Profession upholsterer

Upholsterers provide objects such as furniture, panels, orthopaedic devices, fixtures or vehicle parts with padding or soft covering. They can install, repair or replace the upholstery of objects with materials such as fabrics, leather, suede or cotton. Upholsterers install the webbings and springs necessary to cover the material.

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Personality Type

  • Realistic / Enterprising

Knowledge

  • Upholstery fillings

    Materials used to fill soft furniture like upholstered chairs or mattresses must have several properties such as resilience, lightness, high-bulk properties. They can be fillings of animal origin such as feathers, of vegetal origin such as cotton wool or of synthetic fibers.

  • Manufacturing of small metal parts

    The manufacture of metal cable, plaited bands and similar articles, uninsulated metal cable or insulated cable not capable of being used as a conductor of electricity, coated or cored wire and articles made of wire: barbed wire, wire fencing, grill, netting, cloth etc. Manufacture of coated electrodes for electric arc-welding, nails and pins, chain, and springs (except watch springs): leaf springs, helical springs, torsion bar springs and leaves for springs.

  • Types of spring

    Types of metal springs such as leaf, coil, torsion, clock, tension and extension spring.

  • Textile materials

    Have a good understanding of the properties of different textile materials.

  • Upholstery tools

    Set of tools used for upholstering furniture, walls and floors such as staple gun, foam cutter, staple remover.

Skills

  • Create patterns for textile products

    Create a two-dimensional model used to cut the material for textile products such as tents and bags, or for individual pieces needed for upholstery work.

  • Perform upholstery repair

    Repair/restore damaged upholstery for a wide range of vehicles; use materials such as fabric, leather, plastic or vinyl.

  • Sew pieces of fabric

    Operate basic or specialised sewing machines whether domestic or industrial ones, sewing pieces of fabric, vinyl or leather in order to manufacture or repair wearing apparels, making sure the threads are selected according to specifications.

  • Sew textile-based articles

    Sew different products based on textiles and wearing apparel articles. Combine good hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and physical and mental stamina.

  • Install spring suspension

    Nail down the springs to the wooden frame of a chair or other piece of furniture to be upholstered. In the case of mattresses, check the structure holding the springs for defects and fix the layers of protective fabrics to cover the spring suspension.

  • Fasten components

    Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.

  • Provide customized upholstery

    Install custom upholstery, according to the customer's individual requests and preferences.

Optional knowledge and skills

repair furniture parts artificially age furniture decorate furniture operate furniture machinery advise on furniture style apply a protective layer manufacturing of furniture furniture trends estimate restoration costs fix minor scratches manipulate wood clean furniture evaluate restoration procedures paint decorative designs sell furniture furniture industry apply restoration techniques manipulate metal upholster transport equipment's interior pieces identify customer's needs design prototypes prepare furniture for application of paint design original furniture pass on trade techniques handle delivery of furniture goods clean upholstered furniture

Common job titles

  • Production upholsters needed
  • Upholsterer
  • Inside upholsterer
  • Upholsterer, furniture maker wanted!
  • Outside upholsterer
  • Manufacturing upholstery technician
  • Furniture upholsterer
  • Inventory control specialist