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10 Tools Your Shop Shouldn’t Skimp On

September 12, 2011 By Naseem Muaddi 57 Comments

Not every tool you own needs to be a Snap-On, Matco or Craftsman. Sometimes a cheap, average-quality tool will do just fine. However, there are some tools that no auto upholstery shop can afford to skimp on. In some cases, they may be expensive – but they’re necessary because we depend on them to make our work more efficient and effective.

These tools are unmistakable. You’ll know one the moment it fails you. You’ll be in the middle of a job when all of a sudden your cheap tool breaks in half, holding your shop hostage for hours. Worse still, it’ll cause you a nervous breakdown because you’ll realize that you have no one to blame but yourself. After all, if you hadn’t been too cheap to cough up a few extra bucks to buy the better model, it never would have happened.

Believe me, it’s not worth the aggravation.

Too avoid the headache, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 tools your auto trim shop can’t afford to skimp on.

1. Steamer

Every auto upholstery shop needs a quality steamer. Without one, it would be impossible to get those last few wrinkles out of convertible tops or stretch and tighten vinyl seat covers. I have a two-gallon Hoffman Pressure Steamer that handles every job I put it through.  Brand new it costs about $1,600, which is expensive until you consider that I’ve had it for over 15 years. When you do the math, that’s a little over $100 a year – well worth the price.

2. Scissors

What auto trim shop can afford to operate using cheap scissors?  My supplier sold me German-made 10” Kretzer Finny Scissors last year for $35 and I absolutely love them.  The ice tempered stainless steel blades cut through leather, cloth, plastic, vinyl and cardboard like butter.  I recommend them to everyone.

3. Sewing Machine

This is a no-brainer.  It doesn’t matter whether your sewing machine is a Singer, Pfaf, Juki, Brother or Consew. As long as you’re operating on an industrial strength walking-foot machine with a wide array of feet, you’ll be in good shape.  I wouldn’t trade my Singer 111w for the world.  It’s well over 50 years old and still runs perfectly. All I do is keep it oiled and call to have it serviced once a year.

4. Cutting table

Take time to construct the right cutting table for your shop.  It must be level, smooth and large enough to roll out your material on.  Also make sure that the area it’s constructed in is well lit.  I connected my sewing machine table directly to my cutting table, which allows me to sew large covers more easily.

5. Measuring devices

I use rulers more often than any other tool in my shop. I keep them right by my cutting table.  It’s important for all shops to have 12”, 36”, 48” and 60” straight edges. A high-quality steel carpenter’s square and tailor tape are also a must. Make sure your rulers are metal, so they don’t ware or warp, and easily readable.

6. Staple Gun

The right tool can make your job so much easier, and staple guns are no exception.  While there are many types of staple guns, the best ones for auto upholstery are 3/8” and 1/2” crown.  Most shops have a snub-nose gun, but should also consider getting a 2” long-nose gun to get in those deep, hard-to-reach places.  I just bought a Spotnails JS5016LN Long-Nose Stapler for a $130.  It’s my first long nose stapler and now that I’ve used it, I don’t know how I ever got along without one.

Having a quality air compressor to operate your gun goes without saying.

7. Fork

A quality fork, or stapler remover, is yet another tool upholsterers shouldn’t skimp on.  Nothing beats a comfortable fork with sharp tips. High-quality steel is essential so that it doesn’t bend or break while removing stubborn staples.

8. Hog Ring Pliers

A quality pair of hog ring pliers can last decades. However, don’t get caught in the hype of automatic hog ring pliers.  They’re overrated and much too bulky to get into the types of tight spaces auto upholsterers need to reach.

9. Electric Foam Saw

For years I cut foam with scissors, razor blades, hacksaws and even kitchen knives.  Believe me, an electric foam saw is well worth the investment.  Most people are hesitant to buy one because they can cost upwards of $350. However, if you find one used you can get a good deal. I bought a Bosch foam saw from a retired furniture trimmer for $20. It has never let me down.

10. Glue Gun

I used to own a pressure-feed gun with a one-gallon pot and long hose. But there were way too many parts and too many places where things could go wrong.  Glue kept clogging the gun and I wasted too much time trying to fix it.

I eventually switched to a siphon-feed gun with a one-quart pot attached directly to its base from Harbor Freight Tools. The whole set up only costs $30 – a fraction of the price I paid for my old one-gallon pot. The downside is that it only lasts about a year. But with the price so cheap, I just throw it out and buy a new one when it dies.

