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General Upholstery Questions and Comments => General Discussion => Topic started by: regalman190 on August 10, 2014, 04:34:43 pm

Title: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: regalman190 on August 10, 2014, 04:34:43 pm
Just wondering how you would cut a radius on the top edge of cushion foam.
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: MinUph on August 10, 2014, 05:15:06 pm
You can order foam with a buffed edge (best way) or you can sand it off yourself with a disk sander (more work) gently.
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: cajunpedaler on August 11, 2014, 07:12:27 am
One of my old time mentors said the way he rounded or shaped foam was to wet it, then freeze it, THEN shape it...
I never tried it, but it makes sense to me.
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: byhammerandhand on August 11, 2014, 08:44:26 am
Outside my scope of work, but has anyone ever used a Surform?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surform
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: MinUph on August 11, 2014, 09:13:16 am
There used for sheetrock . I doubt they would do well with our foams.
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: byhammerandhand on August 11, 2014, 09:44:51 am
Like I implied, I'm not sure.   I use them for wood shaping.
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: BlueFlamingo on August 11, 2014, 10:43:49 am
I use an electric carving knife.  It works GREAT!!!!!
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: fragged8 on August 13, 2014, 03:01:02 pm
when covering in vinyl  i wouldnt bother making a radius on the foam edge, the cover will pull the foam into shape.
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: regalman190 on August 13, 2014, 05:23:09 pm
Thank you.
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: Judy_Boat on August 16, 2014, 06:24:00 am
if you have strange rounding shapes you can try this
After the foam is fixed in place:
you can glue thin material(cotton or muslin) to the foam leaving the material loose over the area you want to shape. Then cut foam if necessary and pull the material down until you are happy with the shape and staple to the frame.
Then other padding and good material are put on.
Mid-50's upholstery textbooks are great for this kind on info.
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: seatbuilder on August 16, 2014, 07:10:42 am
on some cushions I cut and grind with a grinder. On some I cut out a notch around the foam, anywhere from 1/2" to 3/4" depending on the radius I want. Spray in glue and join. When this method is used you can add a strip of cloth over the finished edge for added security.
It makes a beautiful rounded edge with no grinding. If you want a much larger radius the other method is probably better
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: bobbin on August 16, 2014, 07:45:27 am
Great discussion.
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: Mike on August 21, 2014, 05:20:24 am
It its just a knee bolster i do as ri h the cover will round the  edge. If it realy had to be round  then i rough cut it with a knofe then add a layer of 1/2" coam to smoothe things out
Title: Re: Rounding an edge on a cushion foam.
Post by: JuneC on August 21, 2014, 06:38:50 am
If patching a damaged section, I glue in a new chunk, rough cut with a foam saw, then grind smooth with an angle grinder and 60 grit sandpaper.

For new cushions, I do like Mike - cut a smaller-than-necessary section and glue either 1/2 or 1" foam sheet over the section needing rounding.  Works great and looks pretty-much perfect. 

June