furniture repair: why use webbing?

[George]

We have an 'older' couch, which is sagging badly. It has coil springs,
which are supported on jute webbing that's nailed into the frame. The
webbing is seriously failed.

We can replace the webbing, but I'm wondering, why not just screw a
piece of 3/4" plywood to the frame instead? The advantages I've thought
of for webbing are just to do with manufacturing, not functionality. I
suspect there's more to it.

Thanks.

[Frank]

I imagine webbing and springs distribute the weight. Plywood would not
allow this. Sitting on plywood, if cushions are inadequate will
probably be a pain in the butt ;)

[George]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:19:23 -0400, Frank <frankdo...@comcast.net>
wrote:

Just to be sure my description was clear, the plywood would be _under_
the springs. So, from the top: cushion ... springs ... plywood.

[micky]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:19:23 -0400, Frank
<frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote:

I think he means to keep the springs but get rid of the jute.

This would be a violation of the 1903 Manila Treaty with Indonesia,
the Philipines, and Timor, which guaranteed the use of jute in
American upholstered furniture, Section 9, Paragraph 7.
www.state.gov/treaties/1903/Manila/9_7_tropical_products.asp

Even though you are not the original manufacturere, you're still bound
by the terms.

If you want to risk ignoring the treaty and the possible fines,
plywood will weigh more than the webbing. Other than that, nothing
comes to mind. I faced the same problem with the reclinding desk
chair I use at my work bench. It was old when I got it and now it's
35 years older, and the webbing has ripped. I had 5/;8" wide metal
flats that O cemtered above (when the chair was upside down) each of
the 3 rows of springs and screwed into the wooden frame.

Of the 3 flats, the back one has a screw on the right coming out but
not out, The front one has a screw on the right out but still only a
half inch below where it was, and The middle one has a screw on the
left out, but the flat has only dropped two inches; I have to
remember not to plop down on the chair with such force. I did this a
year ago.

[David L. Martel]

George,

Webbing is light, cheap, and stretchy. Plywood is not. But it's just
another home repair so use what you've got and live with the result.

Dave M.

[Frank]

Then, I would think it should be OK although sofa may not seem as soft.

[dadiOH]

One reason is it provides a way to attach the springs. Coil springs need to
be tied - generally, "eight way" - to each other and be attached to the base
to keep them in place.

It is simple to re-web, all you need is the webbing and webbing pliers or a
webbing stretcher.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net

[bob haller]

Yep I did a lot of rehupolster work for awhile. Took community college
classes. It was fun learning and rewarding. I learned a LOT, by the
last classes I was helping others:)

Springs on plywood BAD IDEA!

No give as cushioning, noise as the springs try to move around.

[Vic Smith]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:36:59 -0400, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com>
wrote:

>On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:19:23 -0400, Frank
><frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>On 3/31/2013 7:30 AM, George wrote:
>>> We have an 'older' couch, which is sagging badly. It has coil springs,
>>> which are supported on jute webbing that's nailed into the frame. The
>>> webbing is seriously failed.
>>>
>>> We can replace the webbing, but I'm wondering, why not just screw a
>>> piece of 3/4" plywood to the frame instead? The advantages I've thought
>>> of for webbing are just to do with manufacturing, not functionality. I
>>> suspect there's more to it.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>I imagine webbing and springs distribute the weight. Plywood would not
>>allow this. Sitting on plywood, if cushions are inadequate will
>>probably be a pain in the butt ;)
>
>I think he means to keep the springs but get rid of the jute.
>
>This would be a violation of the 1903 Manila Treaty with Indonesia,
>the Philipines, and Timor, which guaranteed the use of jute in
>American upholstered furniture, Section 9, Paragraph 7.
>www.state.gov/treaties/1903/Manila/9_7_tropical_products.asp
>
>Even though you are not the original manufacturere, you're still bound
>by the terms.
>
>If you want to risk ignoring the treaty and the possible fines,

Thanks! And ignorance of law is no defense. (-:

[micky]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 07:30:07 -0400, George <gbec...@verizon.net>
wrote:

