Custom Seat

[Whatever6060]

Hi All,

I'm making a custom seat from a fiber glass base and I started layering foam and the piece has gotten pretty large (about 3 inches high).  What I did i put down a layer of 2 inch high density foam, a layer of 1/2 gel pad, and a lyer of a very thing soft foam 1/8 of an inche over the gel pad.  With that together the seat looks like a high chair out of my solo tail.

So, I'm not sure exactly what to do.  When I wrap it I might be able to squeeze it down (mostly compressing the 2 inch foam), to  maaybe an inch or an inche and a half? 

I'm thinking about loosing the 2 inch foam altogether and just going with the gel pad.  Has anyone done that?  How much comfort does something like that provided?

Or, should I just go out and buy some of the higher density foam (maybe 1/2 an inch thick)?  Anyone have any suggestion where to get something like that.  Thanks![/s]

[GeeP]

Check out the medium tempur foam (pink in color) available through Wicks Aircraft Supply, or Aircraft Spruce.  It's 1" thick, and should be all you need.  It is relatively firm, but molds to your body with body heat.  Put your gel pad on top of that if you like. 

Once you stick the foam down to the seat pan you can contour it with very coarse sandpaper (36 grit or thereabouts).  Wicks sells the proper spray adhesive for the foam.

[frankieG]

i was thinking of making a solo seat cover over the winter myself

[Whatever6060]

I actually made, a solo tail (from the original seat pan) which comes on and off with the seat lock.  The design is similar to the James G one but I made it bigger.  I also have been making a custom undertail and modifying the existing tail plastics (filling the grooves where grab bar was, removed black plastics removing any tabs and filliung any holes.  It's just about ready for paint.  I'm going to try and take some pictures this weekend and see what everyone things. 

I'm actaully kinda undecided on the solo tail.  It just came out bigger than I expected.  I have had thee fairing off for a while, but maybe when they get back on and a bigger tire (in the works) might make it look less big.   We'll seee

[Whatever6060]

Gee,

I checked out Aircraft Spruce and found Polyurethaine foam.  Is that what you were refering to?

[GeeP]

Gee,

I checked out Aircraft Spruce and found Polyurethaine foam.  Is that what you were refering to?

No, that's a structural foam.  I couldn't get the Spruce PDF catalog to work for me, so here's a link to the Wicks website:

http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog/product_cat.php/subid=291/index.html

The pink or blue should work well for your application, the yellow is waaay too soft and the green is very hard.  Ask for samples or buy one of each would be my suggestion.  It's great stuff, it doesn't need to be thick to be supportive.

[Whatever6060]

Thanks!!!  Let you know how it comes out.