I had an addition to the Profire Family delivered yesterday, and thought I had better spruce up my bench before I installed her.
My old carpet was dirty and greasy from my XL650 and shavings from the crimp dies. The following is a 'how to' on carpeting your bench. I've had a few people ask about how it's done, so I hope you're listening.
Follow along:
Step 1: Strip the bench
Pull off any old coverings and make sure the bench is level and flat.
Step 2: Clean it.
Any old debris that you have left over from drilling, reloading, or spraying is going to end up under the carpet. Clean all that stuff off.
Step 3: Lay it out
The carpet for the bench is sold at Home Depot at the back of the store. You'll buy it by the linear foot, since the square foot doesn't make much sense in this case. The rolls are 12' long so don't make your bench longer than 10'. It's $0.52 per square foot - cheap for making sure everything on your bench stays there. This carpet for an 8' bench, 24" deep with full wrap cost me $24.
Step 4: Start Slow
You're going to need several things:
1) A can of 3M Super 77 Spray
2) A staple gun
3) A razor blade knife with a NEW blade
4) Forearm strength to pull the install tight (no shame in getting a second person involved here - you may need it)
You'll need to roll the carpet back about 20% on the bench to give yourself a starting point. Make sure you hit the edges at least twice, as that's where its going to release first if it does. Spray the first 1/5th of the bench and lay the carpet down. Just the left 20%.
Step 5: Push
Run your hands all over the carpet to make sure that it sticks. It will - but not if you don't lay it down.
Step 6: Work from the other side
After you've adhered the carpet to the left side, roll it over from the right so it covers only what you've sprayed.
Step 7: All the way
Spray (in sections) all the way across the table until you're done. Then pinch and cut the corners.
Step 8: Edges need love too
Make sure you spray the edges so the carpet will adhere to the front support of the bench top. Also, spray underneath so when you staple the carpet to the underside, the adhesive will take tension off of the staples when you pull the carpet tight and staple.
Step 9: Corners Suck
Tuck, fold and clean the corners. Anytime you're folding the second section to complete the seam, make sure you notch it before cutting and folding.
There's no getting around it, a straight line is easier to glue than an angle. But its not difficult. Do it right - don't rush, because you're going to be looking at it every time you reload for the forseeable future.
9:1 Cut
9:2 Trim (square)
9:3 Tack
9:4 Cut and Clean
9:5 Notch (very important)
You'll need to notch the edge to continue onto the next side.
Step 10: You're Done
Work your way around doing all corners like this, and you'll be finished in exactly four sides.
Step 11: Finish
Should look alot like this.
Step 12: You're Done
Drill the spots for your new press, and you're off to the races.
My old carpet was dirty and greasy from my XL650 and shavings from the crimp dies. The following is a 'how to' on carpeting your bench. I've had a few people ask about how it's done, so I hope you're listening.
Follow along:
Step 1: Strip the bench
Pull off any old coverings and make sure the bench is level and flat.
Step 2: Clean it.
Any old debris that you have left over from drilling, reloading, or spraying is going to end up under the carpet. Clean all that stuff off.
Step 3: Lay it out
The carpet for the bench is sold at Home Depot at the back of the store. You'll buy it by the linear foot, since the square foot doesn't make much sense in this case. The rolls are 12' long so don't make your bench longer than 10'. It's $0.52 per square foot - cheap for making sure everything on your bench stays there. This carpet for an 8' bench, 24" deep with full wrap cost me $24.
Step 4: Start Slow
You're going to need several things:
1) A can of 3M Super 77 Spray
2) A staple gun
3) A razor blade knife with a NEW blade
4) Forearm strength to pull the install tight (no shame in getting a second person involved here - you may need it)
You'll need to roll the carpet back about 20% on the bench to give yourself a starting point. Make sure you hit the edges at least twice, as that's where its going to release first if it does. Spray the first 1/5th of the bench and lay the carpet down. Just the left 20%.
Step 5: Push
Run your hands all over the carpet to make sure that it sticks. It will - but not if you don't lay it down.
Step 6: Work from the other side
After you've adhered the carpet to the left side, roll it over from the right so it covers only what you've sprayed.
Step 7: All the way
Spray (in sections) all the way across the table until you're done. Then pinch and cut the corners.
Step 8: Edges need love too
Make sure you spray the edges so the carpet will adhere to the front support of the bench top. Also, spray underneath so when you staple the carpet to the underside, the adhesive will take tension off of the staples when you pull the carpet tight and staple.
Step 9: Corners Suck
Tuck, fold and clean the corners. Anytime you're folding the second section to complete the seam, make sure you notch it before cutting and folding.
There's no getting around it, a straight line is easier to glue than an angle. But its not difficult. Do it right - don't rush, because you're going to be looking at it every time you reload for the forseeable future.
9:1 Cut
9:2 Trim (square)
9:3 Tack
9:4 Cut and Clean
9:5 Notch (very important)
You'll need to notch the edge to continue onto the next side.
Step 10: You're Done
Work your way around doing all corners like this, and you'll be finished in exactly four sides.
Step 11: Finish
Should look alot like this.
Step 12: You're Done
Drill the spots for your new press, and you're off to the races.
