A basic upholstery tool kit should include a tack hammer, curved and straight needles, webbing tensioners, tack puller, and upholstery tacks. Other useful tools are a regulator, marking chalk, and a foam cutter. A nail hammer is the most common tool, while curved needles are used for hand sewing and straight needles for precision sewing. A webbing stretcher tightens and secures webbing, while a tack extractor removes staples without damaging the surface. Upholstery push pins are used for attaching straps, and scissors should be tough and sharp. A regulator pushes filling into small places, marking chalk is useful for measuring fabrics, and a foam cutter is used to cut large pieces of foam.
When completing an upholstery project, it is essential to have the correct tools on hand. A basic upholstery tool kit should include the following: tack hammer, curved needles, straight needles, webbing tensioners, tack puller, tack and upholstery tacks. Some other useful tools are a regulator, marking chalk, and a foam cutter.
A nail hammer is one of the most common upholstery tools and is usually made of bronze. One end of the head is magnetic for tack placement. The other end is tackled for the hammering of those tacks.
Curved upholstery needles come in a variety of weights and sizes. They are used for hand sewing blankets, seats, exteriors, pillows, cushions and more. Straight needles are also needed to have on hand for precision sewing where a curved needle would not work properly.
A webbing stretcher tightens, stretches, and secures the webbing to prepare it for snapping into place. It is one of the upholstery tools that has a sister tool called a gooseneck strap stretcher. This type of stretcher works closer to the frame and allows for greater efficiency when pulling fabrics.
A tack extractor, or staple remover, looks similar to a screwdriver with a claw foot. It has the correct angle on the foot to remove staples without damaging the underlying surface. These can also be used on tacks, but are not meant to be used for pulling tacks.
Upholstery push pins are small nail-like push pins with large, sometimes decorative heads. Some are simple and made for attaching straps or temporarily setting work. Others are stronger and more decorative and are intended to be used for the final tack.
A good pair of scissors is another essential upholstery tool. They should be tough for handling thick fabrics like denim and corduroy and should be kept sharp. They are available in left-handed or right-handed versions.
A regulator is used to push the filling into small places, such as corners and curves. It pokes through loosely woven fabrics like tweed to adjust the padding from the outside in. They also usually have an eye to help thread the string.
Marking chalk is the same type of chalk that tailors use. Writes on fabric without leaving permanent colour. It’s useful when measuring fabrics for any project, but particularly those that have unusual shapes.
A foam cutter is one of the more expensive upholstery tools available. It’s a hand-held power saw used to cut large pieces of foam used for seats, cushions, and other upholstered surfaces. Consumers usually wouldn’t buy a large item like this for a single use, but they’re good for those attempting a range of projects.
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