Just recovered my GS500e seat. UPDATE PICS!

[joshr08]

i personally like hand powers staple gun over an electric one, but then again i also did my seat by myself with no help i find that an extra set of hands when the helper doesnt know what they are doing is just an extra pair of hands in my way.   

[XealotX]

D.E.P. does not equal Marine.

I appreciate the choice you have made. I'm sure you'll make a fine one.

[annguyen1981]

Things I learned doing this myself:

2.  Try a few staple guns.  I went through two manual ones before I tried the electric that worked better.  Many times an electric will not work as well as the manual ones so if possible, try as many out as you can.  Use short 1/4" staples, any longer and they will be too long.

Why don't you simply TELL us which electric staple gun you found to work the best, instead of making this into a guessing game? Do you really expect your GSTwin brethren to run out and buy a bunch of staple guns until they accidentally find the same model you used? Just tell us which staple gun worked best, and save the rest of us a lot of expense, wasted time, and aggravation.

Without name calling and such, I'll answer this...

The reason why a model MIGHT not help is because not everyone can get the same product on the east coast vs the west coast.  Granted, there's the internet where you can order almost everything, but still...  to search the internet for a SPECIFIC model stapler, pay shipping, and wait a week or two for shipping....  That's extreme.

[redhenracing2]

D.E.P. does not equal Marine.

I appreciate the choice you have made. I'm sure you'll make a fine one.

Yeah I know that I 'technically' am not a Marine yet. I have already got a green light on my promotion to PFC so as soon as I do actually go in that will be my rank. I really don't know what to call myself as of now, 'recruit' and 'cadet' don't quite sound right so I usually just go with Marine, even though it is not 'technically' correct.

[Toogoofy317]

Technically you are still a civie! Was going to do the same thing myself with the NAV woulda been an E-4 already did my Petty officer 3rd class correspondence course and everything. But, well things happened health wise. Once in basic you will (navy) be a seamen recruit you don't get your stripes until after graduation from basic. Correct me if I'm wrong there actual military guys! So, if someone ask say what you are a civilian in DEP. Otherwise it could be misconstrued and i don't think Marines take kindly to "posers".

For when you get there thanks for serving our country!

Mary

[speedsix]

I will work on getting pics.  I really should have done a before and after with pics of the process but it was my first time and I didn't know how it would turn out.  I am very pleased with the look and new feel of the seat.  I will try to get pics later today.

The reason I said you might have to try a few guns is because the material you use may be thicker or thinner than what I used or your hand strength may be more or less than mine.  I couldn't get the manual guns to work well but it may have been because I wasn't pressing hard enough or my plastic was older and harder or something. 

Anyway, I used a piece of vinyl that was pretty close to what was on the seat.  I used a cheap Stanley electric gun that my brother had in his garage.  It was an older one with a brown/tan plastic body.  I didn't catch the model but I am sure any electric staple gun will work well.  I think it worked better because it used speed instead of pressure.  The manual guns need a solid surface to get them to work.

[speedsix]

Got some after pics uploaded.  Sorry, not pics of the process or the before seat but here is my nice new seat.

[speedsix]

Here are few more.  I am very happy with how it turned out.

[joshr08]

if u use a hair dryer or heat gun you can take those little rinkles right out if you want.

[speedsix]

if u use a hair dryer or heat gun you can take those little rinkles right out if you want.

The wrinkle near the front is because the vinyl is just a bit tight.  It is pulling the plastic pan back a little.  I think it may stretch on it's own and smooth out so I am not worried about it.  If it doesn't start to form up, I will heat the pan and bend it a bit so it pulls tighter. 

It is not as bad as it looks in person.  The pics enhanced it somehow.  Must be the light.  Here it is from the side and you barely notice it.  I still think it looks great compared to what I started with.

[joshr08]

yeah i get that.  What im saying and i know from experence cuz i used to cover seats for limos.  if you heat the seat NOT THE PAN the vynle it will relax and the pan will go back to close to normal and the vynle will lay flat without wrinkles....not tryin to sound like a duck just thought i would tell you but its your seat.

heres one of the seats that i have done for my wifes bike.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=46909.100 page six about half way down if that doesnt take you right to the page

[tt_four]

Yikes!! this thread went downhill fast, haha. You guys don't usually act like this outside of the odds and ends forum! haha

Awesome job recovering the seat though.