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UPHOLSTERY TIPS NEWSLETTER
Issue
No.4 -- Reupholstering Slip Seats
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Hi,
During the course of a year we get many calls to reupholster
dining room chair seats. These seats are not that difficult
and do not take that much time. They are generally held to
the frame of the chair by four screws. This type of a seat
is referred to as a “slip seat”.
The
slip seat usually has a plywood base. Sometimes, newer
chairs have a pressed board base. Padding is applied to the
plywood base and then covered with the final fabric.
After
the fabric has been removed, examine the padding to
determine: (1) if it is reusable, and (2) the thickness of
the padding.
We
get requests to make the padding much thicker than the
original padding. For example, if the original padding is
1” thick, they will ask us to make it 2” or 3” thick, and
sometimes even thicker. The problem with using a thicker
padding is that the person will set higher on the seat and
may not be able to slide their legs under the table.
If
the padding is foam and needs to be replaced, we replace it
with a 45 or 50 lb. foam. That way when a person sits on it
they will not bottom out on the plywood base. There are two
measurements to take into consideration when buying foam:
(1) firmness—how many pounds it takes to compress a piece of
foam a given amount. A 45 lb. foam means that the foam will
be compressed 25%; and (2) density—the weight of the foam
per cubic foot. Higher quality foams will have a density of
2.8 or higher.
When
most people are buying a firmer foam. they will ask for a
high density foam. Firmness and density are two different
things.
When
cutting new foam to fit on the wooden base, cut it about ¼”
larger all the way around than the base. Then glue the foam
to the base.
Next,
apply the fabric over the foam and temporarily tack it in
place on all four under sides of the base.
Next,
tack the back of the fabric to the underside of the base.
Then stretch the fabric forward and put tacks in the
underside of the front. Do the same with the sides of the
fabric.
Cuts
and folds will have to be made at the front corners to
eliminate some of the excess fabric.
Next,
tack a piece of cambric on the bottom side of the board and
re-attach the slip seat to the frame.
This
is basically how a slip seat is recovered. Some of the
procedures are best illustrated with pictures. All these
steps and more are explained and illustrated in “How To
Upholster Furniture”.
“How
To Upholster Furniture” is a 92 page ebook explaining and
illustrating how to reupholster a slip seat and many other
basic techniques. You can order it at
www.HowToUpholster.com
If
you have any questions about this technique or other
techniques, just email us at
Editor@HowToUpholster.com and we will try to help.
If
you have questions about any other upholstery techniques,
you
can contact us with your questions or comments at:
Editor@HowToUpholster.com
Betty
and Richard Hanson
Hanson Upholstery
www.HowToUpholster.com
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