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I'm going to start getting in to building custom enclosures and I was wondering how to carpet boxes to make them look very nice and seamless. Any websites with howto's or just telling me on the forum would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Posts: 1 | From: Ridgecrest, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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You have to take your time on the seams. The important part is to keep it straight. Its easiest to use a straightedge and razor blades to cut along it. Seam the box on the sides and make them meet in the middle of each side. It is tempting to seam along the box corners but it will never usually turn out right and will unravel in time showing wood..
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With a little patience anyone can seam carpet so that it looks like a pro did it. First thing that you do is decide which panel of the box will be seen the least(mark this side with an x), that is where you start. Lay the carpet out on a flat surface with the back side facing up, now lay the box on top of the carpet(x up), somewhere in the middle of the carpet. Test to see that the carpet will wrap around the box and partially cover the side with the x. Reposition if necessary, apply your glue and roll the box until the front, top, back, and bottom are covered with carpet. Leave the carpet loose on the sides until the final step. Now take a straight edge of some sort(ruler, square, something flat, preferrably metal), and a razor knife and trim through both ends of the carpet, across the box from side to side. Be careful to apply enough pressure to cut through both layers of carpet, this is important to insure a clean seam. Next pull the scrap pieces out of the seam area and press the carpet into place. Your box should be wrapped on four sides now, with only the ends to finish. Ok now, take a look at the back side of an envelope, notice the pattern of overlapping paper, this is your basic form for carpeting the ends of your box. Stand the box on it's end for the following steps. Slice the carpet that overhangs the ends of the box into flaps that extend from the end of each panel, apply glue and position any two of the opposing flaps, do not trim away any excess carpet yet. Once positioned the two flaps should overlap, just like before, get the straight edge and trim these pieces, near the center of the side panels. Now you take a third flap and pull it into position, use the straight edge to make seam, but this time cut a "v" seam that points towards the center of the side panel, keep the flap taught and remember to apply enough pressure. Pull the scrap carpet from the seam area and press the "v" shaped flap into place. Repeat this step for the final flap and you should be good on this end of the box. Finally flip the box over and repeate all the steps for the previous end, and that there should pretty much WRAP things up.
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