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How to Upholster a Car Door Panel | Custom Car Interior Upholstery Tutorial

Atomic Autoworks

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🚗 How to Upholster Car Door Panels, Kick Panels, and Quarter Panels

In this video from Atomic Autoworks Garage, we demonstrate how professional restoration shops wrap and upholster car door panels, kick panels, and quarter panels for custom automotive interiors.

If you're working on a classic car restoration, hot rod build, muscle car project, or custom automotive interior, learning proper upholstery techniques is essential. In this step-by-step tutorial we show the process used in real restoration and custom automotive shops.

Whether you're a DIY enthusiast, automotive technician, hot rod builder, or restoration specialist, this video will help you understand the basics of automotive upholstery and interior panel wrapping.

Atomic Autoworks Garage is dedicated to educating and inspiring the automotive community through real shop experience, craftsmanship, and passion for cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

What You'll Learn

• How to upholster a car door panel
• How to wrap kick panels and quarter panels
• Basic automotive upholstery techniques
• Tips used by professional restoration shops
• How custom car interiors are built

🔧 Support Atomic Autoworks Garage

Want to use the same tools and supplies we trust in our shop?

👉 https://www.AtomicAutoworks.com

🎙️ Listen to the Atomic Autoworks Podcast

Apple Podcasts → https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057396

Also available on Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.

📲 Follow Atomic Autoworks

Instagram → Instagram: atomicautoworks

Facebook → Facebook: atomicautoworks

TikTok → https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMexdtQ2C/

Contact

For podcast appearances or business inquiries:

✉ customize@atomicautoworks.com

👍 If you enjoy automotive restoration and custom builds, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications.

YouTube Keywords / Tags

(Use these in the video tags section)

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Hashtags (put at bottom of description)

#AtomicAutoworksGarage
#CarUpholstery
#AutomotiveUpholstery
#CustomCarInterior
#DoorPanelUpholstery
#ClassicCarRestoration
#HotRodInterior
#CarInteriorBuild
#AutoRestoration
#CarCustomization
#AutomotiveShop
#BuiltNotBought

20 Comments

@gayleturner945 3 years ago

Nicely done. I learn by watching. This is helpful!

@garygerard4290 1 year ago

very well explained - thank you

@countrysmurfcomedy3099 3 years ago

Great info and tips...💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

@augie2424 2 years ago (edited)

I've been looking for a video to make panels for my dune Buggy and this was perfect! Thank you very much! Would love to see what you used to attach it.

@olmoe1167 4 years ago

Looks good...
Thanks for the tips...

@TheAloeAccordionGuy 1 year ago

thanks nice job will help me

@oscarpereyra8672 1 year ago

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻✌🏼

@chazsteadman5020 1 year ago

I loved the video... until... he didn't reposition either the camera, or move around the table so I could actually see what he was doing when folding and stapling the corners.

@marylawson5393 3 years ago

How is your channeling staying put so well before you started stapling? You stood the panel up and it stayed in place? Glue?

@chadgama 2 years ago

Hello, I came across your channel while trying to come up with ideas for my 1988 Volvo 244 DL door panels.. they are original non-waterproof floppy cardboard style, covered with vinyl and cloth.. You have inspired me, I thank you... I wouldn't mind making my own door panel using the original as a template... My dilemma is the panel top curves, then protrudes inward towards the glass, thus making a lip that has a window weather strip attached and a hole for the (push pull style) lock knob.. Can you lead me to one of your videos, regarding this style of panel.. This panel has two rectangular pieces of metal attached to the back, acting as a guide and a lip to hold the panel in place before pushing in all tabs. I have little talent in this area, but lots of ambition.

@DanTheManIOM 1 year ago (edited)

?? staples don't rip into the super nice cover and secure panel to said working table ??... looks sharp !!

@joequashnock1552 3 years ago (edited)

Nice video! I like the tip to remove the foam from the folded over edge to make it thinner. I’m concerned about the angle of the staples holding the corner material down. With the gun leaned toward the edge, it looks like the material could pull the staple out. Shouldn’t you staple straight down through the material or angled away from the edge? This would put a sheer force (perpendicular) or pulling the staple in force (away). Thoughts?

@waltertrejo2534 9 days ago

Quick question: I don't like the idea of using wood on cars for the door panels as it can warp from the moisture. Could you use aluminium sheets cut to shape instead?

@spiderchata1 1 year ago

how much do you charge for some door panels like that for a 1940 ford?

@michaelcouey1383 2 years ago

At the beginning of the video, it was implied you make door upholstery designs like that and sell them so customers can attach it to their own panels. I looked at the website and didn't see anything like that. IS that something you offer?

@MG-ks1qg 2 years ago

What size stapes do you use? 5/16?

@tekknow8482 2 years ago

What size staples do you use?

@Gaefgaas 1 year ago

Did you skip a step? How does the material sticks to the panel before tacking?
I would do a step of glueing the welds to keep them straight, as pulling and stapeling can cause them to move.