Aldridge carpets fitting

[Klaus Schlueter]

Hi all carpet specialists,

I started to fit new tufted Aldridge carpets. First part was on the LH (drivers) side sill. No problem to fix the long part under the small chrome rail. But under the hinges(A- post) it does not fit at all (see pic).The problem is to bring a 2 dimensional carpet into a 3 dimensional shape. Did I make a mistake or did I start at the wrong end? The 36 year old carpet was obviously preformed at the A-post corner as they are on the two seat supports. Is heating the carpet rear side with a hot air gun the solution?

Up to now I have only glued 25 mm of the rim to the metal and it may look better after glueing the comlete flat vertical section. But there will still remain some ugly creases.

Aldridge was again and again recommended on the forum so there should be a lot of experience from other Stag drivers and a solution for the described problem. Please help and let me know how I shouldcontinue. Thanks in advance.

I will be out of town until Friday noon in case you have any questions.

Regards Klaus

[V Mad]

imported post

Klaus

The carpet is, as you say just a 2d shape, completely flat. You just need to install the carpet flat onto the flat face of the car,makingsure there is enough carpet to fold around the edges, and trim off where necessary. The only part that needs to stretch slighly is the inner corner where the A-post meets the sill.

The main areas must be flat to start with, then just fold the edges around, trimming as you go if necessary. I find it is best done while the adhesive is wet so you can reposition as required. The just press down after the glue has tacked off.

Is that any help to you?

[jleyton]

imported post

Hi Klaus,

I was faced with the same situation as you when I fitted Aldridges wool carpets earlier this year. However after some trimming, as Chris suggests, they fit really nicely.

I removed the door seals and then used the vertical line of the door frame as a cutting guide and I had to cut off some2 or 3 cms of carpet. I actually left enough to go over the vertical metalwork and then spread the door seal slightly so it clamped around the door frame and the carpet - if that makes any sense.

So, from something that looked a bit like your picture at first, I ended up with a good finish so don't despair yet

Cheers

Julian


Ps One other suggestion to ease the 2D carpet around the 3D corner is to cut a series of small 'V's into the edge of the carpet.

[milothedog]

imported post

I helped Dean (deanoed on here) fit his carpets today I believe they came from South east trimmers. They fitted very well and the quality is very good. The bit you describe fitted easily. The only bit that was troublesome was over the tunnel, all we done was use spray glue on both sides, let it go off a bit then started by fixing it at top edge (bottom of door)then moulded it into shape by hand and used a panel beating hammer with a tapered end to push it into the corners and right angels, as we used a contact adhesive it just took on the contours and stuck no problem. it was slightly tricky but there are a lot worse job's on a Stag and it look's great.

Ian.

[Klaus Schlueter]

imported post

Hi Chris, Julian and Ian,

thank you very much indeed for your advice and tips which I will try tomorrow after the cosequences of celebrating Sylvester will have disappeared.

Guten Rutsch und Prosit Neujahr--all the best for 2011!

Regards Klaus