Chair seat cushioning

[65Buick]

This is a little mid-century style chair. It's pretty basic stuff. Just curious what the different approaches would be to cushioning the seat, especially the front. It was foam and cotton batting.

I do have the springs covered with burlap. Would it be best now to sew a strip of fabric down so I can pad the front of the seat (in front of the first spring) with say 1" foam, then go over it again with another inch or so of foam?

http://gdurl.com/0cvM

http://gdurl.com/857B

[MinUph]

2" of foam is not going to work. You will still feel the springs. I would use a layer of rubberized hair pad over the butlap, then firm 1", then cotton.

[kodydog]

You can test different methods before you upholster the chair. Every time I think I'll use 2" foam on a tight seat chair like yours I test it and like Paul says I feel the springs underneath. But then 3" foam will look kinda odd, too big. Usually I'll put 1/2" firm over the springs then 2" medium and Dacron or cotton over the whole thing. That seems to do the trick but I only weigh 150 lbs. A 250 pounder will still feel the springs.

Good looking chair. Is this a project for resale?

[SteveA]

I would consider adding a few more of those small coil springs before the rubberized hair padding
SA

[baileyuph]

What are the theories of building the spring setup side to side opposed to front to back?

I have run into both, probably most are front to rear installations.

What are the pro and cons?

Nice little chair - could be fun!

Good Luck,

Doyle

[65Buick]

Yes this chair is for resale.

It is challenging for me to test things as well as I only weigh 165lb. I will go to the supplier today and look for some rubberized hair and ask them what they think.

[65Buick]

I called the shop and according to them upholsterers are using burlap and foam.
I'm confused. Are guys going cheap or what's going on here? This is a quality supply shop, not a rat hole.

[baileyuph]

Did your supplier have the rubberized hair?

Doyle

[MinUph]

  Suppliers have all kinds of reasons on what they offer. It is generally based on the shops they deal with on a regular basis. Products like rubberized hair pad may not be used by these shops possibly because they have never used it or don't know how it works or dont want to add another product to the mix, or just are too set on getting things out the door as quickly as possible. For a thin product it is hard to beat on top of springs.
  I have a supplier that when I ask a question of like why do you offer this product when I know it is not the best for the money the response is everyone likes it. Experience is a wonderful thing the problem is it takes too long to get it LOL.
  Listen to whomever you feel comfortable with.

[kodydog]

I've seen rubberized hair on pieces I have worked on and it is a good product. I'm pretty sure my suppliers don't carry it. Where do you get it? Does it come on rolls? How much is it? I would be like to try it. 

[65Buick]

No rubberized hair. Just the grey colored jute stuff that they say is used for autos. In the area there are at least 2 auto upholsterers that I know of, and also a fairly busy furniture upholstery biz. They supply those plus the public and the local area designers.

[MinUph]

Albany Upholstery supplies handles it.
http://www.albanyfoam.com/images/AFS_catalog_LR_23.pdf
I don't think this is where I bought the last roll I have but they do handle it. I wouldn't pay this much for it. But I don't remember where. If I do I will post it.

[65Buick]

That's the stuff there, paul.

It would be nice if I could get ahold of the coco mat. I've seen that a number of times now. Cheap and good substitute. Only place I can find it is the garden department, and my guess is it's not the same, not strong enough for seating.