Fiberglassing custom fit seating

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

I measure exact then add 3/4" for seam allowance....when you sew it takes up a full inch (1/2" per side) so it makes it 1/4" smaller...make sure you measure after the foam is fit and in place

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thank you both!!

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Looks great man, nice craftmanship!

 

[lil buggy]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Ceira,
stern seat looks great man, also great work on the stripes, they look bang on.
cant wait to see it done and in,. ,,,,, just thinkin, but it gotta feel good that the seat will last a long time.,,, who knows, maybe your son will have to replace it eventually. but that epoxy paint should keep the wood healthy for a really long time.
great work

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Sorry for the delay guys...
I"m waiting on my foam order, did i mention I hate waiting???lol I ordered it last tuesday and it has yet to ship out. I called yesterday and was told my order will ship out today. I'm taking my son and one of his buddies out this weekend for his 11th birthday, with no seating.
I will update this thread as soon as I get my supplies!!!

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

The foam is on the way. Anticipate delivery saturday per routing number check at Fedex. I however will be at the lake saturday with my son and his buddy fishing, heading out tomorrow and staying the night. They won't have any cushioned seats. lol

I hope to have Sunday and Monday to COMPLETE this seat. I am still debating how to layout/cut the vinyl for sewing. The angles are confusing me.... but (I think) I have a decent plan in mind.
What is the best method to cut the foam???
I'm reading that an electric bread knife works great, are any other methods more effective? I tried cutting some scrap pieces from the original seat with a regular bread knife and achieved somewhat decent results with some practive, but not the kind of results I want. The foam for the seat cushion has to be curved to form the "L" shape and want the curve to be a smooth cut.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

I bought a $12 Black and Decker Electric Carving Knife from Wal-Mart and it worked great. This video I made shows you how well it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndkFmvcgjzc&feature=relmfu

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thanks a ton WOG! I'm checking out your other videoss now.. I just watched the one on sewing piping and was considering piping around the edges of the cushion...so, thanks for that video too!
I'm picking up an electric knife tomorrow. You make it look easy!

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

if ya have a bandsaw it worked great using a fine tooth blade...

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! We just got home from the lake. Had a great time, but man was it hot!!!

The foam is here! I'll get started cutting it and glueing it in place tomorrow...I'm excited to get this done!

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

I'm up early today and going to start laying out the foam. I'm anxious to get this done!

Here is what i'm thinking of the vinyl layout.... basically a top piece, side piece, seat base piece that will wrap the front section and the back will be one large piece that will wrap under the bottom as well.
Another crappy MSpaint drawing...lol (the red is where i'm thinking seams will be)

Any suggestions or improvements?????

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

I would do top and sides, but not attach to back piece of vinyl...leaves you more flexibility to pull tight then on the back use a stiffener across top to staple the back pull tight to bottom then staple sides with hide-em strip...also for your angled corner add a peice to the seam allowance similar to how I did my bulge on the last seats and that will keep that corner tight, top and bottom

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thank you Judge! I really appreciate the expert advice!

I have all the foam cut and attached. The cheapo black & decker electric knife worked great to cut the foam. Thanks WOG.

FIrst, I glued two layers of the 2" foam together to make the seat cushion:

The seat cushion will snap into place (snaps are already in place on the "built-in" section in the boat)

I glued 2" foam for the backrest into position:

I also shot a few staples to help hold things in place, especially in the corner.

After the 2" foam, I wrapped the entire seat with 1/4" foam:

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Tomorrow I will do the vinyl and complete this project!
I mocked things up to give an idea of the seating area, I actually did this in the boat but didn't get a pic until I pulled everything back out...

I'm very pleased with how this is turning out...(so far)....the vinly will be the tricky part.


After I eat dinner I will head back out and glue a layer of 2mil plastic sheeting over the entire thing to prep for the vinyl.
I have plenty of hidem to use where needed and am still undecided on how to actually layout the vinyl. Once I cut the stuff..thats it...no going back!!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!!

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

btw, I haven't cut out the cupholders or storage area yet...I'll wait till the vinyl is layed over to cut them out and wrap tight.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

might want to cut the cupholders out before covering with vinyl so you can find them...the foam shouldnt move so cutting them out now wont hurt, looks good, should be comfy

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

good point judge! I'll cut the foam out of the cupholders and the storage area prior to vinyl. That would really suck if I was all finished and cut a hole in the wrong place! Thanks for the heads up.

I'm going out now to take some detailed measurements and start cutting some vinyl.....I'm excited! (and extremely nervous).

 

[lil buggy]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

just checking in here and,
wow man you are really coming along,,, looks great. stoked for you
cant wait to see the next step

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

What a frustrating day..... I suck at upholstery work!
I made the slip cover once and all was going Ok until I sewed in one of the last pieces. I must have had an angle measurement off cause when I started stapling things down, it didn't line up whatsoever...GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! So, I ripped the whole thing apart and I am starting over. The angled portion in the corner really is a PITA to get snug and straight. I'm going very slow on this second attempt and hopefully it will come out better.

I wasted about $60 worth of vinyl and a few feet of hidem. I now have to get more blue vinyl for the seat cushion.
Whats the trick to "opening up" the hidem to hide the staples in there?

Sorry I have no pics, nothing much to show except garbage vinyl......

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

the hidem should only be used at the very last step...most staples can be hidden under the bottom or under an overlapping piece, like on the back...when ya put the staples in it, you put the tip of your stapler in the groove and shoot....on those angled corners you will need to make a seam, when you have double angles (the 2 backs come together at 2 angles) you need to cut each peice to fit the angles, the in the seam allowance sew an extra peice of material that you will use to tie it down

then once the first cushion is in place add your next cushion and wrap it over (do not pull this tight as I did in this photo, just pull it enough to give your corner a solid look)

this is not the same but this method is used to give a "poof" to one cushion (larger) while drawing the vinyl down to the thinner cushion)

In your case you will be mating 2 like sized cushions so dont pull tight just enough to give a nice straight line