OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Tech Talk => Topic started by: ola_martin on September 04, 2012, 08:35:01 pm

Title: Making a seat
Post by: ola_martin on September 04, 2012, 08:35:01 pm
Has anyone here made their own seat?
I have a couple of bikes that doesn't have a OEM seat, and I don't want to be using something that doesn't fit the frame...

I made one for my Cheney XT this winter, using a fiberglass YZ125C base, wich I cut apart and removed/added fiberglass to make it follow the frame.
Then used a foam for the same bike, and added on and grinded off foam where it needed, then taped the whole seat tight with duct-tape, glued on a 3mm layer of stiffer foam to hide the tape. Then glued a soft wolly 4mm layer to the back of the cover to straighten things a bit more.

A lot of work, but turned out good.
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd485/ola_martin/Bilde0420.jpg)

I'm now starting on a seat for my Cheney XL, found that a RM125-78 foam looks about right.
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd485/ola_martin/IMG_2369.jpg)
Thinking of making a new base in alloy, but I probably need to modify the foam a bit here also.
So any tips on how to make a modded foam look good will be very welcome!! :)
 
Title: Re: Making a seat
Post by: mainline on September 04, 2012, 08:43:48 pm
The upholsterer who I've used to make seats for me in the past glues (with spray adhesive I think) layers of foam on top of one another then shapes them roughly with an electric carving knife before sanding them to shape with an orbital sander (air powered)
Title: Re: Making a seat
Post by: Rod Rocket on September 05, 2012, 06:57:55 am
I moulded a new seat foam, I mocked up the old seat pan with styrene and clay and made a fiber glass mould and cast flexable foam seat from the mould. Then I did some final shaping with a angle grinder with a flap disk fitted it worked well and removed the excess foam with ease I also tried a belt sander seams any form of sander will do the job but you need to approach this task with care I found with the grinder using a wiping motion worked quite well and blended the foam easily.
Regards Rod.
Title: Re: Making a seat
Post by: Mike52 on September 05, 2012, 07:03:09 am
cast flexable foam
Regards Rod.

Where did you buy the foam stuff Rod and was it any good.
Cheers
Title: Re: Making a seat
Post by: Rod Rocket on September 05, 2012, 07:18:13 am
Hi ola_martin,
This is from a previous post
Hi maimline & MICK-DE,
I test rode the bike with a piece of fabric as cover to check shape before we cover it with gripper vinyl and it feels good even the gear change has a better feel with the way my foot sits on the peg due to the changed angle to my knee's. The product I used was flexable polyurathane foam 130Kg per M/3 there are various densitys in this foam I chose the highest density.
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Title: Re: Making a seat
Post by: ola_martin on September 06, 2012, 04:52:24 pm
Thanks guys! :)
Title: Re: Making a seat
Post by: grouty on September 07, 2012, 05:47:10 am
I have just had the CCM foam replaced. The upholsterer uses foam in layers, but where you want it a little stiffer he stretches and glues on a layer of muslin. Works a treat, I now have a seat that won't let my arse hit the fibreglass base !
The shaping is done as above.
The Cheney is looking good  :)
Title: Re: Making a seat
Post by: ola_martin on September 10, 2012, 06:44:40 am
Thanks, but please explain to me what muslin is......??
Title: Re: Making a seat
Post by: David Lahey on September 10, 2012, 07:23:43 am
muslin is a type of lightweight woven fabric
one thing about the electric carving knife is that be prepared to buy another one after you have shaped a seat foam. I only got one foam cutting session out of my wife's electric knife and it was worn out. Maybe there is some sort of lube I should have used between the blades?