Читать книгу The Upholstery Bible - Cherry Dobson - Страница 13

When a piece of furniture is stripped, its stuffings are revealed. Throw away the waddings, but keep the hair and fibre, unless the strands of hair have broken into small pieces. The hair can be placed in a pillowcase and washed by hand or in a machine. You can use hair from an old mattress if it is of good quality. When purchasing stuffings, it is worth buying the best you can afford.

There are several types of animal hair available to buy, ranging from the common hog- and horse-hair, to the more expensive white cattle tail. Ginger coir and black fibre are very good alternatives and much cheaper. All of these are available to buy from upholstery suppliers in 13 kg (28 lb.) bags. Whatever type you choose to use, hair needs to be covered with wadding to make a smooth surface and prevent the strands working their way through the top cover.

There are three main types of wadding: white cotton wadding, blue wool, and polyester wadding. Polyester wadding is usually used on top of white cotton wadding to make an even, smooth finish; on top of foam as a protective cover; or as a lining, before the finishing fabric is attached to the outside arms and back. It is available in several thicknesses and widths, and rolls vary in length between 10 m (33 ft) and 50 m (164 ft). Modern fillings are foam and rubberized hair. Rubberized hair looks a little like real hair, but strands are coated with rubber latex and bonded together, almost to the consistency of a foam sheet. It is available in 2.5 cm (1 in.) and 5 cm (2 in.) thick sheets, in sizes 92 cm (36 in.) by 183 cm (72 in.). Foam is found on most modern chairs, settees, and headboards and is available in varying grades and thicknesses depending on its use. A good supplier will help advise on which type is best for your project. It is not a cheap option for stuffing, however – the price of foam 5 cm (2 in.) thick is twice the price of that 2.5 cm (1 in.) thick.

TYPES OF STUFFINGS

1 Black fibre is made from shredded leaves that are curled and dyed, and is cheaper than animal hair, although the dye does come off on your hands. Black fibre is used as a first stuffing on chairs and settees and is useful in forming a stitched edge.

2 Animal hair is available to buy in hessian sacks, although it is expensive. It comes in varying qualities but the cheapest one is fine to use. It is used for a first stuffing on drop-in seats, or pincushion seats where there is only one stuffing – or as a second stuffing on other furniture.

3 Ginger coir or coconut fibre is also used as a first stuffing and is useful for forming a stitched edge.

4 Rubberized hair is a good alternative to foam, hair or coir stuffing on chair seats or backs and is fire retardant. It is easily moulded and provides a more traditional feel than foam stuffing. Weight: 1150 gm (36 oz.), 183 cm x 92 cm (size 72 in x 36 in.) Thickness: 2.5 cm (1 in.) or 5 cm (2 in.).

5 Cotton wadding is also known as white cotton wadding. It is made from pure new cotton that has been layered. There are two weights available, the thinner one is suitable for general upholstery. Fire-retardant waddings are also available. The two weights are: 750 gm (26.5 oz.), width 68 cm (27 in.), length 17.5 m (19 yd); 1200 gm (42.3 oz.), width 68 cm (27 in.), length 11 m (11.9 yd). This wadding is used to cover hair, coir or fibre to make a smooth finish and to prevent the hair working through the top cover. It is also used on its own as a pad for simple upholstery.

6 Woollen felt/blue wadding comes in two types: layered or needled. It is made from woollen waste, which is woven together. The layered type falls apart easily and is not recommended, but the needled type is strong and useful for covering rubberized hair followed by a covering of white cotton wadding. It is also used as a covering for springs in sprung cushions.

7 Skin wadding is a thin wadding with a cellulose surface. It is used as an additional covering to white cotton wadding and provides a very smooth finish. Skin wadding is available in 32’s and 52’s. (no-one seems to know what these numbers relate to). 32’s: width 18 in (46 cm), length 20 m (21.5 yd); 52’s: width 46 cm (18 in.), 10 m (10.8 yd).

8 Polyester wadding is used as an additional covering for white cotton wadding to give a smooth and luxurious feel to the upholstery. It can also be used on the outside of chairs, as wadding between the hessian and top fabric. It is available in 2 widths: 69 cm (27 in.), or 137 cm (54 in.); and comes in various thicknesses from 70 gm (2.5 oz.) to 475 gm (16 oz.). The thinnest type is adequate for most upholstery, and the thicker one is normally used only for cushion interiors.

9 Foam (left) comes in different grades and thicknesses, as chip foam and also as latex, which is more expensive. It is available in large sheets or in pieces cut to the exact size and shape required. When using foam, consider its use and how it will be supported in the frame, and always cover it with a protective layer, like stockinette or polyester wadding. Otherwise the millions of small holes in the foam can pluck the threads of the finishing fabric. All foams sold for furniture in UK must be fire resistant.

Feathers (not shown) are used as a cushion filler. The feathers can be mixed with down to form a more deluxe filling and come in 25 kg (55 lb.) sacks. Feather cushions can be custom-made, which is preferable, as stuffing a cushion with feathers can prove both difficult and messy.