Seat / Conforfoam source
 

In planning my upholstery I started looking for a source for that special seat foam developed for the US Space program. :rolleyes: It seemed like pretty expensive stuff compared to the standard foam used in most car and boat seats. :eek: Well, while searching the Web I found a little foam shop run by Jim & Janice Fix from Lincoln, Nebraska. By the way the phone was answered and the extremely fast service I received it sounded like a Mom & Pop operation. The three grades of Conforfoam they sent in the RV kit is the weirdest foam I've ever seen. You have to touch it to believe it. :p Didn't know if anyone else had found this place and thought I'd pass along there site address. Their prices are the lowest I've found for this product and worth a look see for those of you tackling your own upholstery. This foam is said to provide extra protection in the event of a off airport landing. ;) Their at www.seatfoam.com
Tom Norwood N822PM (res)
RV-6A TMX 0-360 FP
in progress

I live near Lincoln and these people are great to work with........they go to Oshkosh every year and sell their foam there. they have made several custom BOOSTER seats for kids in the rear seats! Pass the word on ........always good to keep fine people like this in business!

Dean 40449

Conforfoam is a product of EAR Specialties. You may purchase it from them in large quantities, or you can obtain it from McMaster-Carr. I used it in my seats and it's wonderful; never any pressure points in 5 or 6 hour flights. I have the softest three 1/2" plies behind my back, all four available density foams under my legs, and five under my butt.

Doing the math on the McMaster costs for sheets, its probably still cheaper to get it from HI-Tech Foams (www.seatfoam.com)... The 18x20 sheets from McMaster are $33 each... You'd need 2 or 3 layers (this is 1" foam) per seat back and bottom (depending on size). That's 5 sheets per seat at 33 each for approx $150 a seat. $300 for a pair.... The kit from Seatfoams for my airplane was $245 at OSH this past year.

But if looking to customize what you have, the McMaster route might be cheaper.

Has anyone actually bought one of their aviation kits? What was the fit like, did they give enough material?

Thanks
Rudi

It's also available from Wicks. $18 for 16x18 piece up to $162 for a full 36x80 sheet.

http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog...291/index.html

Tony

HI_Tech
 

I just received a set for my RV6 and it included the following:
two 1"x16"X18" Soft (pink)
two 1"X16"X18" Medium (blue)
two 1"X16"X18" Firm (green)
two 1"X18"X24" Medium (blue)
This RV6 Package also included typical seat construction suggestions on how to build your seat foundation. Nothing is pre-cut or glued together like the kit offered by Van's so your not locked into any special designs. The price for my kit was $144.00
Tom
RV-6A N822PM (res)

Hmmm, and how do they recommend construction? It looks like you might be missing a couple of pieces?

The 2 Greens are the bottoms of the lower sections correct, then the 18" blues go on top of that followed by the 18" pinks. That's 6 pieces a Green, blue, pink (all in 18" long) for each side?

Then, they only gave you 2 24" long blue sections for the uprights? And are they really 1" thick.

The reason that I ask...

The legacy kit from Seatfoam is
2 - 16x18 greens
2 - 18x48 blues
2 - 18x48 pinks

The sandwich is a green on the bottom areas centered over the max weight, followed by a blue and pink... Obviously, you'd need to cut those in half or whereever needed to create a bottom and a back, but it would give a total of a
green, blue, pink on the bottom and a blue, pink on the back... With plenty of material to make that happen. Mind, you the kit for the Legacy is also $245

Just curious how they want you to build your seats... My experience in a RV is limited, but I remember that the bottoms and backs weren't all that short?

Hi-Tech's recommendation
 

Hi-Tech Shows the bottom cushions using the 16"X18" pieces with the firm being on the bottom, then medium and finally the soft on the top.
The seat-backs use the two 18"X24" Medium pieces. They do suggest using extra Styrofoam on the seat back behind the medium layer and under the bottom cushion. I would think you would also have to use some extra Styrofoam around the edges that you could trim to shape the seats.
These seats would definitely fall into the "Slow Build" category.
Tom
RV-6A N822PM (res)

Note, SeatFoam also has cut pieces they will sell you for the bolsters on the bottom and the back sides... Just ask them.