CMP seat base size?

[Grant Bowker]

I have noticed that some vendors describe their foam's firmness in terms of what weight applied to a 50 sq.in. area is required to achieve 25% compression of a 4" sample rather than soft/firm. The loads stated vary from 15 up to 90 pounds (maybe a wider range?. Since this is a static load and bumps make a dynamic load (perhaps 2-3G???) I was thinking a seat base should be at least mainly the firmest foam I could find. Did any of the people with experience of foam use foam number rated in the way I described and if so, what was the Indentation Load Deflection, or ILD number? I prefer a numeric system over "soft" or "firm" as the words can mean different things to different people but a properly defined numeric system should mean the same thing in every case.

[rob love]

Perhaps the foam question would be one best asked of an experienced upholstery shop.

We have a number of NOS cushions at the RCA museum that are all foam. Never had to drive more than an hour on them, but the thrill of driving these vehicles negates any derriere pain.

[Lynn Eades]

And then there is the issue of open cell foam and closed cell foam, and the difference between the "old foam rubber" that had resilience(bounced back) and the cheap foam that collapses under load and stays collapsed. I agree with Rob's first comment. there are many types of foam rubber.
In a CMP, a person with the genetics of a Dutchman may not need thick rubber. He might much prefer a thinner cushion of superior quality.

[Grant Bowker]

I do plan to talk with upholsterers (plural) before selecting foam. I'm thinking it would be wise if at least some of the discussions were with specialists in auto or marine upholster to get opinions on foam for use in vehicles and/or wet environments.

[motto]

Airliner seat cushions are all foam and often two different layers. If you know anybody in the airline industry, particularly in maintenance, the cushions are often discarded for minor defects and can be cut and shaped to suit a vehicle.

David

Just had a sobering thought. Aircraft seat cushions? The Ukraine? They would be everywhere.
I spent my whole working life carefully looking after aircraft. To see them fail to deliver their passengers safely under any circumstances comes as a blow.

God bless victims, family and friends.

David

[David Dunlop]

Has anyone ever taken an original CMP seat spring assembly to either a local upholstery shop or mattress shop to see if the springs can be replicated or replaced? Foam is not without it's own set of problems, but on the surface appears to be the cheapest route these days. However, the EWL Factor probably needs to be considered with a lot of CMP owner/operators these days regardless of which seat cushion option is selected.

David

[rob love]

Springs can be replicated. I know spaenur will sell you the springs in various sizes, along with the hog rings etc. In the end I guess it comes down to how accurate you want to be and how much you want to spend, and how much time you want to invest.

As to aircraft seats, you can keep them. My tailbone still hurts from the 14 hour flights from Toronto to Dubai on United Emirates. Once was the time I looked forward to flights.....not anymore. The seats feel like bricks to me.