Re: BigKev's 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe Sedan
Posted by BigKev On 2010/6/14 21:52:04
Started some work on rebuilding the seats. So first I took the spring unit (the industry term for a bare seat), and and wire brushed off the loose rust. Then I sprayed the spring unit down with some rattle-can gloss gray paint.
Once the paint was dry, then I moved on to the first stages of rebuilding the seat. Originally the first layer of the seat was a double layer of burlap that had thin wire layered in it. The purpose of these wires is to spread the load across multiple springs. The burlaps actual purpose is the keep the foam from getting cut, and pushed through the springs. So after some searching online looking for that "wire-infused" burlap, I can across an upholstery site that recommend thick canvas in place of the the wired-burlap. I used a double thick layer of heavy canvas, and this was hog ringed to the outer parameter of the spring surround. The idea is to pull the canvas so it is nice and tight all the way around. This help to spread the load on a single spring across the neighboring springs. Just make sure it's hog-ringed to the flexible outer spring support and not the frame. You want the entire canvas and springs to move together. If it was hog-ringed to a rigid location like the frame, then the canvas would tear.
So I after the laying the double layer of canvas on the spring unit I trimmed it to fit allowing about 4 inches of overhang on all sides. Then I first hog-ringed the middle of each side, while pulling the canvas tight. You want to wrap the over-hang around the outer parameter so when you installed the hog-ring you are clamping the top skin and the over-hang piece together. Then I did the corners and worked around the parameter in adding on ring to each side at a time to even out the tension (like putting on lug-nuts).
With the canvas on, the entire spring unit is already much more firm. Once I add the medium density foam layer, it should really start coming together.
Attach file:
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Once the paint was dry, then I moved on to the first stages of rebuilding the seat. Originally the first layer of the seat was a double layer of burlap that had thin wire layered in it. The purpose of these wires is to spread the load across multiple springs. The burlaps actual purpose is the keep the foam from getting cut, and pushed through the springs. So after some searching online looking for that "wire-infused" burlap, I can across an upholstery site that recommend thick canvas in place of the the wired-burlap. I used a double thick layer of heavy canvas, and this was hog ringed to the outer parameter of the spring surround. The idea is to pull the canvas so it is nice and tight all the way around. This help to spread the load on a single spring across the neighboring springs. Just make sure it's hog-ringed to the flexible outer spring support and not the frame. You want the entire canvas and springs to move together. If it was hog-ringed to a rigid location like the frame, then the canvas would tear.
So I after the laying the double layer of canvas on the spring unit I trimmed it to fit allowing about 4 inches of overhang on all sides. Then I first hog-ringed the middle of each side, while pulling the canvas tight. You want to wrap the over-hang around the outer parameter so when you installed the hog-ring you are clamping the top skin and the over-hang piece together. Then I did the corners and worked around the parameter in adding on ring to each side at a time to even out the tension (like putting on lug-nuts).
With the canvas on, the entire spring unit is already much more firm. Once I add the medium density foam layer, it should really start coming together.
Attach file:
(41.11 KB)
(42.37 KB) (20.06 KB)
(20.13 KB)
(21.27 KB)
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