In an article titled ”Learning Trim Basics from Experienced Craftspeople”, Ace Eckleberry of ACE Custom Upholstery & Rod Shop encourages up and coming auto upholstery professionals to start off slow, stay humble and learn the ins and outs of the trade from an old-timer. In short, Ace recommends finding a mentor.
Here at The Hog Ring, we’re constantly receiving emails from auto trimmers asking whether we know of any up-coming auto upholstery seminars taking place near them. In fact, we do.
Auto upholsterers may want to start wearing rubber gloves before stepping foot in another customer’s car – as researchers at Queen Mary University in London recently found that steering wheels carry more bacteria than public toilets.
MTV’s hit-series Pimp My Ride may have put West Coast Customs (WCC) on the map, but it’s been a legit automotive customization shop for well over 15 years. And while they’re known for some wild and over-the-top fabrications – like in season one when they installed a fish tank in the backseat of a Mitsubishi Mirage – WCC are still pros with loads of expert tips and tricks to share.
File this under stupid: Ottawa police, working a roadside seatbelt checkpoint, pinched a man for not only driving without his seatbelt on, but also for replacing his front-passenger seat with a La-Z-Boy recliner. And no, it wasn’t bolted down.
Aspiring automotive designers listen up: General Motors has announced an automotive interior and exterior design contest for students. Nine winners will be chosen – eight of which will be awarded paid internships with General Motors and another with automotive r&d firm Faurecia. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – so enter now.
If you’ve got a few moments, check out Upholstery Journal’s latest article “Working With Exotic Hides.” It’s an interesting read that provides “a quick-and-dirty guide to what you need to know about exotic hides, from what’s available to how to work with them.”
If you’ve been keeping up with The Hog Ring, then you already know about Ward’s upcoming Auto Interiors Conference, as well as the 51 vehicles vying for a place among “Ward’s 10 Best Interiors.” Well, the results are in and Ward’s has announced this year’s winners.
God I wish I lived in California. Ron Mangus has announced his shop will be offering hot rod interior seminars, open to all. (more…)
