Upholstery tools include heavy-duty staple guns.
When completing an upholstery project, having the correct tools on hand is essential. A basic upholstery tool kit should include the following: hammer, curved needles, straight needles, fabric stretcher, tack puller, upholstery tacks, and scissors. Some other useful tools are a regulator, chalk for marking, and a foam cutter.
A hammer is one of the most common upholstery tools and is usually made of brass. One end of the head is magnetic for pin placement. The other end is turned to hammer in these tacks.
DIY upholstery project tools can include a good pair of scissors.
Curved upholstery needles come in a variety of weights and sizes. They are used to hand sew covers, seats, exteriors, pillows, cushions and more. It is also necessary to have straight needles on hand for precision sewing, where a curved needle would not work properly.
A fabric stretcher squeezes, stretches, and secures the fabric in preparation for pinning it into place. It is one of the upholstery tools that has a sister tool called the gooseneck stretcher. This type of stretcher works closer to the frame and allows for greater efficiency when pulling fabrics.
A good sturdy pair of scissors is a crucial tool in upholstery work.
A tack puller, or staple lifter, is similar to a screwdriver with a claw-like foot. It has the correct angle on the foot to remove staples without damaging the surface below. They can also be used on thumbtacks, but are not designed to drive nails.
Upholstery studs are small, nail-shaped studs with large, sometimes decorative, heads. Some are simple and made to hold straps or temporarily set up work. Others are more resistant and decorative and are intended to be used for the final gluing.
A good pair of scissors is another essential upholstery tool. They need to be tough to handle thick fabrics like denim and corduroy and they need to stay sharp. They come in right and left handed versions.
A slider is used to push the fill into small places like corners and curves. Thread large fabrics like tweed to adjust the padding from the outside in. They also usually have an eye to help thread the thread.
Marking chalk is the same chalk used by tailors. Writes on fabric without leaving permanent color. It is useful for measuring fabrics for any project, but especially those that have unusual shapes.
A foam cutter is one of the most expensive upholstery tools available. It is a manual electric saw used to cut large pieces of foam that are used in seats, pillows and other cushioned surfaces. Consumers don’t often buy a large item like this for a single use, but they are useful for those attempting multiple projects.