Posted by: Standard split - 02 November 2009 09:46:53
This is a problem for all of us with early cars that have cloth seats – rust penetrating into the cloth at the top of the seat backs along the back from the rusting steel frame inside:? You cannot really take the cloth off to get at the rusting metal of the frame, and also rust stains cannot be removed from the cloth :evil: Answers appreciated for both prevention and cure :o

Posted by: Hebster52 - 02 November 2009 10:48:07
Wondering if the cloth would be possible to wash with oxalicacid without damaging the cloth...? Oxalicacid is a weak acid that reduces (and disolve rust, iron(III)oxide). Could be worth a try if anyone would have a piece of rust damaged cloth that is going to be unused anyways. I might have some pieces somewhere too. Have to check this out...

Posted by: Standard split - 02 November 2009 14:28:47
[quote=Hebster52]Wondering if the cloth would be possible to wash with oxalicacid without damaging the cloth...? Oxalicacid is a weak acid that reduces (and disolve rust, iron(III)oxide). Could be worth a try if anyone would have a piece of rust damaged cloth that is going to be unused anyways. I might have some pieces somewhere too. Have to check this out...[/quote] Please let me know:wink: Any info on stopping the stains appearing or spreading without taking the seats apart:?:

Posted by: GKL 7 - 02 November 2009 18:39:25
[quote=Standard split] and also rust stains cannot be removed from the cloth :evil: [/quote] They can infact, John. There used to be(maybe still is) a Product on the market called "DIRT DEVILS",a range of approx 6 different stain removers for fabric,one was especially for rust. Roy Worsley used it when restoring his '51(ex Roy Worsley/Keith Seume/Flat 4 car)to very good effect.

Posted by: Standard split - 02 November 2009 18:59:44
[quote='50 Karmann] They can infact, John. There used to be(maybe still is) a Product on the market called "DIRT DEVILS",a range of approx 6 different stain removers for fabric,one was especially for rust. Roy Worsley used it when restoring his '51(ex Roy Worsley/Keith Seume/Flat 4 car)to very good effect.[/quote] Excellent, George :beer: Now, do I have the courage to remove the seat covers………:? They'll have to come off to do the job, and to paint the frames.:roll:

Posted by: Bengt H - 02 November 2009 21:11:59
Seatcovers are easy to remove. If you wash them i water they may shrink a bit, try to strech them before they dry and maybe when they are half dry to

Posted by: 54 Gertie - 02 November 2009 21:39:28
'49 showing signs of age? :twisted:

Posted by: Rich Oakley - 02 November 2009 21:46:52
[quote=54 Gertie]'49 showing signs of age? :twisted: [/quote] Yes, he's preparing it to sell to George. :lol: :wink:

Posted by: 1958ghia - 03 November 2009 00:30:22
You could use noiseless "silk film" when you put them back together it might work as a plastic barrier to stop any rust coming through in the future. [url=https://www.rjbinnie.co.uk/RJBinnie%202008%20Catalogue.pdf]rjbinnie upholstery[/url]

Posted by: Standard split - 03 November 2009 09:16:38
[quote=54 Gertie]'49 showing signs of age? :twisted: [/quote] 'Fraid it is the '49 :( It's so original and undisturbed, I'm deciding wether to leave well alone as the stains are small and not visible unless you tilt the seats forward, and maybe cover them with polythene over cloth covers to keep the damp away :roll: OR hand the seat backs to a vintage upholstery specialist to carefully treat :? The '49 has such a low mileage the seats are otherwise perfect time-warp :wink: George don't rush out for a trailer yet :o

Posted by: Standard split - 01 December 2009 20:00:46
My decision on this after looking at the seats over the weekend is to leave well alone 8) The covers are so well made and were perfectly stitched and fitted over 60 years ago that I'm not going to mess with them. It is certainly a job for an expert I feel. If the car were more well used and the seats far less perfect, I'd consider it. As it stands there is far to much to lose should things go wrong. Stains like this have to be considered part of an extremely original untouched car. Otherwise at what point do you consider some restoration to have taken place if you start changing things:?