Upholsterers see many types of work pass through the doors of the shop. One often overlooked money-maker for small shops is refurbished exercise equipment. Exercise equipment is inexpensive to reupholster and the small pieces of vinyl required can often be recycled from the scraps of other upholstery jobs. The high profit in the area is the selling point for upholsterers. Convenience and saving money are the selling points for customers.
It is convenient to have workout equipment at home. The high initial cost of exercise equipment sometimes makes gyms that accept small monthly payments a more inviting option than buying equipment. Gym memberships end up costing more over the course of time but the biggest problem with a gym membership is the lack of convenience.
Special trips to the gym and finding the right workout clothing have to be planned. Compare this to having aerobic or strength building exercise equipment right there in the living room or basement. There is no driving to the gym and no need to worry if the right outfit is clean or not. The convenience of exercising at home makes it worth considering the purchase of home gym equipment.
Save Money by Repairing Used Exercise Equipment
One way to get the convenience of an at-home workout without a huge investment is to buy used exercise equipment, like a Cardio Glide, and make small repairs as they are needed. The most common used exercise equipment problems are dead batteries in the digital displays, squeaking- which can be fixed with household oil, and damaged vinyl upholstery fabric.
The Tools Needed to Reupholster Exercise Equipment
The tools needed to repair exercise equipment are the same whether the item is a Cardio Glide, an exercise bike, or a weight bench - with the exception of a sewing machine. A sewing machine is only needed for equipment, like the Cardio Glide, that comes from the manufacturer with a sewn upholstery cover.
- Wrench or socket and ratchet
- Staple puller
- Tack hammer
- Scissors
- Marking chalk
- Ruler
- Vinyl upholstery fabric
- Sewing machine
- Stapler.
Steps to Remove the Vinyl Upholstery Fabric From a Used Cardio-Glide
- Turn the damaged Cardio Glide upside down. There are two small bolts that go through a metal bar on the bottom of the seat. Either a wrench or a ratchet and socket can be used to remove the bolts.
- Dig the staple puller under the edge of the staples that hold the vinyl and use a twisting, lifting motion to pull the old staples. If the staple puller will not dig under the staples, tap its handle with the tack hammer. If any staples break use the pliers to remove them.
- Cut the old seat cover right on the seam lines. This will be the pattern for the new cover so cut neatly.
- Spread the new vinyl upside down on the cutting table. Place the pattern pieces upside down on top of the vinyl fabric.
- Measure 1/2 inch around the outside of the pattern pieces to create a seam allowance and make chalk marks. Connect the marks to draw a cutting line. Make sure to mark the center back and the front so they can be lined up when sewing.
- Put the right sides of the fabric together and sew making a 1/2 inch seam to close the side band first, line up the chalk marks, then sew the band to the top. Fold the seam toward the band and top seam the cover 1/4 inch from the seam line. The top stitching will be on the band, not the top.
- Turn the cover right side out and slip it over the seat pad.
- Staple the cover in place and reattach the seat using the bolts that were removed in step 1.
Reupholstering the seat of a Cardio Glide extends the life of the exercise equipment. This is good for the consumer and for the upholstery business. The investment of a little bit of time provides an inexpensive but valuable piece of aerobic exercise equipment at a low price.
Laure Justice - Laure is a Topic Editor for Suite101, covering three topics. View her full profile for details and contact information.
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