Of course, the smaller pot means I have to refill my tank with glue more often. However, that’s a minor inconvenience compared to the headache of constantly repairing glue-clogged guns.

…Hey, occasionally you can get a better product for a cheaper price!

We want to hear from you: Based on your experience, what tools would you add to the list? Do you have any brand or model suggestions that you think other auto trimmers should check out? How about ones you think we should steer clear of? Any advice that you could provide would go a long way to helping other auto trimmers out.

— — —

The Hog Ring is the #1 online community for auto upholstery professionals and enthusiasts. Here you can browse pictures, read news and connect with others who share your passion for auto upholstery. You can even check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Filed Under: Archive, Better Business, Products & Reviews, THR Favorites Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Bosch Foam Saw, Car Interior, Hoffman Pressure Steamer, Kretzer Finny Scissors, Spotnails Stapler

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Peppy says

    September 12, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    The next time your glue pot dies don’t skimp and buy a good one like this:
    http://www.google.ca/m/search?site=images&source=mog&hl=en&gl=ca&client=safari&q=criter%20air%20sprayer&sa=N#i=3

    😉

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      September 13, 2011 at 3:50 am

      Thanks Peppy. I’ll certainly try it. I never heard of that company before but I read the description on Amazon.com and it seems like a quality gun.

      Reply
  2. Steven M says

    September 13, 2011 at 2:43 am

    I like articles like this. It would be cool to continue on this theme and discuss inexpensive/off-brand tools that are good to have around for occassional use. I’m also interested in other types of tools guys use in their shops. For example, I have a metal fab area in my shop with TIG welder, milling machine, lathe, etc. I use these tools on every single interior for repairs of seat frames, fabricating mounts, all sorts of stuff.

    I like to read about what other guys use and do..

    Reply
    • Nadeem says

      September 14, 2011 at 2:03 am

      Great ideas Steven M! I’ll add ‘inexpensive/off-brand tools’ and ‘unexpected tools’ to our list of subjects to cover. We appreciate the feedback and thanks for reading The Hog Ring!

      Reply
  3. John Olson says

    September 13, 2011 at 11:59 am

    I dont feel its really necessary to have that expensive of a steamer. I have a nice jiffysteamer,and have never had problems. I also have a $30 steamer that i love cuz it heats up almost instantly. I also have used a pressure steamer and did not have that great of luck with it,but no clue of the brand of that.

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      September 14, 2011 at 5:23 am

      I’ve seen those Jiffy steamers before but don’t have any personal experience with them. I wish my steamer would heat up immediately. My Hoffman takes about 45 minutes to generate steam but when it does it works like a charm.

      Reply
    • Steven M says

      September 15, 2011 at 2:45 am

      I have a Jiffy J4000 steamer. Just today, I ordered a replacement heating element for it. The original lasted about 10 years before it gave out. Total cost for new element and control was about $60 shipped. I highly recommend this over a $1500 steamer..

      Reply
  4. Kyle Caswell says

    September 13, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    Don’t skimp on a good compressor, especially if you’re a high output shop or offering several types of services. Obviously not just in size or CFM, but in quality as well. I learned the hard way once while painting a custom paint job years ago. The spray pattern kept getting worse and worse on my gun only for me to discover the motor conked out on the compressor. It was only two years old and lightly used, but it was a cheap one. Not only was I down three days waiting for the new and better motor to arrive, I was out for the cost of a very expensive paint and the time to prep the car all over again.

    Reply
    • Nadeem says

      September 14, 2011 at 2:08 am

      Ouch, that’s got to hurt! Excellent point Kyle. The importance of buying a quality air compressor should not be underestimated – especially since a great number of our tools run on air. Do you have any suggestions as to brands/models?

      Reply
  5. Naseem Muaddi says

    September 18, 2011 at 11:38 pm

    Glue may be more of a material than a tool but its still worth noting. I spend a little over $100 for a five gallon drum of adhesive but its worth every penny. I’d hate to redo a headliner because my glue didn’t hold up. It would be a waste of time/money and worst of all humiliating.

