Salilorite. Maybe they would just sell you the unbound mat. That way you will save money and have your local carpet place do it for you with the machine that does that.

 

Can non-flexible edging material ever be neatly installed around corners? What is it the carpet guy can do that the coco people don't do?

Maybe what's really needed is some kind of liquid that cures neatly and permanently to the mat edges.

 

You can bend non flexible vinyl material edging to a point. The problem IMO can be reduced by using a way narrower strip and stitching closer to the edge. Also there is really no reason to use vinyl on the edge regular binding would work fine as there is little to know wear on the edges.

 

I believe the cocomats are marketed as 'all-weather' mats. The binding you suggest doesn't sound like 'all-weather' material, and therefore wouldn't be used in their application. Just a guess.

 

That binding is trying to lock in the edge of the very thick, coarse coco material, not comparable to carpet, don't worry about it. Shouldn't be even a remote concern for you.

 

Fact is it does bother me. I don't like the way the old Friday Ford's used to get finished. I just think they could do better. I would rate the edging 4 out of 10. The mat itself is 10....

 

OK I'm no expert and this is my first time using a binding machine. This material IMHO is very strong and looks 9 out of 10. I could get to 10 out of 10 with practice. It is clear to me that the Cocomats use a carpet binding machine and that can cause problems on inside corners. It would be possible for them to use 1 1/4" vinyl binding and get similar results to my job.
So it is clear they could do much better....in fact much, much better.
All they do is source the material cut it out and bind the edge and charge a high end price.
Please us know your thoughts.

 

On the Cocomats website there's a photo of their "Furstil" mat which unfortunately shows the same bunching on inside curves that's been criticized here. And the Furstil looks to me like it's similar to GregoryK's test material - so it's not just the coco material where the edging's rough. (So maybe that's why they're only $200 instead of $400).

 

Sailorlite. My understanding is that all Cocomats have the same edging. They sell many difference carpets. I ordered Furstil 6.6. The mats (carpets) would be purchased and they probably cut and bind the edges - once you order them.

 

I have never worked in a sewing plant, but I have visited many plants over the years. Some sewed sleepwear, others denim jeans, others made lab coats and scrubs or knit shirts, dress shirts, slacks, etc. I'm aware of what quality control is required based on the item. You don't need the highest quality sewing in patient gowns like you do in dress shirts.

If Coco Mats only use one binding, it simplifies manufacturing. One binding may allow them to use one folder to fold the binding around the edges when it's being sewn. If they use a thinner, stretchier binding (weaker?), it could stretch around the curved edges and avoid puckering/bunching-up inside the curves of the binding by not needing to stretch.

I have the red & black coco mats. The coco fiber part uses coarse, thick fiber twisted into a coarse yarn and woven into a thick, loose, decorative weave. That's then mated to a nubby, vinyl/plastic backing. That tough, heavy binding has to keep those loose fibers and yarn from unravelling and makes the two layers appear to be one.

A little puckering in the binding. Hey, this isn't a dress shirt.

 

Guess my opinion is that those mats may look good in a jeep but not in a BMW. They could do a better job. They could take a little more time. Especially on the non cocomat materials.