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richard
4 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Apr 2005 : 20:26:16
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I am working on a sprung lounge chair which has a front cane edge. I have rebuilt the cane edge using 10 gauge wire formed into a bow front and lashed five new 6 inch seat springs to the front edge. The springs in the main part of the seat are 8 inch, by how much should these springs be compressed when they are lashed down. I have managed to form the required dome profile on the top of the seat and the side springs nearest to the frame have been pulled down but I can't seem to compress the springs in the middle of the seat by more than 1 inch , is this enough or do I need to pull them down more? Is there any tricks to compressing the heavier gauge springs?
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oldsofas
264 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2005 : 16:38:42
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Richard - apologies for not getting back to you sooner. You sound as if you're doing everything right with the springs on your chair. If you're using the original springs for the seat then as long as you've tied them nicely you can do no more. When you have a large sprung seat it's bound to dome. Once you've finished your first stuffing you can flatten the seat with through stuffing ties - the same process as stitching an edge roll, but you stitch all the way through the seat making sure you avoid snagging the springs and webbing.
You can put through stuffing ties whereever you like on a seat to help you get the desired flatness.
Hope this helps. D |
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n/a
153 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 11:09:42
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Hi there,
A handy hint for holding springs down whilst trying to lash them - take some wire (coathanger wire thickness) cut approx 5" long and bend the top and bottom half over by half an inch to form a [ shape but with a slight angle so as to hook over the top and bottom of the spring. Make 3 for each spring and hook them over the spring and compress them all to about 4" taking extreme care whilst doing this as some are frisky little devils. Now lash to your hearts content. Becareful when removing them and the springs will lift up and dome as required. Please make sure they are lashed with appropriate twine/laid cord - Ruth and David sell the perfect stuff, as otherwise tis all in vain and the springs will soon release themselves
hope this helps
Sue
ps to make sure the old springs are still usable, press down on them with the heel of your hand, if they press down in a straight line then re-use them, if they go off to one side then bin them and start a fresh |
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richard
4 Posts |
 Posted - 02 May 2005 : 20:34:55
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| Many thanks for the useful advice, especially using wire to compress the springs - its such a simple and effect method. I came up with a complicated wooden jig which I clamped onto the base frame to compress the springs the only problem with this method was I could not easily lash the cord round each spring as the jig was in the way. I decided to discard the old springs as some of them were deformed or bent over. |
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n/a
153 Posts |
 Posted - 18 May 2005 : 21:22:36
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glad to be of assistance!
Sue |
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n/a
153 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2005 : 12:23:41
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Jean,
this is the reply to Richard back in may re - springs, now whilst it doesn't address the correct size, it may just help you putting back in your large springs but getting them to a nice manageable size and being able to tie them down round the waist as well as over the top. |
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jean
France
198 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2005 : 18:35:06
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Sue - Thanks. The problem with French springs is that they seem to be much looser and are therefore compressed so much more to make a firm seat. The springs I have taken out are cock-eyed so I have to replace them and prefer using UK ones - apart from anything else they are about 3 times more expensive in France! So, back to the drawing board!
But I've had so much help from this forum. I will wait til the sofa/chair come back from the carpenter and will probably get springs that are an inch higher than the top of the rail and go from there. (Except of course, it's not a rail but a wire being a french piece...just to make life harder still!) |
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n/a
153 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2005 : 22:28:02
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Desmond Gaston reccommends that the springs are 1" above the tacking rail (wire!) so it sounds like you've got it right.
Bonne Chance
Sue |
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jean
France
198 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2005 : 08:33:23
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I don't believe it. I've got his book and it's the only one I haven't looked in recently - partly because it's in the bathroom and not on the shelf! Do you have a page number?
Many thanks. I feel reassured. My client is a new model - ie previous ones have been good friends and this one has come word of mouth. I don't want to get it wrong particularly as she has two more to follow! |
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n/a
153 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2005 : 14:43:03
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Its one of his earlier editions, but is in the advance upholstery section p148 although after re-reading he is talking about the platform springs as his chair has a cushion but gives a good general idea as you will have stuffing over them etc.
where abouts in france are you? spect its a tad warmer there than up here in Perth! |
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jean
France
198 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2005 : 18:45:55
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Hmmm, certainly dryer than Perth as we are having the most appalling drought. And yes, probably a tad warmer too!
We are just south of Le Mans, and just north of Angers. A line between Paris and Nantes would go through us if you see what I mean. So that's north of the Loire and all the English ex-pats!
I know Perthshire - my uncle lived there and we used to go up many years ago and the treat of all treats was a day's salmon fishing. Sheer heaven! (If you're anti-fishing I'll say no more and can we agree to differ?) It was always sunny for some reason and my father always came back south with the most amazing sunburn which he never suffered from anywhere else!
France is wonderful and having been here 12 years I sincerely hope we stay. My husband started a toy company out here (do you know Hawkins Bazaar? He's the french agent for them amongst other stuff.) We have reached that stage where the oldest is about to go off to Uni and the youngest no longer requires 24 hour attention and whilst I anticipated it as being a very difficult period for me I couldn't have been more wrong with upholstery flying in to the rescue! I really hope the word gets round and the business develops into something. We have just converted a barn - totally by coincidence - and it makes a brilliant workshop.
Oooops, I've just re-read your message and have a feeling I've given more info than asked! I'll leave it there or you'll get the story of my life! (Oh, no; save me that...I hear you say!) |
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n/a
153 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2005 : 17:14:33
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Hi there!
nice area, husband and I travelled round there on our motorbikes a couple of years ago, only managed down to Paris this year. Now that theres a ferry service from Rosyth think we'll be using that to break the monotomy of riding down through the uk and to travel further a field - how far from Le mans???? hmm I feel a trip coming on and we can talk upholstery to our hearts content!
My eldest still lives at home and works in Perth, middle one is on her 3rd yr at uni in Edinburgh and 3rd child is 14 and football daft!
As for fishing - have no feelings one way or other - just enjoying eating the results! Had a very dry summer (not on the west tho) but its making up for it now, was actually a summer season as opposed to a couple of days!
Better get on got a class to get ready for
take care
Sue |
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jean
France
198 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2005 : 19:06:35
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One hour south of Le Mans via the autoroute. Come and see us. I have a wonderful workroom so bring a chair - if it fits on the bike that is otherwise I'm sure I'll find you something to do!
Where does the Rosyth ferry go to? We are 2,5 hours south of St Malo, 4 hours from Roscoff, 3 hours from Caen/Ouistreham. |
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n/a
153 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2005 : 17:19:36
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| I thinks its Zeebrugge not sure. will def be over next year though. hows the chair coming along? I'm still on these loose covers - getting slower as I hate loose covers! ho hum just about keeps the wolf from the door......... |
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n/a
153 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2005 : 11:27:36
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| just looked at the motogp dates and its at le mans on may 21st........ |
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jean
France
198 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2005 : 12:00:56
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| My diary doesn't go that far ahead and we are in the UK a great deal but if we are here you can check in if it's close enough for you. Just under one hour to the track...it's crazy that weekend - there are literally thousands of bikes on the autoroute to the extent that the police hold them in "packs" in rest areas and so on and then let them out about 30 at a time. From the car drivers' point of view it works really well although I guess it might be a touch irritating for the bikers! |
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Seat Spring compression
