Bike seat Foam? Fatlucky?

[james]

Just made a seat pan and am trying to figure out what kind of foam to use and where to get it. I know some use carpet padding, but what else is there that will last. Also, do I use something between the foam and the leather? I'm gonna try my hand at a paul cox style lace job.

[fatluckys]

Uhh... good question. My local upholstery supply doesn't sell any foam as dense as what's on most m/c seats. All the carpet pad I've looked at is pretty soft stuff too.
Depending on the style of seat I'm building, I use either the firmest foam I can get locally, 1/2" closed cell foam, or foam from the Chinese knockoff Bates seats that I do a lot of.
How thick do you want your seat? I could send you some type of padding if you need me to.
I'm just a custom upholstery dude, not a tooled leather motorcycle seat guy, but I'm happy to help if I can.

[Tman]

They make a GEL seat cover for Schwinn Airdyne exercise bikes that is big enough for most solo seats. You ditch their lycra cover and cut the GEL with a razorblade to size. They hold up well under heavy use.

[fatluckys]

Who is "they"? Where do I get "their" gel? I know who "Them!" is, and they for sure use a lot of hair gel, but that's not what I'm lookin' for.

[Tman]

I am sure "they" is the taiwanese.
Want me to ask my stitcher pal that does gel and custome motobike seats for yoose? He knows where the heavy foam is from as well as gel inserts for those that need augmentation http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[fatluckys]

I thought I was your stitcher pal. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif Am I gonna have to come up there and show that dude who's the boss?

See ya soon... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Tman]

No, but let me know your plans? I got seats that need to be done beotch! And beer to buy you and Collete http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

OK, I am a whore, I have 4 stitcher pals 2 up here and you AND skipstitch. I feel so dirty

[skipstitch]

I use extra hard, hi dense foam from my supplier... it shapes well with an air grinder and 40 grit. Then after the shape I use closed cell 1/4" landau for the top layer under the leather. Carpet pad is for floors http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif And T, don't feel dirty... you're just our bitch...ha ha ha http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[james]

Thanks. I forgot there is an upholstery guy in town, maybe he'll have something. Fat- I still want to have you do the seat on my wife's bike when I get it done, but mine's first and I want to do it all myself. My Mom did some leather tooling back in the 70's, so she's gonna help me there. Can't wait.

[hell_fish_65]

Go to a foam and plastic supply. Most bigger cities have one. Austin has a few. MC2000 or 1900S (S=soft) would work well. Its a closed cell foam that really holds up over time. You can get sheets in most any thinkness.

FatLucky, check out Polyplastics on Metropolitan. We use to dumpster dive for foam all the time, until we got were we could afford to buy sheets.