How To: Wrap Arm Rest With Pleather/Leather/Vinyl Options

[Noahwhite2014]

This is my first how to because didn't see anyone else post a cheap how to because the other was in leather and would require buying a premade leather covering or making one which at the moment i don't have time/money to do. Also I'm making this how to after I've already done this so i won't have some pictures, Sorry!

First off depending on the material you choose, the difficulty will vary greatly. I would say vinyl is the easiest (because it can wrap around corners easily with heat). Next easiest would probably be leather since it has much more give to it when wrapping around corners than pleather does. The hardest by far (but cheapest for the best look) is pleather. Now there are different kinds of pleather such as one with a flannel back, or one with a cloth back. The flannel backed pleather is much stretchier and easier to use than the cloth backed pleather, BUT the cloth backed will last much longer and won't rip/tear as easily when doing this.

I selected cloth backed pleather as it was about $7 a yard at my local fabric store (so i did my headliner so far, i plan on doing much more of the interior with all the material i bought), I also selected this because the worker there told me that it is much more durable and it was only about $0.50 more than the flannel backed. I bought one yard of the flannel backed, just incase the cloth backed didn't work because the worker advised me it would be difficult to wrap around corners with clothed back.

How to Wrap Arm Rest With Pleather/Leather/Vinyl:

Things Needed (Depending on your material of choice):
Vinyl:
-Vinyl material
-Heat gun or hair dryer (this isn't just for wrapping around corners the vinyl also needs to be heated so that it won't shrink from sitting in the sun on a hot day)
-Scissors
-Adhesive of some sort, spray works well (some vinyl sheets come with adhesive on the back in which case you will not NEED adhesive but a stronger, more permanent adhesive is recommended)
-Phillips #0 Screw driver as well as a slightly larger one but that size doesn't matter as much

Leather (follow the other how to as it will probably end up better. Otherwise follow this if you want to do it the cheap way (you can probably get all the leather you'll need off of amazon for about $8 and yes i have tried it and dangerous threads (the sellers name) has pretty good leather):
-Leather
-Scissors
-Spray adhesive (contact cement in a spray gun will work well, if not you may also brush it on in a thin coat)
-1/4" or less staples (yes for paper, not a staple gun)**
-Stapler*
-1mm waxed beading cord in the color of your choice (for stitching if you want to add accents)***
-Phillips #0 Screw driver as well as a slightly larger one but that size doesn't matter as much

Pleather(any kind):
-Pleather Material
-Scissors
-Spray adhesive (contact cement in a spray gun will work well, if not you may also brush it on in a thin coat)
-1/4" or less staples **
-Stapler*
-1mm waxed beading cord in the color of your choice (for stitching if you want to add accents)***
-Phillips #0 Screw driver as well as a slightly larger one but that size doesn't matter as much

* -Yes the stapler is what shoots the staples to hold the material in place
** -1/4" works but 1/8th inch staples and a mini stapler work even better
*** - This is not necessary but adds to the look of your interior (i did not do it but i will be doing it in the future when i have time



1. First thing you need to do is lift up your arm rest of the center console.

2. Next use a philips-head screwdriver to remove the two screws holding the hinge to the arm rest. (i put the two screws in the console since it was empty and i wouldn't lose them that way)

3. Remove the top by pushing the top of the console toward the rear of the car while holding the hinge with your fingers. There are plastic tabs on the hinge to aid in lining up the screw holes properly as well as to help it stay attached to the hinge.

4. Move indoors to somewhere more comfortable than your car

5. Remove the 6 philips screws with your #0 philips head screwdriver and place the 6 screws somewhere you won't lose them (like in a ziplock bag)

6. Remove the cup holder sliding assembly and put it on the side

7. Peel up the vinyl material wrapped around the console so you can see the edge of the plastic that is the start armrest.

8. Run your scissors around the two long sides and the rear of the armrest and remove those bits of the old material.

9. Peel off the rest of the material (NOT THE FOAM UNDER IT) from the front flap. Some of the foam will rip a bit but it won't be noticeable once wrapped

10. Place the arm rest cover on your new material and roughly trace it out onto the backside of the material

11. Add a good two to three inches radius to the line you made and cut out the material
OPTIONAL Leather or Pleather: here is where you can cut two lines (you will have three pieces of material now) on the long edge of your outline and then restitch them back together with your beading cord as accents


12. Spray (or brush) on adhesive to the top of your armrest (not the sides) and lay it down onto your material where you marked the outline. (follow directions of your adhesive for proper adhesion)
Vinyl: Heat up your vinyl with the heat gun or hair dryer, don't hold it in one place to long as you can burn a hold in the vinyl (skip to step 14)

13. Allow adhesive to dry/cure

14. Leather or Pleather: Tightly pull the center of the front side under the plastic and staple at least 1/4" away from the plastic edge repeat for the rear, and both long sides.
Vinyl: spray adhesive onto all of the vinyl and try to place the armrest in the center of your material, then hold the center of the armrest down as you wrap the vinyl around all four corners while you use heat to make wrapping easier

15. Leather or Pleather: Cut slits every inch all the way around the material leaving at least 1/8" of clearance to the edge of the plastic
Vinyl: Continue to pull the vinyl except in the middle of each of the four sides being sure to allow the adhesive to hold the vinyl down

16. Leather or Pleather: Pull each flap down and angle them toward the center staple of its respective side. Staple it when you have it at a place where there are no creases shown but it is pulled as far toward the center as possible. Continue this and work from the center toward the corners leaving at least one flap on the short sides and two flaps on the long sides to each corner.
Vinyl: Finally pull the rest of the material over and either cloths pin the vinyl to the plastic and allow the adhesive to dry, or clamp it. Flip over the armrest and squeegee any bubbles out with your fingers

17. Leather or Pleather: Once you get to the corners pull both the flaps as far as possible and smooth out any creases that are shown at the corners, hold the flaps down and staple them one at a time

18. Reverse steps 1-6 to reinstall into your car.

Thats all! Aloha!

Ill be adding pictures of what i have as the finished product tomorrow when i actually have light and also uploading some pics i have of the job being done.

This post has been edited by Noahwhite2014: Aug 5, 2014 - 4:27 AM