batting, cotton for spring seats

[wbs]

hello i can get 27" batting off the shelf locally i don't have order or get a large amount the seat springs are about 42" i am an amateur upholsterer i understand cotton batting is the best my ques is: can i join peices of batting to form a larger piece and if so best way to do so? thank you

[Cape Codder]

I don't know the size, but the local upholsterer doesn't use cotton anymore! He uses a synthetic material! If it does come in the size you need the other UP SIDE of the suggestion is he says the MICE won't destroy it ! ! Just a suggestion!

[oldspert]

You should have a cover of burlap on top of the springs then the layer of cotton batting. If the batting is too short, thin down the area where you have to splice the batting on both sides so it is one thickness all the way across. Then you can upholster the seat with covers of your choice, either bought or custom.
Ed

[wbs]

good info i never considered mice and bevel 45 degrees and overlap , not butt joint or overlap full thickness

[rotorwrench]

The 27" is a normal width for car seat cushions. A person needs the wider batting for padding the top materials. Cotton or polyester batting is basically a choice of authenticity but the polyester is fine if a person wants to use it. It's a bit more expensive. When using cotton, it's best to get the least amount of linters as possible. Cotton pulls apart and can be adjusted for layers or splices a slightly better that polyester but it's kind of like an apple and an orange. Both tend to slip under hard use and that has always been somewhat problematic. Some folks find ways to tie it to help keep it from moving under the cover materials but that is where pleating helped out a lot. Some model A seats are pleated and some are not. Those that are not generally had the cover material joined in two pieces across the side to side width of the car seat to help keep the batting from moving around. This link illustrates what I'm referring to as to non pleated covers. It's not exactly like they originally were but a person can see how the cover was put together.
https://automotiveamerican.com/2020/...refurbishment/

Look for the arrows on each photo string so you can see all the photos.

[wbs]

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thanks rotorwrench i got alot of good ideas i'm beginner

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by wbs

hello i can get 27" batting off the shelf locally i don't have order or get a large amount the seat springs are about 42" i am an amateur upholsterer i understand cotton batting is the best my ques is: can i join peices of batting to form a larger piece and if so best way to do so? thank you

Yes, you can join cotton batting by tearing the jointed edges. If you cut the batting with shears, there will always be a line, but if you tear or shred the edges, it blends without a seam.

As far as cotton to tuft or stuff the seat cover, I use loose cotton that typically goes by the trade name Dirty Cotton or Natural Cotton. We buy it in a large bundle and then store it in a covered plastic trash can. This allows us to pull out and fluff exactly what we need. I can touch a cushion or seatback (-or sometimes just look at the cover and tell you immediately whether it has synthetic or organic cotton, so if you don't care about accuracy or authenticity, then synthetic is fine.

[Cape Codder]

Brent,
Is there a Big difference in the looks if using synthetic? i.e. the "PUFF" of the upholstery?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

Brent,
Is there a Big difference in the looks if using synthetic? i.e. the "PUFF" of the upholstery?

Yes. For example, on door panels when you push your finger into the fabric, with synthetic the fabric will pop back out whereas the natural cotton will stay indented for a short period before humidity makes the cotton swell.

When I look at the tufting or on the top material, synthetic always looks "pregnant" to me. Regular natural cotton batten looks just like the Ford pictures where it is flat and not puffy .

[rotorwrench]

Polyester fibers are a bit coarse compared to cotton. The only way polyester can be softer is to blend cotton fibers in with it but it still isn't as soft as all cotton. The fabrics made with those different fibers are the same way. Polyester is more durable but it isn't as comfortable to wear.

[ronn]

also polyester will disintegrate over time. the cotton looks more natural for yrs.