Screws instead of staples for a vinyl seat cover?

[SAWYER]

I am replacing my four wheeler cover and most people say to use a stapler but my hand stapler is not getting the job done, would some small screws and washers be sufficient?

 

[Bartman39]

Depends on what the base is made out of...? Wood which would be or should be rather thick but is old school or plastic which is thin but with small short screws they should work...?

But the screws might poke you when you sit on the seat...?

Pic`s would help too...?

 

[mindless1]

Yes you can use screws and washers. If it's wood or a brittle plastic then you may be better off pre-drilling undersized holes into it to lessen the chance of it cracking, and as Bartman mentioned, use screws only as long as needed to prevent poking through when the seat padding is compressed from sitting on it.

Also over a few years time and use, vinyl can tend to shrink and rip out at the fasteners so I would think about tacking down the perimeter with some kind of adhesive in addition to the screws, a good volume of caulking or construction adhesive etc, should work. On the other hand if it is prevented from shrinking it may just crack instead.

 

[SAWYER]

The plastic is very sturdy

 

[mindless1]

^ Sturdy plastic (you mean the vinyl covering?) pulling against itself, is going to stretch when new or tear or crack once it's had enough UV exposure.

 

[SAWYER]

I meant the seat frame, I ended up buying an electric stapler from Harbor Freight, that worked pretty good