Another Suede Interior Thread :)
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From: Harrisburg, PA
^^Nothing to really make a thread on. You just do it, and wrap it. Thats it. The key to wrapping in suede and making it look GOOD is to run all the suede the same way, and also pull it TIGHT. You always have to wrap too. It wont look good unless you wrap it. I also did all these components in my car, i can post pics if someone wants. I do this professionally so it can give an idea of how it can look if you really go at it.
BTW, dont do any more than you have done. Mabye the wheel...but otherwise youre just getting too much. Little hints of it looks ALOT better than it everywhere.
just my .02.
-Alex
BTW, dont do any more than you have done. Mabye the wheel...but otherwise youre just getting too much. Little hints of it looks ALOT better than it everywhere.
just my .02.
-Alex
I didn't even thinking to wrap them so the suede runs the same way. It's hard to tell anyway, but that's a good thought.
The steering wheel is definatly getting done, not just for look, but the function. I love the grip and feeling of suede or Alcantara. I hear Alcantara is much more durable, but expensive. That's the reason I want to use it on the steering wheel and used the suede on other parts that aren't constantly being touched, since suede is cheaper.
Go ahead and post some pictures. I'd be interested in seeing some other's work as well
Espeically professional work. It'll probably make me a bit jealous
^^HAHA. I would HIGHLY recomend using Alcantara on the steering wheel. The stuff you bought will probably fade pretty quickly if you dont have tinted windows to keep the sunlight out. My whole interior is alcantara. Not really worth it for me to use the cheaper stuff since all i have to pay for is materials. I do all the rest myself
Ill post up some pics when i get a chance.
Ill post up some pics when i get a chance.
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Yeah I was a little worried about it fading. It was fairly cheap. If it starts to fade I may redo it in Alcantara. We'll see how it goes 
For my first time ever attempting it, I think it turned out pretty decent. I'm thinking about tking it off the HVAC panel and wraping that part it carbon fiber. It's real hard to make the suede look good on there because of all the knob and buttons.

For my first time ever attempting it, I think it turned out pretty decent. I'm thinking about tking it off the HVAC panel and wraping that part it carbon fiber. It's real hard to make the suede look good on there because of all the knob and buttons.
Did someone say suede dash with stitching?
http://rarejdm.com/speedraver1/album...DSC_7522~0.jpg
Not an Evo but you get the point.
Can't go wrong with Alcantara, it feels so good it'll make you want to drive more.
http://rarejdm.com/speedraver1/album...DSC_7522~0.jpg
Not an Evo but you get the point.
Can't go wrong with Alcantara, it feels so good it'll make you want to drive more.
^^HAHA. I would HIGHLY recomend using Alcantara on the steering wheel. The stuff you bought will probably fade pretty quickly if you dont have tinted windows to keep the sunlight out. My whole interior is alcantara. Not really worth it for me to use the cheaper stuff since all i have to pay for is materials. I do all the rest myself
Ill post up some pics when i get a chance.
Ill post up some pics when i get a chance.Last edited by Solley; Oct 27, 2009 at 05:17 PM.
Yeah I was a little worried about it fading. It was fairly cheap. If it starts to fade I may redo it in Alcantara. We'll see how it goes 
For my first time ever attempting it, I think it turned out pretty decent. I'm thinking about tking it off the HVAC panel and wraping that part it carbon fiber. It's real hard to make the suede look good on there because of all the knob and buttons.

For my first time ever attempting it, I think it turned out pretty decent. I'm thinking about tking it off the HVAC panel and wraping that part it carbon fiber. It's real hard to make the suede look good on there because of all the knob and buttons.
As far as DIY...its really just doing it. Alcantara is expensive so id recomend not starting on a difficult peice lol. Although none of them are really "easy". The main thing you have to do is PULL. Let the glue setup so its VERY tacky, let it sit and setup, and then PULL and PULL. The tighter it is, the better it looks. Corners gotta be tight so you dont get bubbles. Nothing else. Main thing to remember is to spray glue on both sides, and then let it sit. The glue is a cement, and wont adhere(sp?) right away. It takes time to get tacky.
PS. Alcantara is Suede, just the highest end of it.
Actually Alex I don't think it is.... Suede is animal hide of various animals, lamb, cow, deer, etc...... Alcantara is 100% (I'm pretty sure) synthetic (composite) made by chemical textile company, its process nature is what makes it special... some spinning woven process...... They have an offical site of course because it's tradmarked.
^^Well REAL suede is the back of a hyde of leather. But in order for the suede to actually be able to resist sunlight and sitting in the seats and stuff, it must be chemically made. Nobody uses "REAL" suede like the back of leather, because it cant be used. It will wear almost instantly. Alcantara is just a name brand of suede that is the "nicer" of the suedes. Its the HKS or ARC of suede...compared to the APC. Its just the nicer stuff.
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From: Harrisburg, PA
I did't really shop around. I'm not sure if it's cheap or not. I spent about $20 on 6sq feet. It feels nice. I doubt it's the best you can get. I'm sure it's not the worst either.
Don't know if anyone brought this up, but protect your suede. Whether you tint your window with a 98% or 95% UV tint, or use a protectant on it. I did my pillars, and was going to do my roof but have been too lazy for about a year, but my front A-Pillars have turned UGLY. They are totally faded and pretty much white down in the corners where they meet the window. Check my thread I posted "05 EB Detailed" in this section and you can see it in my interior shot. I park my car inside too.
-Will
-edit
I used the real stuff, got it at a fabric store. It was pretty expensive, cost about 50$ or so for enough material for my pillars.
-Will
-edit
I used the real stuff, got it at a fabric store. It was pretty expensive, cost about 50$ or so for enough material for my pillars.
If you got it at a fabric store, you didnt get the "real" stuff. you got cheap suede. If you want REAL GOOD stuff, you get alcantara. Have you noticed that Mitsu uses alcantara on the IX seat inserts..and its not faded? I have 82k miles on my IX, and the suede still look like the brand new alcantara i have at my shop. If you want some real stuff, i can sell you enough to do your pillars.
Don't know if anyone brought this up, but protect your suede. Whether you tint your window with a 98% or 95% UV tint, or use a protectant on it. I did my pillars, and was going to do my roof but have been too lazy for about a year, but my front A-Pillars have turned UGLY. They are totally faded and pretty much white down in the corners where they meet the window. Check my thread I posted "05 EB Detailed" in this section and you can see it in my interior shot. I park my car inside too.
-Will
-edit
I used the real stuff, got it at a fabric store. It was pretty expensive, cost about 50$ or so for enough material for my pillars.
-Will
-edit
I used the real stuff, got it at a fabric store. It was pretty expensive, cost about 50$ or so for enough material for my pillars.