>We can replace the webbing, but I'm wondering, why not just screw a
>piece of 3/4" plywood

I didnt' really notice 3/4". That is plenty thick and will be
substantially heavy, especially since sofas are awkward to move. I
guess I had in mind a chair, not a sofa, and 3/8", which probably
won't break

[Oren]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:20:03 -0700 (PDT), bob haller <hal...@aol.com>
wrote:

>Yep I did a lot of rehupolster work for awhile. Took community college
>classes. It was fun learning and rewarding. I learned a LOT, by the
>last classes I was helping others:)

As a kid I used to watch a lady reupholster furniture she found in the
trash. Good bones, but needing some restoration and new covering. She
made extra money doing the work.

I have a chair I picked from the trash once, maybe 1940-50 era. Nice
wood details on the front arm rests. I worked on the wood, then she
had the chair redone by a pro. A solid chair that was headed for the
trash that we saved.

[Oren]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 18:10:38 -0500, Vic Smith
<thismaila...@comcast.net> wrote:

>>I think he means to keep the springs but get rid of the jute.
>>
>>This would be a violation of the 1903 Manila Treaty with Indonesia,
>>the Philipines, and Timor, which guaranteed the use of jute in
>>American upholstered furniture, Section 9, Paragraph 7.
>>www.state.gov/treaties/1903/Manila/9_7_tropical_products.asp
>>
>>Even though you are not the original manufacturere, you're still bound
>>by the terms.
>>
>>If you want to risk ignoring the treaty and the possible fines,
>
>Thanks! And ignorance of law is no defense. (-:

Can I cut the mattress tags off my mattress and pillows?

[bob haller]

> >Thanks!  And ignorance of law is no defense.  (-:
>
> Can I cut the mattress tags off my mattress and pillows?

Not unless your happy to do 5 years in prison, supermax for tag
cutters!

[k...@attt.bizz]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:16:30 -0700 (PDT), bob haller <hal...@aol.com>
wrote:

>

*AND* void your homeowner's insurance, right?

[micky]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:06:20 -0700, Oren <Or...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:20:03 -0700 (PDT), bob haller <hal...@aol.com>
>wrote:
>
>>Yep I did a lot of rehupolster work for awhile. Took community college
>>classes. It was fun learning and rewarding. I learned a LOT, by the
>>last classes I was helping others:)
>
>As a kid I used to watch a lady reupholster furniture she found in the
>trash. Good bones, but needing some restoration and new covering. She
>made extra money doing the work.

I found a couple rush chairs on the sidewalk once. In Brooklyn, NY,
and Queens, I only found one shop that sold rush, in Manhattan in the
west 20's. The middle of the seats were missing. I made them match
and then redid the middle. Straight-backed, ladder-back chairs.
Incredibly uncomfortable. I sold them cheap or gave them away.

But it was fun. A big roll of rush was under 10 dollars in today's
money.

[TimR]

Google lattenroste images.

We have this on a bed and it is great, much better than springs or webbing.

[Norminn]

On 3/31/2013 7:30 AM, George wrote:

Softer landings when you sit down :o)

[Oren]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:16:30 -0700 (PDT), bob haller <hal...@aol.com>
wrote:

>

Hmm, When Jimmy Hoffa worked in the mattress factory at USP Lewisburg,
there were never any tags put on them.

Crooks loved the ones he made because he over-stuffed them (thicker).
Often called a _Jimmy Hoffa mattress_.

[ChairMan]

We're sorry. That page can't be found and may have moved.

I've been in the furniture industry for 35 years and never
heard of this before.
Synthetics have replaced jute for many manufacturers because
the fail rate is much much lower than jute.
Even the twine used to tie the springs is synthetic now
It's been used for years instead of jute, so I guess there
should be lots of companies being fined

[ChairMan]

yes, it says only to be removed by consumer :)

[ChairMan]

Replace or just go over the existing webbing with synthetic
or polypropylene webbing.
Putting plywood will not let the springs work the way they
need to and will eventually start squeaking.
Jute was fine back in its day but poly/synthetic will not
rot or stretch out like jute will.