There are far fewer nerve-endings in your knuckles than in your fingertips. This obviously works in all kinds of situations, e.g. when touching a door handle after walking across a carpet with a substantial synthetic fibre content. Tap the handle with the knuckles first. DAS — — NB: To reply directly replace "nospam" with "schmetterling" —
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Everytime I drive my 02 Intrepid I get shocked when I exit the car. This is very annoying. Does anyone know how I can stop being shocked everytime I drive the car? Depends on where the charge is. If your being shocked when you step on the ground outside then touch something metallic on the car, the problem is your car tires are acting as an insulator and the earth ground is at a different potential than the body of the car. You step on the ground (probably with leather-soled shoes not rubber boots) and when you touch the door you complete the circut and zap. The voltages involved here are in the hundreds of thousands of volts and a few layers of paint are no object. (but they have exceedingly weak currents, thus don’t kill you) In this case you can try dangling a lightweight chain, like a light switch chain, off the rear bumper set to have about a quarter inch of the chain on the ground when the car is unloaded. This is the same trick they use with the gasoline tanker trucks to drain off the static charges. Otherwise if it’s caused by sliding across the seat, then wear cotton and avoid wool and 100% polyester, sometimes the sprays can help, also you could cut down an anti-static mat (available in any computer store) to a floormat and ground that. Ted
Response:
Everytime I drive my 02 Intrepid I get shocked when I exit the car. This is very annoying. Does anyone know how I can stop being shocked everytime I drive the car?
Go to electronics store (or radioshack) and ask for anti-static spray. Spray this on all of the seats in the car and wipe a bit on the dash. It may not eliminate ALL static, but it will spread it out and reduce the pain (spark voltage at your finger). It is designed to be sprayed on carpet. So be sure to use it on the car mats as well. Rick Merrill
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Everytime I drive my 02 Intrepid I get shocked when I exit the car. This is very annoying. Does anyone know how I can stop being shocked everytime I drive the car? Go to electronics store (or radioshack) and ask for anti-static spray. Spray this on all of the seats in the car and wipe a bit on the dash. It may not eliminate ALL static, but it will spread it out and reduce the pain (spark voltage at your finger). It is designed to be sprayed on carpet. So be sure to use it on the car mats as well. Rick Merrill
This could be caused by your tires. The absence of certain compounds needed to conduct electricity can cause a charge to build up on the body. Either get a grounding strap to hang down from the body to the ground or change to different tires. Richard.
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Everytime I drive my 02 Intrepid I get shocked when I exit the car. This is very annoying. Does anyone know how I can stop being shocked everytime I drive the car? Go to electronics store (or radioshack) and ask for anti-static spray. Spray this on all of the seats in the car and wipe a bit on the dash. It may not eliminate ALL static, but it will spread it out and reduce the pain (spark voltage at your finger). It is designed to be sprayed on carpet. So be sure to use it on the car mats as well. Rick Merrill This could be caused by your tires. The absence of certain compounds needed to conduct electricity can cause a charge to build up on the body. Either get a grounding strap to hang down from the body to the ground or change to different tires. Richard.
Right. SPray the whole body and the tires with anti-static while you’re at it.
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I had a go at posting earlier but it hasn’t shown up in my newsreader so, at risk of being boring, here it is again: Touch whatever it is with your knuckles. Fewer nerve endings in knuckles than in fingertips. Works a treat after, say, walking on a synthetic-fibre carpet. DAS — — NB: To reply directly replace "nospam" with "schmetterling" —
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Everytime I drive my 02 Intrepid I get shocked when I exit the car. This is very annoying. Does anyone know how I can stop being shocked everytime I drive the car?
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Everytime I drive my 02 Intrepid I get shocked when I exit the car. This is very annoying. Does anyone know how I can stop being shocked everytime I drive the car?
I don’t have this problem as it never gets cold and dry enough where I live. Coldest it would ever get here is 55 degrees once every other year.
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Question:
. . . There is a sunroof up there too so I do not want to remove the headliner as it would be a real pain putting it back in. Plus the front is holding up just fine from the original stuff. Guess I will have to clean the foam with it still up. What was your trick Marsh Monster? Was thinking of using the Duro stuff from Kmart. Any other thoughts? Thanks. Mark, go on down to the local "builderama" store…. buy you some
Question:
Does anybody know of a source where I could buy used cushions that fit around the dining table and also make into two beds for my 5th wheel? The upholstery shop wanted $500+ just to recover them and I’m hoping I could buy some used ones cheaper.
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Does anybody know of a source where I could buy used cushions that fit around the dining table and also make into two beds for my 5th wheel? The upholstery shop wanted $500+ just to recover them and I’m hoping I could buy some used ones cheaper.
Almost any foam shop can provide the foam, and any fabric shop the cloth, after that do the job yourself. —
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Does anybody know of a source where I could buy used cushions that fit around the dining table and also make into two beds for my 5th wheel? The upholstery shop wanted $500+ just to recover them and I’m hoping I could buy some used ones cheaper.
http://users3.ev1.net/~crossstitch/ObsoleteRVParts/parts.html Mike
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We gave in and had the upholstery shop do it. We bought the fabric online though and reused our cushions. Buying fabric online saved a bunch.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anybody know of a source where I could buy used cushions that fit around the dining table and also make into two beds for my 5th wheel? The upholstery shop wanted $500+ just to recover them and I’m hoping I could buy some used ones cheaper.
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We gave in and had the upholstery shop do it. We bought the fabric online though and reused our cushions. Buying fabric online saved a bunch.
We did a similar (there was no "online" back then) thing once. I carefully disassembled the old covers, and the wife used the pieces as patterns to make new ones. It worked great, but the wife said she was never going to do that again. And she hasn’t. — bill Theory don’t mean squat if it don’t work.
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Question:
Anyone have any advice on a good non-staining upholstery cleaner for fabric in a 2002 Mountaineer, besides the Ford product? — Regards, Steve
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simple green…. works great !
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone have any advice on a good non-staining upholstery cleaner for fabric in a 2002 Mountaineer, besides the Ford product? — Regards, Steve
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Where does one get simple green ?
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