Behind the vinyl...

[smartwork]

While disassembling my motor cover to rebuild it, there is a sheet of foam padding that is about 1/4" thick and also a very thin plastic between the foam and vinyl (almost as thin as cheap painters drop cloth plastic... and doesn't make much noise when crinkled).

Couple questions:

1. anything special about this foam, or can I use a similar 1/4" foam from a local retailer?

2. anything special about the thin plastic? I've not really seen plastic of that sort (except for the mentioned painters plastic - not the thick poly though).

Thanks!

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Behind the vinyl...

I'm thinking the plastic is intended either as water-"proofing" or an abrasion shield (back of vinyl against polyurethane foam can be abrasive).

If you were to use some 1/4" closed-cell foam (like Volara or Landau top foam; same stuff as used in engineered wood floor underlayment) that would replace both the foam layer and the plastic sheet. How "stiff"/dense is that 1/4" foam? Is it open-cell?

You say there's another layer of foam? How thick is that? How cushy? Is it glued straight to the old wood? Maybe you could get by with just wood / Volara / vinyl.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Behind the vinyl...

I recently had a chance to hang out in an upholstery shop and learn a few things. Theres a name for that plastic, but it escapes me now. It's thin and has almost a silky feel. It serves 2 purposes. It helps the upholsterer by making the vinyl slide easier over the foam, making it easier for him to get it in position. It's also prevents the somewhat rough texture of the back of the vinyl from grinding the foam into dust when the seat is flexed.

 

[smartwork]

Re: Behind the vinyl...

ajgraz:

Yes, it's open cell foam - doesn't appear to be anything high-tech. Good call on the underlayment idea that may have both components. The exisiting foam is quite soft and flexible. It's only 1/4" or so because it's only padding a panel (not a seat or anything). There's only one layer of foam. It's wood, foam (lightly glued to wood), thin plastic, vinyl.

nitsuj:

You're exactly right. The plastic has a different feel to it and nearly quiet which I'm sure is one desired characteristic so it's not crinkling as it's being squished during use. Maybe someone will know the name of it and I'll check some upholstrey locations for it.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Behind the vinyl...

Personally, I'd ditch the open cell foam/plastic sheet, and substitute a layer of 1/4" closed cell foam, glued to the wood with 3M Super 77 or similar. No water absorption issue as with open cell, no need to worry about abrasion dusting the foam away.

One potential source:
http://www.a1foamandfabrics.com/site/department.cfm?id=D6354BAD-9988-4E80-A35B848624430181

(They also sell a low-cost spray adhesive that works well)

 

[smartwork]

Re: Behind the vinyl...

Wow - thanks for that link. I think I'll follow that and go with the closed-cell as you mentioned. Relating question, when I disassembled the vinyl, I noticed that the staples on the back side were not rusted at all. Are there specific staples for marine upholstrey?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Behind the vinyl...

Stainless steel or Monel staples.

I bought a 5-box lot (1000/box) of 5/16" T-50 Monel staples off EBAY, but I'm only going to use like 3 to 3-1/2 boxes. LMK if you want a box.

 

[smartwork]

Re: Behind the vinyl...

Thanks for the staple info. I asked at a local store yesteday about stainless staples and got an answer indicating they didn't make them. Hmmmm... I'll double-check on this end with another source and let you know if I need a box.

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: Behind the vinyl...

just my 2 cents worth...
for 1/4 padding on panels, i have been buying the blue yoga mats from wal-mart...as far as the plastic goes, you can get that plastic sheating from home-depot in 3.5mils and 6 mils thick..that's what i have used to go between the vinyl and my seat foam....works really nice....

you can see some of it in my 'seats, how to' thread in my signature below

 

[smartwork]

Re: Behind the vinyl...

you can get that plastic sheating from home-depot in 3.5mils and 6 mils thick

We use that type of plastic for a lot of uses around the home and garage, but this plastic is a bit different than that. Like Nitsuj mentioned, it has like a silky feel to it. It's about the thickness of a cheap painters' drop sheet (plastic) from Home Depot which may be closer to 1 mil and a little bit like the frosted type of saran wrap that is self-sticking. There may not be anything special about this plastic - just what was in there originally.

Interesting idea on the yoga mat - I wouldn't have thought of that.