What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

[WhistlePig]

I tried the search function and couldn't find any exact answers to what kind of wood to use for re-building my cushions. I have a few that are completely rotten and need to rebuild the frame so they can be recovered. Can I just use outdoor plywood that can be bought at Lowe's or Home Depot? Also what should I cover the wood with to waterproof it? The boat is a 1993 Crownline 196BR and the cushions are some seat cushions as well as some side bolster pads. Thanks in advance. Chris

 

[petrolhead]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

Exterior ply should be fine for seats and cushions, that's what I use anyway, make sure it's WBP (Water and Boil Proof). To waterproof just paint it, undercoat and gloss.<br /><br />Whoever does the recovering make sure they use stainless staples (assuming they use staples of course), ordinary steel ones will rust in no time and make a real mess!

 

[Realgun]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

I would sugget monel staples. just to be different. And regular plywood that is painted with outdoor paint should be fine. You could epoxy coat them also but the staples are going to defeat the purpose of the epoxy coating I.M.H.O.

 

[WhistlePig]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

would this be sufficient to cover the wood with 635 Thin Epoxy Resin System. If I just wanted to paint it, could I just use regular polyurethane from Home Depot or Lowe's?

 

[petrolhead]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

The resin would be fine but probably overkill for seat cushions.<br />Pretty much any exterior gloss paint will be adequate, but use a primer/undercoat first. These things are not going to be immersed in water for any length of time (hopefully never!), the most they'll have to resist is damp and gloss paint is fine for that.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

I have used outdoor plywood and waterproofed it with Thompson's....seemed to work.<br /><br />If you use any staples to attach fabric make sure you spend the extra $$ and get the stainless steel ones.<br /><br />Bob

 

[jlinder]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

I just did mine with pressure treated ply that I painted with marine varnish to seal. Just done so I don't know for sure it will work, but it seems pretty good.<br /><br />As for the staples stainless is pretty hard to find. My local ACE, HD, and Lowes handles MONEL staples made by arrow (look for a pink label).<br /><br />WistlePig - are you redoing the vinyl? If so you need to use marine vinyl and UV thread. I order mine via the internet.

 

[WhistlePig]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

Jack L,<br /><br />Where did you order your vinyl from? It looks like I am going to have about 6 pieces to redo.

 

[jlinder]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

http://yourautotrim.com I have been dealing with Jason.<br /><br />Great service and help. Got samples from them and matched the original vinyl perfectly.<br /><br />Make sure to also get UV thread from them. They also sell welting (the bead you see at the seam a lot of times)<br /><br />Been using my plain old sewing machine, nothing fancy.<br /><br />We have another discussion under the title "seats coming apart" covering a lot of this. Suggest you give it a read.<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=010987

 

[G DANE]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

I'd like to jump in this thread, as I have questions about the same process. Where did you get stainless stables - they are hard to find here. Another, does anyone know a good way to cut foam. I went to the dump and got foam from a couple of scarpped sofas, the foam is much higher density, made from better material than the poly foam, but way too thick. Has anyone developed a good way to cut ??

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

I have also recently rebuilt some boat seats. I used pressure treated pine (10mm), stainless staples (got um from the local hardware store) and I coated the timber in bondcrete which is a very cheap and effective waterproofing agent, it soaks into the timber. I cut the foam with a razorblade.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[jlinder]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

Best way I know to cut foam is with an electric carving knife.<br /><br />As for staples, Arrow makes them in an alloy called Monel that I used. Can be found in most hardware stores here in the US.

 

[petrolhead]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

I just ran my foam through the bandsaw, if you want a neatre edge though a hot wire cutter is the tool to use, easy to make your own.<br />I get stainless staples from www.screwfix.com here in the UK. They are made by Arrow so they may actually be Monel but Screwfix sell them as stainless steel.<br />You should be able to get them from any good store selling Arrow staple guns.

 

[G DANE]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

Thanks - Petrolhead which wire did you use, and how thick. Did you use a transformer or battery.

 

[petrolhead]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

My cutter uses nichrome wire, I'm not sure what thickness, and I run it from a transformer using a car battery as a buffer.<br />But I find for simple shapes like seat cushions which are covered anyway, the bandsaw cuts clean enough and it's already set up.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

regular/cheap plywood well soaked in radiator<br />fluid will out-live us both...

 

[G DANE]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

Thanks Petrolhead - I will need to cut down the thickness, I dont dare to use the bandsaw, I'm afraid it will catch the foam.

 

[gewf631]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

GDANE said...<br />

I went to the dump and got foam from a couple of scarpped sofas,

Whoa buddy - that stuff ain't gonna hold-up in a marine application. Try a test, and use it like a sponge to soak-up some water. Marine foam won't do that.<br /><br />Just spend the money and get some good foam. I posted a couple links in this discussion

 

[petrolhead]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

Does it matter? How is a vinyl covered seat cushion going to soak up water anyway? Unless it's actually in the water in which case you've probably got more to worry about than your cushions getting wet!

 

[jlinder]

Re: What Kind of Wood for Cushions?

You would be very suprised. Around stitching, behind the cushion, condensation, etc.<br /><br />People get in and out, drag water. Rain comes down, etc.<br /><br />I just redid my seat backs. It has been months since it has been in the water, and it has been covered.<br /><br />Seat backs were VERY heavy with water. After I pulled it all apart after another week the wood was still soaked. Actually had to replace it since it had rotted.<br /><br />And these were the seat backs. The bottoms were even worse.<br /><br />If you are doing it, do it right. A little extra effort for a lot of benefit.