Monday, October 12, 2009

Why do it the Hard Way? Rest Easy on a COSCO Stool!

COSCO Step Stool Project File (Week 2.1):

In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue,
It was a courageous thing to do
But someone was already here.



Speaking of which, it has only been two weeks but I am convinced that my COSCO Step Stool has been around forever. This project has dragged on entirely too long now and I am quite ready for it to be finished.

I took a trip out to the local Jo-Ann Fabrics today because I knew that they carried a pretty wide selection of vinyl coverings. I was in desperate need of assistance as this was my first attempt at reupholstering furniture, and the friendly sales clerk proved to be great.

I wanted to find a fabric that would elevate this chair to a new level of cool. It definitely needed a wow factor. I found an amazing red vinyl with embedded silver flecks - a throwback to 1950's dinerware. I then took all of my purchases back home for final reassembly.

Check it out...

I sort of knew how the pieces fit back together but was unsure which glues to adhere foam and fabric to metal. I ended up purchasing this bottle of Elmer's Craft Bond, figuring it should do the job pretty well.

I laid out the original vinyl over top the foam batting and cut to size (above).

I then used the spray glue to attach the foam to the metal seat (below).

I did the same for the vinyl fabric. I should mention that layering the vinyl was a very, very tricky task. This process took about two hours and required a lot of heating and stretching to fit the corners. I eventually gave up on using the fabric glue in favor of good old fashioned duct tape.

After reassembling the seat to the stool frame I used a little Armor All to clean up the original rubber steps.

But you don't care about any of that do you? Remember the before photo?


Now, here are the amazing results:




I think I'll pour myself a nice glass of scotch and admire my swingin' new chair!

2 comments:

  1. I didn't realize that there was a version that had a flip seat. Mine that I've had forever has the flip out stool. I'm refinishing it now to use in the kitchen now that I'm a..... Grandma I mean NANA!

    Thanks for the tip on the brasso. My husband has used it for other things around the house but I never thought to use it on the chrome to help restore it to the natural luster that it once had. Great idea. I'm sure he will be thrilled with that thought.

    Great project!

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  2. Why thank you. Flip on over to my new site and keep up with my current project stuff: http://retropopplanet.wordpress.com/

    Like this vintage bullet planter restoration: http://retropopplanet.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/vintage-bullet-planter-restoration/

    Cheers,

    -C

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