Expert: Mark H. Miller - 3/2/2011

Question
I am replacing the cushions on a Morris Chair and would like to use spring units, as was original. [I do have access to a machine to stuff the cushions.]  The ~6" seat cushion will sit on an 8-way-tied sprung deck covered with matching fabric. I plan build a reversible cushion with relatively modest crown in order to minimize peek-a-boo of the deck.  Two questions:
1) Which method would you recommend for wrapping the spring unit: cotton batting with a dacron wrap, or a polyfoam box with a dacron wrap?
2) What gauge spring unit (13 or 15) should I use for the seat cushion? I have a 15 guage unit I planned to use for the back cushion, but that seems like it might completely compress under a person's weight (unless it gets way stiffer when it is wrapped/boxed).
Thanks for all your great tips in this forum.

Answer
Hello Lisa,

1)  I recommend you wrap the spring unit with cotton batting,  but under the cotton batting you should use a firm pad over the springs,  that can be a sisal pad or a very hard Dacron pad often called "hard tack"  the pad is less than an inch thick and will prevent the springs from penetrating the cotton,  years ago that would have been a hair pad but that is no longer available.

2)  For the seat you should use the heavier gauge.  Although that is not critical.  No matter which spring you use - either will compress when you sit down but since the seat cushion may be larger and thicker the heavier gauge will push everything back in place a little better when you get up.

I hope this helps.  Thanks for the compliment.

Mark Miller.