    Reply
    • Big Creek Uph & Trim says

      March 13, 2012 at 12:46 am

      right on, never use cheap glue

      Reply
  6. WorkingClassInteriors says

    March 11, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    I really like my Binks pressure pot for spraying glue. I had a cheap HF siphon feed spray gun. My major complaint was I couldn’t spray upside down and I was always refilling/running out of glue in the small one quart container. Anyway, the trick the a pot is buy a used one and clean it up. Saved me about $500..

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      March 11, 2012 at 10:24 pm

      I used to use pressure pots but for whatever reason my lines kept clogging up. It drove me nuts. How do you keep your lines clear?

      Reply
      • theinteriorguy says

        March 20, 2012 at 1:54 am

        I have a Binks glue gun and love it! I have found that if you use cheap hoses it will clog all the time. Switched to better hoses and don’t have the problem any more. Do still have to unclog the gun occasionally.

        Reply
      • Steven M says

        March 20, 2012 at 8:20 pm

        I keep the pot on the floor and have a hook about 7′ off the ground that I always hang the gun from. This causes the fluid hose to drain toward the pot. I always keep about 15psi on the pot. If I’m not going to use the pot for more than a couple of weeks (which never happens), I drain the fluid line back to the pot and then run some lacquer thinner through the whole shebang.

        Reply
      • ron anders says

        May 11, 2012 at 2:35 am

        you need that plastic glue line not rubber hose it will clog every time with rubber

        Reply
      • Rishi says

        September 25, 2018 at 3:09 am

        Is there a specific heat-resistant glue you’d recommend for the headliners and other bits like dash which are exposed to direct sun/high temps?

        Reply
  7. Big Creek Uph & Trim says

    March 13, 2012 at 12:44 am

    For Years I carried a good pocket knife,then I realized that I was taking it out of my pocket and opening it 20-30 times a day.Now I wear a Kershaw 1080OR scabert knife [about 3.5 inch blade] it is always open,one hand operation,much time saved!!

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      March 13, 2012 at 3:33 am

      Is this the knife you’re talking about Big Creek?
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGBvxTiPVwE

      Reply
      • Big Creek Uph & Trim says

        March 13, 2012 at 2:19 pm

        it is,except mine is a 1080OR orange handle easier to keep up with,great knife holds edge really well,great for ripping seams

        Reply
        • Big Creek Uph & Trim says

          March 13, 2012 at 3:18 pm

          type-o 2.5 inch blade

          Reply
  8. theinteriorguy says

    March 19, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    I recently bought a snap on scissor sharpener. Figure that 183 dollars will pay off fast. Was paying a rep 5 bucks a pair of scissors each time he showed up( I have 4 pair to sharpen). Now I don’t have to wait 3 months for sharp scissors!! It works on knives too!!

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      March 20, 2012 at 3:29 am

      That’s a good idea because around here I don’t know of any scissor sharpening services. Is there any place online where people could buy the sharpener.

      Reply
      • carolinaauto says

        March 21, 2012 at 7:51 pm

        went to Lowes and bought the Smith’s knife / scissor sharpener for around $15.00. Works great for me. Hell, I even do razor blades just to get a little more life out of em.

        Reply
  9. tinabanana says

    April 25, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    this article was extremly useful, thanks for putting it together

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      April 26, 2012 at 2:59 am

      Thanks, glad you liked it!

      Reply
  10. EDWARD says

    July 13, 2012 at 5:34 pm

    RETIRED… DONT JUST SEW, GET INTO WELDING FABRICS TOO.
    http://www.chinatypical.com/en/index.asp

    Reply
  11. EDWARD says

    July 13, 2012 at 6:05 pm

    RETIRED…SEWING EQUIPMENT/MACHINERY FROM ACROSS THE POND.
    http://www.jiam2012.com/us/list/

    Reply
  12. Dave says

    July 21, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    Found this site thanks to a news letter from Electron Top. Good info all. Been at this for 31 yrs. Jiffy steamers have served us well the ticket is distilled water a must in our opinion. Have aquired alot of equipment over the year buying out other shops. The shear sharpener was one of the best aquisition. Thanks to all , look forward to more

    Reply
    • Nadeem Muaddi says

      July 21, 2012 at 5:35 pm

      Thanks for the kind words Dave. We’re glad to have you join The Hog Ring!

