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General Upholstery Questions and Comments => General Discussion => Topic started by: 65Buick on June 04, 2018, 09:12:55 am

Title: Use of cotton batting
Post by: 65Buick on June 04, 2018, 09:12:55 am
I haven't used much of the cotton batting simply because of price. But I find that I like the way it works and am using it more.

In this chair: http://gdurl.com/48qf

when I removed the old cover it was strictly cotton on top of the springs. I used a piece of foam and now want to cover it in cotton. My question is, is it better to use one piece for the seat, and one piece for the edge, OR just use one piece to cover over all of it? I just envision that if one uses a single piece to cover over then at the edge it would get stretched and thin from the springs moving up and down.

The cover was placed right on top of the cotton. There was no dacron. The chair is from 1958 so I'm not even sure dacron was around then. Would it better to then go over the cotton with a piece of dacron, or just straight over? I will be using top grain italian leather. So I want to do the best that I can.
Title: Re: Use of cotton batting
Post by: kodydog on June 04, 2018, 12:12:46 pm
May I assume the chair takes a cushion? A very long time ago I had a customer complain because he could see and feel the outline of the spring through the seat deck. Ever since then I always make sure there is enough padding, even though the cushion covers it. A problem occurs when using too much padding under the deck that is now the seat front needs to be built up also.

Of all the different padding types for decks, cotton is my favorite. 
Title: Re: Use of cotton batting
Post by: 65Buick on June 04, 2018, 12:23:52 pm
No, it's all tight. No separate cushion.
Title: Re: Use of cotton batting
Post by: SteveA on June 04, 2018, 01:16:00 pm
I would say that 99 % of every job I do gets the dacron wrap before the fabric.  It outlines and evens out the form + softens and adds comfort. I usually pull it tight like it was a piece of muslin.
SA
Title: Re: Use of cotton batting
Post by: 65Buick on June 04, 2018, 02:18:46 pm
I'd agree that's a smart thing to do Steve. Having worked with it a bit now I understand it's purpose.
What do you prefer, the 3/4oz or the 1oz, when it comes to seats?
Title: Re: Use of cotton batting
Post by: SteveA on June 05, 2018, 09:25:34 am
It's the thinner one - not sure of the oz - but maybe 1/2 inch thick. 
SA

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Title: Re: Use of cotton batting
Post by: 65Buick on June 07, 2018, 12:48:43 pm
I stapled the edge of the foam down hoping to have a nice rounded look. Found out the hard way that makes it much harder to fill out the corners of the cover.
I also had a problem with the leather being defective so I will have to start over.

This time I plan to cut a piece of foam to hang over the edge about 1/2" and then build up the sides of the seat to the same thickness. Won't staple the edge down. And find some decent material - be it vinyl, leather or whatever.
Title: Re: Use of cotton batting
Post by: MinUph on June 07, 2018, 02:45:28 pm
65 If you are just covering the seat as a tight seat and want the front edge to be rounded cut your foam about an inch over the front edge and glue a thin piece pf fabric on the top edge of the foam about 2" in and then upholster that to the frame first. It will hold the foam in place and you can work the edge nice and rounded. It is hard to tell what the seat should look like from the picture.
Title: Re: Use of cotton batting
Post by: SteveA on June 07, 2018, 02:46:05 pm
When you're short a nice layer of dacron will fill voids.  You could place some cotton into the corners.
SA
Title: Re: Use of cotton batting
Post by: 65Buick on June 07, 2018, 07:44:53 pm
I had forgotten about the muslin stripping. I did try the cotton.
I think if it were a woven I might have been o.k.

I should have taken a photo but basically the front corners were just not filling out. The rest was beautiful.
With the muslin stripping I.m just inviting that problem again, aren't I?