Seat foam

fugue

fugue

Been Around the Block
Okay, here's the deal. I have access to foam, that can possibly be used for seats. I think I may even be able to get memory foam. But I am not sure yet. What I would like to know is, what kind of foam is best used for seat making purposes?

How much squish do you like? How hard? I've not done my own seat before, so I don't know exactly what to look for, or what works best.

Let me know what I should be after, and I'll see if I can arrange to find stuff that meets that need. I can grab some samples and if it looks good, I'll see how much I can get.
 
fugue said:
Okay, here's the deal. I have access to foam, that can possibly be used for seats. I think I may even be able to get memory foam. But I am not sure yet. What I would like to know is, what kind of foam is best used for seat making purposes?

How much squish do you like? How hard? I've not done my own seat before, so I don't know exactly what to look for, or what works best.

Let me know what I should be after, and I'll see if I can arrange to find stuff that meets that need. I can grab some samples and if it looks good, I'll see how much I can get.
Click to expand...

There are two basic issues you need to look at:
1) Ride comfort
2) Feel of bike

The idea is that seat padding needs to be soft enough that it's comfortable to sit one, while not removing the feel of the bike underneath you. You still need to feel the vibration of the engine, the bumps in the road, and any of a number of things.

At the same time, it needs to be comfortable enough to be able to sit on.

Stuff like gel seats work well because it takes a lot of the chop out of your ride but at the same time doesn't interfere with the feel of the bike.

Memory foam may work well as it's incredibly comfortable, but I'd think you'd want something a little denser then what you'd find in pillows.

I'd recommend something to the density of carpet underpadding, though even that is a trick answer because carpet underpadding has multiple densities.
 
I just use 2 layers of carpet underpadding...$4 for 4 yards!!...
 
Sounds like med-high density seat foam is a good target. I'll check with R&D and see what is in the trailer. There are so many foam formulations out there I should be able to find a few that work. Hopefully will have time to head down there next week.
 
I was picking up fabric for a toga party at Jo-Ann fabrics the other day, they had a pretty impressive selection of High Density foams up to 5" for a pretty good price. Not sure if they are only in the States though.
 
Best bet is to use high density foam for the base with a inch of lighter density foam on top for a more comfortable seat.
( Grew up in an Upholstery shop)

Thumper
 
The crap at JoAnns isn't worth the price you're gonna pay. I bought some because the foam on my stock seat was worn out to the point were the pan was digging into my legs after about 5 minutes of riding. I stuffed my seat to get through the season. It helped a little but just barely kept my ass off the pan. That was using the 3 inch foam on top of what was left of the stock foam.
 
For some little Hondas, I got some cushions from the Sally ann shop cheap off what had been an expensive sofa. these are quite firm and can be carved and some come with a surface soft layer too. firm is what you want or it keeps losing shape, memory foam is really weak.
the stiffer the couch or chair cushion the better, and it should be about 3-4"thick and may be under compression in the fabric. when putting it back in your seat, you can wrap a piece of plastic bag around it to make it slip in compressed too, then it will fill any curves as it expands and give firm support in the middle. it was surprising, trial and error,that what i thought was firm is actually soft for a seat, ended up putting a compressed very firm foam in and it was A1.
check out the goodwill etc.
 
olds-cool said:
The crap at JoAnns isn't worth the price you're gonna pay. I bought some because the foam on my stock seat was worn out to the point were the pan was digging into my legs after about 5 minutes of riding. I stuffed my seat to get through the season. It helped a little but just barely kept my ass off the pan. That was using the 3 inch foam on top of what was left of the stock foam.
Click to expand...



Here's what you need:

http://www.foamandupholstery.com/Open_Cell_Foam.htm
 
*Whistle* That's some pricey foam.

I should probably mention that I work for an automotive foam manufacturer. Whose R&D facility is in the building I work in. And if I find something that works that I can get a bunch of, it will cost next to nothing (ie. Shipping).

Still haven't had enough free time to go look in the foam trailer... perhaps tomorrow if things run smoothly.
 
Pricey @ $18.95 a quarter sheet ? ( 24" x 36") That would do you for about 8 seats, that's less than $3.00 a seat.

Thumper
 
I think im going to go with a couple of foams. I have access to all the underpadding one could possibly want for ( Carpet layer for a buddy) and i think i'll use a couple layers of that over the pan, then with a thicker highdensity over top to give a lil more *cush* I plan on doing some serious miles on my cafe this summer, so im gonna want it as comfy as possible.
 
I managed to get to the work trailer today and picked up a couple blocks of high density white seating foam. Surprising how strong this stuff is. I can stand on it and only indent it less than an inch. I got a couple different densities to try out for my seat. We'll see how it feels once I cut the blocks down to seat size, and I figure out what grade will make the comfiest seat.
 
Hey Mike,

I was wondering, do you have anything 1.5 inches tall high density in black?...
 
locO leoN said:
Hey Mike,

I was wondering, do you have anything 1.5 inches tall high density in black?...
Click to expand...

Did you completely destroy the foam in that NOS seat?
 
Scarcat said:
Did you completely destroy the foam in that NOS seat?
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Nope that foam is perfect...
I need foam for the new cb550f seat that Im building...It didnt come with foam.. ;D
 
locO leoN said:
Nope that foam is perfect...
I need foam for the new cb550f seat that Im building...It didnt come with foam.. ;D
Click to expand...

The CB550F seat ... please don't tell me that was NOS as well.
 
Scarcat said:
The CB550F seat ... please don't tell me that was NOS as well.
Click to expand...

LOL.. It was actually but it was in bad shape!!... so dont feel bad!!..
 
locO leoN said:
LOL.. It was actually but it was in bad shape!!... so dont feel bad!!..
Click to expand...

ok .. good. I'm sure Saucer's 450 NOS group would have tied you down and had given you a bad haircut or something.
 
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