Fiberglassing custom fit seating

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

What type of glue shall I use to join the pieces of cushion? I have a lady at work that brought me four large sofa cushions.

Tonight, I'll finish up the glassin' and get a layer of paint on the topsides. The epoxy paint says 24hrs between coats so it'll be a couple day process to get it all done. (i coulda just ordered the darn epoxy!!)

My plan is to cover the seating with a very very thin layer of foam and wrap it all in vinyl, the cushions will be seperate and snap in place like the factory set up did.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive. Get it @ Lowe's

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thanks Woodonglass!

I have reconsidered things and decided that the backrest cushions will be permanently mounted to the seating I just built. It will be easier to just glue the foam in place and then wrap the whole thing in vinyl. The seat cushion will be seperate and snap in place. The built in part on the boat already has the snaps in place. I'll just have to attach some to the new section to hold it in place.
I'm still unsure of how i'm going to hide the fasteners behind the backrest that runs along the side of the boat. The factory one was screwed in behind a fold in the corner. I was hoping to NOT have a fold in the vinyl. It looks better (I think)
What about those plastic fasteners like they attach car door panels with?

Thanks again everyone for the help.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

While I'm here.....
What is the very thin foam called used to "back" the vinyl on the wood? I"ve seen foam backed vinyl but the vinyl I have doesn't have the foam.

The very thin stuff that just gives the vinyl some "give"

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Look for Pleating "Sew" Foam

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

the pleating, or scrim-backed foam is actually more expensive....they make a 1/4" or 1/2" foam with no scrim, you can spray some super 77 and just put a layer on the areas you need it. Unless you want to add it to the vinyl itself

 

[Chip Chester]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Another alternative for backing foam is neoprene. JoAnn Fabrics carries it "locally", if you want a small sample. I used it on some sports car door panels under vinyl, and it has a nice feel, without being bulky. JoAnn Fabrics also carries a headliner spray contact cement that is much more tenacious than 3M 77, and holds up better in high heat, too... Orange can, $20. I've sprayed a lot of 77 and 99, but this stuff is better. Chip

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thanks a ton guys! I'm gonna see what I can find at the local fabric stores and whats available online. Taking the weekend off for the most part to go to the lake (with no seating! lol) I have the captains chair and the others will just have a seat cushion to sit on. hahaha

I will apply a coat of the epoxy paint after I sand the glass down smooth and let it dry for the weekend. Second coat sunday night.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Ok guys...a few more questions.

What is the best type of foam for this seating? I'm looking at EZ-dri foam in 2" thickness. The seating will use two pieces stacked to make 4" thickness. While shopping around, i'm noticing so many different options for upholstery foam.

this is what i'm looking at, it wouldn't cost THAT much for me, I'd need two of these.
http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/fo...i-marine-outdoor-upholstery-foam-2-48-59-.htm

And then looking at upholstery foam, there is different densities and such, i'm unsure what is the best option

Another place I looked was this stuff:
Selecting 2.4 density and med-firmenss 40lb, 2"thick 48"x59" , Two pieces would only be $122
http://www.diyupholsterysupply.com/custom-foam.html

Before I spend this money, I want to be sure i'm getting the right stuff.
Thanks for any advice guys!!!!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Get High Density Extra Firm foam. Use spray adhesive to cover it with plastic.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thanks WOG! Thats what i needed to know... I decided to toss out the couch cushions I was given, I'd have to glue several different pieces together to make what I need. For 120ish bucks I can have new foam and the backrest and seat cushion will each be one piece of foam.
Hopefully tonight I'll order the foam and "hide-em" strips. I think I have everything else needed to do the upholstery work.

I'm running a bit behind, but I got a coat of the epoxy paint on the entire topside. That paint is a two part deal and really stinky stuff!
I had glassed every seam and about 6" up on the bottom sides as suggested. I still have another coat or two and then flip it over and do the bottom. I also cut out the cupholder holes and the small hole for the water line to the deck washdown sprayer. I still have to cut out the storage door under the "box" of the seat. The original had just a vinyl flap covering the opening, but I'm thinking of ordering a deckplate for this purpose.

Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

I really don't mean to be a nuisance here guys...
I am planning out how the vinyl will cover this thing and running into some issues. I'm thinking of making something like a "slipcover" that will drop over the top and wrap around, stapling on the underside. I'll try to make a sketch on MS paint and see if my idea sounds feasible to you all. I"ll try to get that up this evening. This is going to be a tricky thing to make and I'm NOT the best at sewing.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

No, I can see what you are getting at and I think a slip cover makes perfect sense and will not be that hard to do.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thanks WOG, thats what i'm thinking anyways. Lol
I got the foam ordered and picked up some 3M 77 spray and 2mil plastic today. I will be using two colors of vinyl, blue with some gray curvy stripes (if i can pull it off! haha)
I hope tonight the admiral will let me order the washdown sprayer and box that will be mounted behind the cupholders.

I got a second coat of epoxy paint on the top and tomorrow will flip it over and do the undersides. I still need to cut the hole for the storage area also. I was going to buy a deck plate to cover the opening but WOW! at least $50 for the size i need. I'm already going to be several hundred into this thing and think I will just make a vinyl "flap" that snaps in place. (like the original)

When I get the foam i'll get some more pics of the progress. Hopefully have this thing finished up soon!
Thanks again for all the assistance guys.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Waitng on the foam to arrive...won't be until next week. I called today to check on it and the lady said it will ship out monday. Crappy...
I hate waiting...lol SS staples will be here tomorrow.

I have a question while I wait,
I'm going to glue the 2" backrest foam to the new seating and I purchased some 1/4" foam to cover the rest of the wood. Should I just wrap directly over the 2" backrest foam? If so, just 3m77 adhesive will work to glue the 2" foam and 1/4" foam together without any issues? I figure a lil extra foam over the 2" won't hurt

After the foam is glued I plan to wrap in plastic , again do I glue it to the foam and wrap the whole thing or just the backrest part?

Thanks guys, first time i've done this extensive of upholstery work and I'm unsure of the best method. I appreciate the help and advice
-Jimmy

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Super 77 works OK for getting 2 pieces of foam glued together...on the slip cover, after my own adventure, the trick to slip covers is to make a fraction small...so that it pulls tight when when you place it over what your doing...otherwise it is hard to pull tight because when you pull one part it wrinkles in another

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

The 77 will do it all. Yes, Glue the plastic to the foam and Cover it ALL!!!

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Sweet guys! Thanks!

Judge, thank you for that tip, When i'm measuring how small should I go? an inch? 1/2"? I know the vinyl stretches a tad.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

This is somewhat what i'm thinking for the vinyl pattern...the stripes will be centered better and the box part of the "L" will continue the pattern. I got lazy and PO'd with ms paint..
this is a roughly (poorly) done MS paint sketch...lol

Too many stripes? The stern seat has two gray stripes and I'm trying to tie it all together..

Stern seat..(i'm making the backrest out of some of the leftover foam from this project, i have a railing that runs along the stern its just not installed yet in this pic)..

Am I getting carried away with stripes??? ....Trying to plan how i'm going to do this vinyl and i'm debating with myself

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

1/4"-- i.e. if you measure the foamed piece @ 2" thick then when the final vinyl piece is sewn it should measure 1 3/4". Also some vinyl strecthes one direction well, but not so much the other direction. Be aware of that as well.