Shredded polyurethane for bean bag chair

[gene]

I am going to make a baseball bean bag chair for my grandson. It will be two panels of white fabric sewn together, and then I'll use a soft red cord to make it look like there are stitches. And yes for those of you who are going to ask, it will have 108 stitches.

What do you think of using shredded polyurethane foam for the stuffing? I've got scraps around the shop.

I remember talking about shredding foam years ago but I don't remember what was said. I've got a wood chipper that shreds sticks up to 3" in diameter. Do you think this would work on poly foam?

Any thoughts on a type of fabric? I don't like using white but it's a baseball, what can I do. If it gets scratches and stains on it I'll just tell people it was one of Joe Niekro's baseballs. :-)

Thanks,

gene

[MinUph]

Sounds like a fun idea and your grandson will love it for many years. I'd mix the shredded foam with a little kapoc it helps the feel and adds something I can't explain. Go for it. It has got to be white. I'm thinking a white Microfiber. Good feel, body and tuff. Also easy to clean. Lets see it on completion. So I gather there are 108 stitches on a baseball? Never knew that.

[SteveA]

There's got to be a better method than shredding foam in a wood chipper.  Last time i bought shredded foam it was inexpensive and the company does take back pieces of leftover foam and giveyou credit.  I didn't have enough leftover to send back but it may be worth it for you.
SA

[gene]

I hadn't thought of adding kapoc. That's a good idea. I'm just thinking I've got foam so why not use it. And yes shredded foam is rather cheap but couldn't find anything on line about using it in a bean bag chair. If making my own shredded foam didn't work I would only be out my time.

And I love my wood chipper. If I give it a try with foam I'll let you know how it works. By the way, it doesn't work well on cats. At least that's what I hear. Actually, I wear hearing protection so I didn't hear anything. :-)

[SteveA]

and I thinking what's the worst that could happen - the foam floats away - picks up a few splinters or tree sap -  but cat guts - the Mrs. will certainly call the shrink -
SA

[Darren Henry]

There is no one around here that shreds foam. My supplies won't even "haul away" remnants to try to re purpose them. I always had lots of scrap pieces around and wanted to try shredding them. My best friend is a caretaker for several cottages on Lake of the Woods and has access to a fairly large chipper shredder and I always wanted to try running some foam through it. I never got  the chance as it was always on one of the islands and not all that much fun to load into a boat. Please give it a go and let us know how it works out. Inquiring minds need to know.

[pilerm1]

Yeah, that would probably work well. This place sells crumbed up foam and they mention bean bags as a use - https://www.gbfoamdirect.co.uk/foam-cut-to-size/bean-bag-foam-stuffing-foam-crumb/

[gene]

Thanks for the link. That's encouraging. I notice it's shredded into really small pieces. I'll keep that in mind if I go that route.

gene

[SteveA]

Every so often a customer complains the down feather cushions on their sofa are not supportive.  I found foam crumbs to be much better than adding feathers.  I grab a hand full of crumbs and place them between the feathers -
SA

[gene]

I suck all the feathers out of the insert cover with my shop vac. I'll often need to empty my shop vac a few times into a big box. I then re stuff the feathers adding additional feathers as needed to fill the insert cover. If the customer wants new down proof ticking I'll make new insert covers.

I also do this with poly batting fill that has become compacted in cushions. I think I got this idea from sofadoc.

I'll keep your idea in mind, Steve, and give it a try sometime.

gene

[kodydog]

I've noticed lately a lot of feather cushions mixed with dacron. I'm sure this helps to reduce the cost but I wonder about the feathers clumping with the dacron. We did a job recently for a decorator who had 4 feather/dacron cushions for a window seat. He needed 2 more and they had to be exactly the same. In a big box I mixed feathers with loose fill and stuffed it all into the insert. Worked like a charm. The nice thing about this method is it gives the feathers some density so you don't feel like you're bottoming out when you sit on it.

[MinUph]

Yes I actually like the blend better than straight down. The resilience is much better and I haven't seen any clumping as of yet.

[65Buick]

When you say feathers, you mean feathers or down? Or both?

[MinUph]

  65 Nowadays the blend of feathers and down in our business is usually 90/10 90% feathers and 10% down. down is very expensive and very small in size. there are even some suppliers using 95/5. In Upholstery cushioning a full 100% down would be too hard and uncomfortable. It is used for jackets etc.
  There are also different types of down and feathers. Grades etc etc.

[baileyuph]

One of the types of down used in the past is goose down.

Webster defines the down actually as a soft fine feather, also a soft fine hair.

Extremely soft and can get expensive.

Doyle