[Ratspittle]

Not to ring my own bell...but I just wanted to show off my new sofa which I built from the ground up. I have absolutely no experience in upholstery, but a good bit of carpentry experience. I found very little info online about such an endeavor, and my sister was curious about the process. So I put together a little website detailing the process. You can take a look at http://www.chadbattles.com/sofa

[The Godfather]

Cheap, but cheap looking. I can't see someone of my economic bracket or higher taking up such endeavour.

But I admire your skill, honest!

[torsoboy]

Not bad! The only thing I would worry about is the foam wearing out... in my experience foam like that tends to wear out quickly. But awsome job!

[torsoboy]

Originally Posted by The Godfather

Cheap, but cheap looking. I can't see someone of my economic bracket or higher taking up such endeavour.

But I admire your skill, honest!

Wow, a little high in the saddle aren't you? Come back to earth with the rest of us little guys when you get a chance... you might find working with your hands enjoyable every once in a while.

[turtle777]

Not bad at all for the first time.

Please do not attempt this at home.....go to a friend's house

[Doofy]

It's alright that is, Ratspit. Good on ya.

[Ratspittle]

Originally Posted by torsoboy

Not bad! The only thing I would worry about is the foam wearing out... in my experience foam like that tends to wear out quickly. But awsome job!

Actually, I used cushion grade foam for the seat, the guy at the upholstery shop said it would last 5-10 years. The dacron also helps the longevity of the foam. Pretty much all couches these days are foam based. The design of the couch is to have no cushions, as I have two children who like to spill drinks and lose food/remotes/socks/toys down in the cracks of my old sofa. Hence this one has no "cracks", even the sides of the couch are designed so that stuff that falls out of your pockets or spills fall right under the arm to the floor. And it has enough clearance to be able to sweep under it. No hidden dust bunnies. And as for the cheap looking comment, I can tell you that with the exception of using zig zag springs as opposed to 8 way hand ties, this couch uses every bit as good materials as a $1200 sofa. Luckily I live in north carolina, where textiles are produced so the fabric was a little less expnesive. But seeing it in person is a whole different thing. pictures just don't do it justice.

[The Godfather]

Originally Posted by torsoboy

Wow, a little high in the saddle aren't you? Come back to earth with the rest of us little guys when you get a chance... you might find working with your hands enjoyable every once in a while.

I am well below the median of the Mac user population, and I consider myself one of the smaller guys around, mainly because I have started almost from scratch and I haven't built my net worth much yet. I do build my own house interior walls, fix my own plumbing, electric systems and vehicle, but with furniture, I rely on the professionals.

This convention is not exclusive of mine. See:
http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...esses-cost-so/

[Ratspittle]

And I'd have still done it even if I was in your economic bracket. It's not everyone who undertakes such a task and dumps $400+ dollars into it, with the off-chance it might be scrapped. I had that thought in my mind the whole time...."well this just might not work out"
It's funny how people with money like to bring up the fact that they have $$. Just like how I cut off drunk jerks at work and they proceed to tell me they make $100,000 a year, and how much money thy have spent at my bar (like that's going to change my mind) "yes I see, and you have had a great night, quit while you are ahead pal, it's my ass on the line if you go kill someone driving drunk, you gonna pay for the lawsuit....I didn't think so"
Sorry for the de-railment, I just hate that attitude

[The Godfather]

I hate that attitude too. I know I shouldn't have bloated about my average well being, while D.I.Y. has little to do with it. If had more skills with the saw and general upholstery, I would have taken the challenge too.

Sorry dude, I said all the wrong things.

[Ratspittle]

No prob godfather...I respect that you don't turn an innocuous thread about a sofa into a flamewar.
Cheers

Jutestretcher v2.0 FTW!

Man, that's just crazy - I'd never think of trying to tackle something like that. Well, I might but I wouldn't get very far and probably give up.

Furniture building and upholstery is somewhat of a lost art nowadays.

[Albert Pujols]

looks good, but I would have gone with a different choice with the upholstery

[Ratspittle]

Originally Posted by Albert Pujols

looks good, but I would have gone with a different choice with the upholstery

Yeah, I was in a quandry about the upholstery. I have orange-ish wood floors, burgandy trim and curtains in the living room and a budget. There was this great charcoal grey swirly material I liked, but it was $13 a yard (x 10 yrds). One thing you cant see in the photos is that the burgandy velvet actually has a cool etched pattern on it. Oh well it is too late now... I may re-upholster my chair soon and try a different, but matching fabric. I am after all, a guy, without much sense in the color matching/choosing department
Just out of curiosity, what would you have chosen? Color/texture wise?

[kick52]

nice

[vmarks]

Did you wash the fabric first?

I hate the notion of sitting on it and getting dye on my seersucker suit.

[Tennessee Girl]

Thank you for posting all the pics and descriptions of your process! It was just what I was looking for!! I need an inexpensive and custom-sized solution in my family room and was thinking about getting my husband to build a sofa (although he is probably going to think I have lost my mind!) when I went looking for info on the web and Voila! I found your site! Wish me luck!!

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Ratspittle

"I just build a sofa from scratch."
"I have absolutely no experience in upholstery"
"my sister was curious"
TA DA:

Nice

[demograph68]

Hey, you got to start somewhere. Don't expect a masterpiece on the first try.

[starman]

Originally Posted by demograph68

Hey, you got to start somewhere. Don't expect a masterpiece on the first try.

QFT

[stevesnj]

Way better than the FedEx box couch http://www.fedexfurniture.com/couch/hidden_800.jpg

[changed inline image to link: with nearly 1500 posts, you should know our image rules! --tooki]

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by demograph68

Hey, you got to start somewhere. Don't expect a masterpiece on the first try.

I found his own comments more amusing than the final result.