How to make springiness to a bench seat?

[racerchris]

i have a project in mind and kinda stuck on how to do something. The idea is to make a Bench in a nook area with built-in seating and storage. We plan to make cushions for the seating, but I also want to have a 'springiness' to the top of the bench under the cushions.

I thought of using a stretchy fabric under the cushions, but thought this would be to weak. Suppose using wood slacks would work, but realize someone else probably has done this before and have some advice on the wood and thickness to use.... Anyone see anything on this somewhere?

[a1gutterman]

Hi Chris,

Why knot use real springs??? Here is one source, but there are many. Just do a "Google" search for "seat springs".

[recurvearcher]

Chris,
You may want to check with a local foam shop. By layering different densities of foam they achieve a spring effect. A simple flat plywood base is all that's needed with foam. Cut the base to size,drill some holes to allow air to migrate when the cushion is compressed,mount the foam then upholster. Good luck with the project!

[racerchris]

Hi Chris,

Why knot use real springs??? Here is one source, but there are many. Just do a "Google" search for "seat springs".

Great idea, but I think it'd make the thing a bit to thick. I want to put drawer below the seating, so the thinner the better. Seems slats may be the right answer... Anyone try this?

[Ed in Tampa]

i have a project in mind and kinda stuck on how to do something. The idea is to make a Bench in a nook area with built-in seating and storage. We plan to make cushions for the seating, but I also want to have a 'springiness' to the top of the bench under the cushions.

I thought of using a stretchy fabric under the cushions, but thought this would be to weak. Suppose using wood slacks would work, but realize someone else probably has done this before and have some advice on the wood and thickness to use.... Anyone see anything on this somewhere?

My neighbor is an upholster by trade (highly skilled world renown) I watch him from time to time. Most of his seating is done one of three ways. Polyester webbing pulled tight and often woven, springs, or thin board over laid with cushion material. For cushion material he uses everything from horse hair to varous densities of foam to goose down. On the webbing or springs he also uses cushion material, usually a polyester loosely woven and fluffy fiber then foam or polyester stuffing. Which ever way he build the foundation he then covers it with upholstry material (thick cloth) which customer selects.

If he is doing a "high dollar piece" depending on customer specifications he usually uses the polyester webbing or hand tied springs, polyester mat, foam and goose down. Antiques require jute webbing, cotton mating and horse hair stuffing. The covering fabric is where the money is in upholstery

If I was you I would do one of two things. Use polyester webbing ( you can even use the webbing sold to redo lawn chairs) and then a thin matting and a thin foam and material covering. If you don't want to use webbing then a 1/4" ply sheet and matting and thin foam covered with material that pulls it down tight.

You also make cushions stuffing them with foam, polyester, down, horse hair.

Best to you.

[racerchris]

My neighbor is an upholster by trade (highly skilled world renown) I watch him from time to time. Most of his seating is done one of three ways. Polyester webbing pulled tight and often woven, springs, or thin board over laid with cushion material. For cushion material he uses everything from horse hair to varous densities of foam to goose down. On the webbing or springs he also uses cushion material, usually a polyester loosely woven and fluffy fiber then foam or polyester stuffing. Which ever way he build the foundation he then covers it with upholstry material (thick cloth) which customer selects.

If he is doing a "high dollar piece" depending on customer specifications he usually uses the polyester webbing or hand tied springs, polyester mat, foam and goose down. Antiques require jute webbing, cotton mating and horse hair stuffing. The covering fabric is where the money is in upholstery

If I was you I would do one of two things. Use polyester webbing ( you can even use the webbing sold to redo lawn chairs) and then a thin matting and a thin foam and material covering. If you don't want to use webbing then a 1/4" ply sheet and matting and thin foam covered with material that pulls it down tight.

You also make cushions stuffing them with foam, polyester, down, horse hair.

Best to you.

Ed,

Thanks for the detailed reply. Wow, there are alot of different ways of doing this. What I am thinkinig is make a springy base for a foam filled cushion. My wife is into sewing, so she is in charge of the cushions. Our previous house had something similar, but with a plywood base under 1 1/2" cushions. I wanted more springiness that that, so I thought thicking up the cushions and using zig-zag springs would really improve on what we had before.

Found theseon the internet and I'm thinking theywould be ideal because i need something thin enough to maximize the space below for drawers. What do you think? Anyone use these before?

[Ed in Tampa]

Ed,

Thanks for the detailed reply. Wow, there are alot of different ways of doing this. What I am thinkinig is make a springy base for a foam filled cushion. My wife is into sewing, so she is in charge of the cushions. Our previous house had something similar, but with a plywood base under 1 1/2" cushions. I wanted more springiness that that, so I thought thicking up the cushions and using zig-zag springs would really improve on what we had before.

Found theseon the internet and I'm thinking theywould be ideal because i need something thin enough to maximize the space below for drawers. What do you think? Anyone use these before?

Chris
Ever fought with a bear? After you get done with those z springs you will think you have.

I went and asked my neighbor about them for you. He smiled and said don't use them. Frist they are a real bear to install then they have to be tied together so they share the support. If you don't know how to tie them you will feel the springs on your bottom.

He said use rubberized webbing and to make sure you don't use rubber webbing made by Pirelli because it dries out and cracks over time. The webbing he showed me was like narrow rubber bands woven together to form a fabric webbing about 2.5 to 3 inches wide. very similar to lawn chair webbing but rubber instead of nylon or polyester. Sorry I can't get a trade name but his supplier knows what he wants when he orders rubberize webbing and he couldn't fine a better name.

I explained what your doing and my neighbor had finished a kitchen booth in his house and showed me how he did it.

He built the frame from 3/4 ply and used 3/4 ply with the center cut out leaving about 2.5 - 4 inch perimeter for each seat. He has storage under the seat. The webbing was woven in a basket weave with the each strap being about 1/2 to 3/4 inches apart and nicely woven. He then covered that with a burlap matting (very important or the foam will get between the webbing and become lumpy) then he covered that with 2.5 inch of high denisty foam (not poly) and thin dacron matting and on his he upholstered it with leather pulled tight to round the edges and corners.

He also mentioned that you could use a solid seat and high density foam about 4 - 4.5 inches thick a nice polyester or dacron batting. He said talk to your supplier they may have a very high density foam in 1 inch and then use that and only 3 inches of high density foam.

My neighbor is such a great guy he was going to give me samples of everything to show you but I told him you lived across country.
Best to you

[racerchris]

Chris

....He built the frame from 3/4 ply and used 3/4 ply with the center cut out leaving about 2.5 - 4 inch perimeter for each seat. He has storage under the seat. The webbing was woven in a basket weave with the each strap being about 1/2 to 3/4 inches apart and nicely woven. He then covered that with a burlap matting (very important or the foam will get between the webbing and become lumpy) then he covered that with 2.5 inch of high denisty foam (not poly) and thin dacron matting and on his he upholstered it with leather pulled tight to round the edges and corners.

Ed,

Wow! Thanks for the help. I'll definitely lose the zig-zags and check out rubberized webbing....

A bit confused about the above. Two plies of plywood? Is this to clamp the ends of the webbing? From my quick search on the internet, there are special clamps that seem to be available for this. How does you neighbor clamp his webbing? Hey, there you go - another reason to stop by your neighbors for a beer and some woodworking talk :-) THANKS!!!!