When hacks attack

[GeneMiller]

you really should pass if you don't know what to do. Here's a little damage because someone didn't understand what not to do. There's not a lot to this job but knowing what not to do is probably more important.






Gene

 

[Mikey P]

jeepers...



hard to see but solvent damage on flocked velvet?

 

[GeneMiller]

They used some kind of solvent on the leather and peeled off the pigment. It can be fixed by spraying it but she's going to replace everything instead. I call the velvet crushed but either way I would think you would test the zipper area first. I was able to repair some of the damage but not all. I always believed even when I was green that the fabric should look the same without tool marks except clean. I learned the do's and don't by picking up discarded furniture on garbage day. Great way to experiment freely. I highly recommend the technique for newbies.

Gene

 

[Desk Jockey]

Wow thats awful! Did they hold them responsible?

 

[jcooper]

Wouldn't ya stop after you screwed up the first one!!!! I guess they treated all the chairs at the same time?

So the couch cushions are velvet? How were these screwed up? They just look like old worn out cushions. Really, don't see much velvet here, I do know you need to brush it. Not much else.

 

[Doug Cox]

Wouldn't ya stop after you screwed up the first one!!!!

Since when does a customer stop after not getting out the first dog poop stain?

 

[Mikey P]

So what turned the velvet white?

 

[Doug Cox]

I think the velvet is shiny from being wet cleaned.

 

[ruff]

So what turned the velvet white?

Light reflection, due to how the nap was laid as a result of the tool passes. Evidently there was a back and forth movement.

Usually light would be the nap laying down, more like crushed down.

 

[Mikey P]

Gotcha

 

[Nate The Great]

They did them a favor, if you ask me....... Anyone with velvet and isn't @bob vawter should get out of the 1980's..... Good God that's some ugly cushions....

Did @Scott W get mad for them ruining his cushions?!?

 

[jcooper]

Mikey P said: ↑
So what turned the velvet white?
Light reflection, due to how the nap was laid as a result of the tool passes. Evidently there was a back and forth movement.
Usually light would be the nap laying down, more like crushed down.

So only thing he did wrong was not brush it out? Or is it just screwed because it got wet?

 

[GeneMiller]

Ofer is dead on. Light reflection causes the white area. Crush velvet is made by wetting the fabric and putting in a pile until dry. It causes it to have a crinkly look to it. Cleaning it will remove it. It should only be cleaned one direction always towards the zipper. You want all the cushions to look the same. Then use a carding brush made from brass and brush out tooling marks. Take a canvas drop cloth and wrinkle it up. Drop the newly cleaned velvet on the canvas several times on each side. It will transfer some of the wrinkles making it look better than if just left freshly carded. Always explain the process throughly because once you clean crushed velvet it's never the same. It wasn't the water that damaged it but the persons lack of knowledge. The lines you leave won't come out of all fabrics when dry.

Gene

 

[ruff]

Interesting trick with the canvas. Never tried it. I am not quite sure I understand how you do it Gene. Would love to see a video.

One correction though. You need the wet passes (and dry passes) to be in the direction of the nap. Usually (not always, you'd need to check as upholsterers do make mistakes or at times it may be on purpose) a velvet sofa will be cascading.
That means that the nap direction will be going from the top down (like a cascade) which means that most cushions when placed correctly, the nap will be away from the zipper. Most, not all.

Afterwards you brush 90 degrees to the left, let it dry a little (you may hum a song of your choice), 90 degrees to the right, let it dry a little, and supposedly last brush in the direction of the nap. Woof.

I've also done the last one against the nap and at times it looked better, though you have to test.

 

[Spurlington]

I see pinkish discoloration on one of the cushions..

speaking of carding brushes .. I pulled mine out of the drawer and the bristles are rusted .. I only used it once .. WTH !!

 

[Nate The Great]

I see pinkish discoloration on one of the cushions..

speaking of carding brushes .. I pulled mine out of the drawer and the bristles are rusted .. I only used it once .. WTH !!

Your brush needs to breathe.... I've had the same happen even when it was in a toolbox... We leave ours out and no problems.... I guess you can use rice in a container to absorb the moisture while storing it....

 

[A.J.]

As a hack, if someone asked me to clean that I'd just say I can't.

 

[Spurlington]

I had it wrapped in a bootie to keep it clean .. I'll look for stainless for my next one

 

[GeneMiller]

Interesting trick with the canvas. Never tried it. I am not quite sure I understand how you do it Gene. Would love to see a video.

One correction though. You need the wet passes (and dry passes) to be in the direction of the nap. Usually (not always, you'd need to check as upholsterers do make mistakes or at times it may be on purpose) a velvet sofa will be cascading.
That means that the nap direction will be going from the top down (like a cascade) which means that most cushions when placed correctly, the nap will be away from the zipper. Most, not all.

Afterwards you brush 90 degrees to the left, let it dry a little (you may hum a song of your choice), 90 degrees to the right, let it dry a little, and supposedly last brush in the direction of the nap. Woof.

I've also done the last one against the nap and at times it looked better, though you have to test.

Ofer you are right again. I never thought of it it as cascading but it definitely is. Yes all strokes must go the same way Or you will distort. With the flow of the nap. I always use the zipper as a point of direction so all cushions look the same when replaced. I've never noticed if most go away from the zipper but this is the first one in ages so I really don't remember. This one laid the best going towards the zipper but who can tell on this one. She'll recover it because she can and its not perfect. I wish I remembered the final pictures but I almost always forget. Tons of beforehand with out the afters. It looked pretty good.

Gene