The Ford Barn

packrat6 · 07-12-2022, 01:08 PM

In the interest of sharing vital information with other enthusiasts here, I submit the following.
Restoring a '30 Fordor. Removing the old seat covers to re-do. I report that the front edge of the rear seat cushion upholstery, which is about 54 inches across, was held in place with 96 tacks......thats about one every half inch. I sometimes think about how much hand labor went into building these cars compared to how its done today. Wow!

JoeCB · 07-12-2022, 01:18 PM

Old time upholsterers worked amazingly fast. Common practice was to load a bunch of tacks in one's mouth, spitting them out one at a time, in correct orientation to be transferred to the magnetic head of the hammer.

Joe B

nkaminar · 07-12-2022, 03:46 PM

I worked with a roofer many years ago who would hold the roofing nails in his mouth. He would throw half away because they were backwards. He told me to hold the nails between two fingers with the fleshy part of the fingers up. That way when you hit the fingers with the hammer it did not hurt as much as when you hit the fingernail.

By the way, do not hold tacks or any nails in your mouth these days. It is a safety issue. Of course, now a days everyone uses a pneumatic nailer or stapler. I have a pneumatic upholstery stapler that I use for upholstery work on my cars.

Stretch Cab · 07-12-2022, 03:51 PM

While we on on this subject, lathe nails used to be flavored since they were held in your mouth before use. Times have changed!

jack backer · 07-12-2022, 05:10 PM

I tacked the roof on my Sport Coupe, glad I did..original ford hardwood dried over 90 years, the tacks bit and held. I lined the bows with flatbar and pattern screwed it to stiffen the joints..

Synchro909 · 07-12-2022, 08:39 PM

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I once watched a guy putting up a paling fence. When it came to attaching the palings, he used about 1 1/2" nails for the first run, then 2" for the top paling. He held the nail between thumb and forefinger with his left hand and hammer in the right. Just as he began his swing with the hammer, he let go of the nail. The timing was so precise that the nail was still there when the hammer struck the head squarely and with ONE blow, the nail was driven home. I was left wondering how many broken fingers he suffered perfecting that and how many nails were left laying in the grass.

alexiskai · 07-12-2022, 09:41 PM

Quick demo of spitting tacks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCviBqqWAv0

slatgrille · 07-13-2022, 07:44 AM

Quick demo of spitting tacks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCviBqqWAv0

Shot a fly out of mid-air! Don't mess with that guy.....

07-12-2022, 01:08 PM	#1
packrat6 Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Smithfield, Virginia Posts: 76	A tacky posting In the interest of sharing vital information with other enthusiasts here, I submit the following. Restoring a '30 Fordor. Removing the old seat covers to re-do. I report that the front edge of the rear seat cushion upholstery, which is about 54 inches across, was held in place with 96 tacks......thats about one every half inch. I sometimes think about how much hand labor went into building these cars compared to how its done today. Wow!

07-12-2022, 01:18 PM	#2
JoeCB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington MI Posts: 366	Re: A tacky posting Old time upholsterers worked amazingly fast. Common practice was to load a bunch of tacks in one's mouth, spitting them out one at a time, in correct orientation to be transferred to the magnetic head of the hammer. Joe B

07-12-2022, 03:46 PM	#3
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,855	Re: A tacky posting I worked with a roofer many years ago who would hold the roofing nails in his mouth. He would throw half away because they were backwards. He told me to hold the nails between two fingers with the fleshy part of the fingers up. That way when you hit the fingers with the hammer it did not hurt as much as when you hit the fingernail. By the way, do not hold tacks or any nails in your mouth these days. It is a safety issue. Of course, now a days everyone uses a pneumatic nailer or stapler. I have a pneumatic upholstery stapler that I use for upholstery work on my cars. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 07-12-2022 at 03:53 PM.

07-12-2022, 03:51 PM	#4
Stretch Cab Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lexington, NC Posts: 712	Re: A tacky posting While we on on this subject, lathe nails used to be flavored since they were held in your mouth before use. Times have changed! __________________ Let us live so that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain

07-12-2022, 08:39 PM	#6
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,043	Re: A tacky posting Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I once watched a guy putting up a paling fence. When it came to attaching the palings, he used about 1 1/2" nails for the first run, then 2" for the top paling. He held the nail between thumb and forefinger with his left hand and hammer in the right. Just as he began his swing with the hammer, he let go of the nail. The timing was so precise that the nail was still there when the hammer struck the head squarely and with ONE blow, the nail was driven home. I was left wondering how many broken fingers he suffered perfecting that and how many nails were left laying in the grass. __________________ I sometimes wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions. Even at my age, I still like to look at a young, attractive woman but I can't really remember why.

07-12-2022, 09:41 PM	#7
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,848	Re: A tacky posting Quick demo of spitting tacks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCviBqqWAv0

07-13-2022, 07:44 AM	#8
slatgrille Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Limerick, ME Posts: 172	Re: A tacky posting Quick demo of spitting tacks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCviBqqWAv0 Shot a fly out of mid-air! Don't mess with that guy.....