Find the right thread for commercial applications

Upholstery Journal | August 2008

by Jake Kulju

Doing the custom, extra-detailed projects are what many upholsterers love, but standard commercial applications are often the jobs on the table. Seating for restaurants, movie theaters, hotels and businesses is needed on a regular basis. A commercial job calls for commercial materials, including thread.

Dan Vanderlip of Vanderlip Upholstery in St. Clair Shores, Mich., has made a living as an upholsterer since he was 20 years old in his father’s garage. For indoor commercial applications, Vanderlip relies on the tried and true qualities of nylon thread.

“Nylon is a pretty universal commercial thread,” he says. “Commerical customers are looking for upholstery jobs that will last five to 10 years, and nylon easily fulfills that requirement.”

He says his clients don’t ask too many questions about the thread he uses on their jobs—they just want a sturdy finished product.

Outside applications are a different story. Polyester is the industry favorite, and Vanderlip’s as well.

“Polyester won’t rot in the sun, and the outdoor people who know about their materials will request it,” he says.

Vanderlip tends to educate people more about polyester threads for outdoor applications because outdoor projects and the materials with which they are made must withstand the elements.

“The boating customers I work with will generally request polyester thread because they know a little bit about what materials they need,” he says.

Over the years, Vanderlip hasn’t noticed much change in the nylon or polyester threads that he uses. Recycled material and eco-friendly threads may be on their way, but have yet to hit the mainstream market for commercial applications.

Comments

There are not yet any comments.
You can submit a comment using the form below.