      Reply
  13. Mike Silva says

    August 23, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    I used pressure pots before also and found them a bit of a pain. I tried the Harbor freight HVLP gun works great for glue. because it is a gravity feed you never have clog up problems. Its also great working around freshly painted cars you never have to worry about the hose dragging around on the rockers. I am into mine 8 months so far without a problem.

    Reply
  14. don franzini says

    September 8, 2012 at 9:31 pm

    I have switched to a water based adhesive called simalfa…..I dont like the side effects of solvent based adhesive…..overspray is a bit of a hurdle…but the adhesion is good

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      September 9, 2012 at 12:07 am

      Is the adhesion as good as solvent based glue? Where do you buy it from?

      Reply
  15. Tim Payne says

    September 12, 2012 at 2:59 am

    I didn’t see it listed, if so-my bad…a good quality set of dike pliers/wire cutters for cutting hog rings. I keep a set of Channel Lock brand close by. The pair I use have a little longer handles on them than some others out there and they still have a good edge on them, even after years of use (I bought them used). Great thread (and site, too)!

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      September 12, 2012 at 4:18 am

      Very true Tim. I recently lost my favorite pair of cutters and have been working with a cheap substitute. I can’t wait to get a new pair.

      Reply
    • Forrest Steele says

      May 8, 2020 at 10:02 am

      Knipex 10”high leverage cut hog rings better than any other side cutters not cheap but once you use them on a old school set of seats you’ll love them.

      Reply
  16. Sed says

    November 13, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    HI,JUST WANT TO SAY I LOVE THIS SITE. I’M BASED HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
    ARE THERE OTHER TRIMMERS FROM OUR SIDE LINKING UP TO TO YOUR SITE ?
    WITH REGARDS TO TOOLS I THINK A GOOD QUALITY TRIM CLIP REMOVER IS A MUST. SOME OF THOSE PLASTIC CLIPS CAN BE REALLY EXPENSIVE

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      November 14, 2012 at 5:31 am

      Thanks for joining The Hog Ring Sed. Our community is comprised of trimmers from around the world. At this time I don’t know of any other members of THR from South Africa but distance has never stopped our members from sharing.

      Reply
  17. DaneDobrinska says

    September 23, 2013 at 8:53 am

    Naseem, thank you for the hyperlink above. I’ve been looking for a 22 gauge upholstery staple gun for quite some time and been waiting to find a great price. I just purchased a Spotnails JS7116 from http://www.nailgundepot.com about 5 minutes ago.

    Reply
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  19. martythetrimmer says

    May 23, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    a tool we use everyday and couldn’t do without, is a cordless drill…we have several high quality drills with as much power as most 240volt drills…cheap ones have no power and are a waste of money!

    Reply
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    September 18, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    I’m sorry I upset I would like to start a handyman shop
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  26. James Evan says

    February 27, 2016 at 6:49 pm

    Most useful tools, I agree. But somehow, I think the number 3, 5, 8 are not really that important. Just my opinion though.

    Reply
    • Naseem Muaddi says

      February 29, 2016 at 3:29 am

      lol I agree

      Reply
  27. ed says

    November 8, 2016 at 4:17 am

    I am working on my Jag xj6 and I need to know what type and size staples to use on door tim panel trim. Ihave a paslode staple gun US-100.

    Reply
  28. Dareselam says

    November 29, 2016 at 8:53 am

    It is very important information for beginers.

    Reply
  29. Phil says

    January 17, 2017 at 11:22 am

    Hi
    I have just discovered the many uses of Hog Ring pliers not just for upholstery and I very much appreciated your comment regarding the automatic type as I could not understand from the illustrations how they could work in confined spaces
    Thanks again
    Phil

    Reply
  30. Phil says

    January 17, 2017 at 11:24 am

    Hi
    I should have mentioned I am in the UK
    Phil

    Reply
  31. Joel W Larkin says

    March 2, 2019 at 9:26 am

    I also think a good set of files , soldering iron. Files to help shape foam, soldering iron to burn clean holes in finished seats for hardware.

    Reply
  32. Marwan says

    March 13, 2019 at 1:37 am

    Thank you alot for those good Information and I have a question for you do you know any school or training school to do auto upholstery training ? I want to lern this job if yes please contact me on this email
    marwan_abudunya@yahoo.com
    By the way I live on London if you know one around this area
    Thank you

    Reply
  33. Adam travis says

    March 9, 2020 at 11:31 am

    Thanks, It was great article.

    Reply

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