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Imagine that you could go to a completely hand tied spring assembly and lift the already tied twine off the springs. Of course, in reality this would be impossible, since the twine is looped around each spring wire, but if you could do this, you would have a pre-made (I'll call it a lattice) arrangement of twine that would resemble a tennis net. If you could buy this pre-made lattice, you would cut off the length you needed (the width would probably be standard for most applications) and lay it over the springs. The points of intersection between the lattice and the spring coils would then be clinched using whatever fastener would quickly bind the two. The attachment to the wood frame might be done before, during or after the spring connections depending on what worked best. I'm sure a standard procedure would emerge with experimentation. When done, the whole assembly would be just as flexible and durable as hand tying, but it would take much less time to construct since there would be no threading around and over the spring of each length of twine.
Could it work? I know you couldn't call it hand tied springs anymore, but think of how much labor was saved in home building when plywood replace individual boards for floors and walls. I don't think many people miss those days.
Rich

Thanks Doyle,
So the goal is to get all the coils level across the top? Doesn't the tension on the spring twine do that? I know I've seen tying techniques where the twine skips down one coil at the edge springs so as not to compress the outer springs. Maybe that's the fix for that. But anyway, I don't see that as a problem with a pre-made overlay if it was designed to work that way.
Mike, I re-read your post, did you mean to say 3-4 hours including re-webbing the bottom? Seems like a good place to cut some time!
Rich

Thanks Mike, but can you tell me WHY hand tying is superior to a method like I described?
Thanks,
Rich

I don't do much in the way of living room furniture, so I tend to cringe whenever I feel the need to take in a chair or sofa that needs to have the coil springs retied.
Every time I look at one of these, I say to myself "there has to be an easier way that will produce the same results". The main aspect of this operation that I can't understand is the attachment of the coils. I see that the bottoms are fastened to the bottom webbing by either Klinch-it fasteners or heavy thread. But the tops are held in place by an elaborate, time consuming web of tying twine. I wonder why so much time is invested in lacing tying twine in and around each spring, knotting where needed and tacking the ends to the frame when the bottoms are simply secured to the webbing? Is there a difference in the force exerted at the top as opposed to the bottom of the spring? Couldn't the tops be secured to a pre-made lattice of heavy fabric or webbing that would be then tacked to the frame? It seems to me (maybe I'm wrong) that the technique of hand tying dates back to a time when labor was much cheaper than today and the tradition has held due to status (Featuring eight-way hand tied springs!!) or maybe a blind adherance to "old world craftmanship", or maybe just a lack of any other way to do it.
Am I onto something, or just way off base?
Thanks,
Rich

Yes, I believe you are correct that our form of gov't does not resemble fascism in the traditional sense.
The thing that has me concerned is that well intentioned individuals will go along with innocent sounding causes that you can really get behind. The trouble is that it is marketed by those who stand to benefit, in such a way as to make disagreement with the ideals taboo. We are told Going green, banning smoking in public places, cutting our carbon footprint, banning guns and being pro-choice are so good for our health and well-being that anyone who raises an objection based on cost, or any other side effect is labeled as being part of the problem and therefore an enemy of the cause. The resulting fervor becomes almost religious in it's attitude and causes people to do irrational things (remember Y2K, and heterosexual AIDS?).
I think the Germans got pretty worked up about threats to their national pride just before the Holocaust.
Anyway, that's my .02, I'll get off my soapbox as I've probably pretty much hijacked this thread by now.
Rich

I'm sorry, I got a little off track in my thinking when you said you converted your IRA's to Roth IRA's. I guess you meant that your contributions were not taxable before you converted since, of course, now they are.

As far as the what our country would be considered, I hope your right about that, it just seems that little by little, we are having to walk around on eggshells to make sure what we say is "politically correct" so as not to get anyone angry at us for being so "insensitive" (i.e. if your not on our side, your part of the problem, or didn't Al Gore say "the time for debate is over"?).
Rich

Wow, what you guys know about fascism couldn't fill a thimble.

I don't know too much about facism either, but I think it has something to do with the way liberals will shout down anyone who dares to say anything to challenge their widely held beliefs on issues like gay marriage, global warming and gun control.

We have both contributed as much as we've been able to our "straight job" retirement funds over the years, thereby reducing our taxable income. 

Could you elaborate on that?

Thanks,
Rich

Well, as long as we're talking about securing our futures (or at least trying to) what has anyone done about preparing for not being able to work, say in the very near future? I'm talking about disability insurance. I have looked into this on several occasions and always come away with the same conclusion: With all my other commitments, I can't afford to pay the premiums. But, since I am the only one who is doing the production work in my business, I am taking a big risk. Someone had, in a previous post, mentioned Aflac. I called them, but they told me I had to have a certain number of employees and offer it to them.
Anyone?
Rich

I can't imagine any reason for not having the scrim backing as the lowest layer since it provides a means to keep the thread from cutting into the foam. I've never seen it done the way you describe, but then, I haven't done auto trim work for many years.
Another function I have found for the backing is to enable the whole assembly to slide through during sewing. With foam as the bottom layer, it tends to grip the bed of the machine.
When I read the subject heading, I thought you were going to say something about the backing itself. I don't like using the standard cheescloth type scrim backing on this foam b/c since it is rolled with the backing out, it tends to wrinkle when laid flat and this results in visible lines in the finished cover. I always specify the bi-directional stretch backing I get from 3 Rivers supply in PA. That backing doesn't show ridges in the finished product like the scrim does.
Rich

Sounds like a whole 'nother thread on how incompetence seems to rise to the top.
Rich

Having a record of every transaction is a benefit that can't be overrated. I've used QB Pro for many years and to have such organization is a wonderful benefit for someone like me whose memory can't be depended on much anymore.
A more recent benefit has been the use of digital photos sent to me by email. Instead of waiting until I have a trip to a customer's area, I can download the pictures and call them back with a quote within minutes.
Rich

Well, as long as we're goofing around, my favorite is "how long will I keep stiching before I realize my bobbin ran out?"
Rich

hammerandhand, those are thoughtful! Thanks.
You know what I'm starting to realize? We work with a lot of potentially hazardous stuff!
Rich

Well, I can tell by these replies that you folks are from the same childhood era as me. A time when we had fun even if a few bumps and scrapes resulted. Today, everything has to be guaranteed not to cause bruises or hurt feelings, or someon's going to be held liable.
BORING! But I'm sure there's something that can be done. This past weekend my wife and I attended a big Chevelle show and they always have a game planned. One year it was a fan belt toss (try to get it to land around a stake in the ground). Another time it was a piston toss. This time it was a lifter toss (you had to try to get them to land in an oil pan placed on the ground) and they even had a wet T-shirt contest, for the kids! OK, here's how it went. Each participant soaked a T-shirt in a tub of water, then ran to his or her bucket to wring it out. A few dozen trips later, the bucket gets filled and the first one to fill theirs is the winner. These ideas are good for an auto business, but I would like to use upholstery items for my business at this event.
Thanks,
Rich

Doyle,
I think if I were that person, I would get as much info as possible as to what he would be learning b/c fads can come and go, but a good solid education can be applied to many related industries with some additional training. It's probably worth it if good jobs are available to a graduate of that school. Look at all the college grads whose educations cost more than that who can't find a job in their field.
Rich