On Wed, 05 Jan 2000 16:16:19 -0400 Bob Conrich bob@eastcaribbean.com
writes:

Oh boy,  you have asked me to comment on a subject that is more hotly
debated than religion, politics, and taxes!  I will make some general
comments, but anyone is allowed to disagree.

First, closed cell versus open cell.  The pro for closed cell is that it
is resistant to water absorption.  The cons are it only comes in a 2 in.
thickness, is harder than  a ROCK to sit on, and it tends to shrink over
time so that the cover appears to be baggy.  Therefore, it is not
appropriate for interiors but has some use for exterior applications, ie.
cockpit cushions.  The boat building company for which I work does not
recommend using closed cell for exterior cockpit cushions.  I think it is
uncomfortable, it is more expensive, and the open cell cushions - if left
where they might get wet - will dry out adequately in a short period of
time if the bottom of the cushion is covered with Textilene (an open mesh
material) to allow the foam to breathe and the water to evaporate.

As far as open cell foam and what to look for, I just checked with our
staff upholsterer for some recommendations.  Open cell foam comes in
several densities, ranging from 1 pound per cu. ft. and higher.  At our
company, we use the highest quality open cell foam known as "Heavy
Density" foam that weighs about 2.5 pounds per cu.ft.  Of course, that is
the most expensive kind.  This Heavy Density foam comes in several
firmnesses - Q21, Q31, Q41, Q51 (21 being the softest and 51 the
firmest).  The firmer the foam, the longer it holds up in general.  We
find that most of our customers prefer a sleeping mattress to be about
Q31 and cushions for a settee about Q41.  Now if you want to be really
cute and want to get the deluxe application, I suggest the mattress be
made out of 4 in. thick Q41 with a 1 in. thick wrap of Q21.  You can even
do different firmnesses on either side to suit different partner
preferences.  Better than sleeping on a cloud.  This is how all the major
bedding mfg. are making their foam mattresses today and even some of the
innerspring.

In any case, all INTERIOR foam applications should be wrapped in dacron
or poly batting to extend the life of the foam.  Exterior cushions should
not be wrapped and you just replace them more often.

Did you know that 80% of men in the US sleep on the left hand side of the
bed when viewed from the foot?  Conventional wisdom says this goes back
to European custom and Biblical scripture, but who knows.  It was
important that I know these things when I was in the furniture business!

So there you have it, Foam 101.  80% of you passed, 20% failed.

tempus fugit
Patrick

pgslo@juno.com writes:

That was a really good lesson. That's a keeper in my book. Thanks
muchly and incidentally I lied in my earlier description of my all
foam chesterfield: the individual slabs are 8" thick, so that two
folded up made a comfortable height seat.

Thanks again for FOAM 101 George

BTW: I have cockpit cushions made from 2" closed cell foam which are
not all that uncomfortable but have the added advantage that they
float and can be thrown to someone fallen overboard as livesaving
cushions. Gg