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Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:10 pm

any thoughts on which is better?

at least one company make the horsehair but alot more $$$

I will be recovering a rear and full middle seat.

Also anyone know where I can find cardboard that is closest to what's on the seat back?

thanks in advance

Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:56 pm

Go with the horse hair. you'll get a much better looking seat when your done.

Foam pads tend to make the seat look bloated. I also don't find then as compfortable as the horse hair.

Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:17 pm

The I love the stock style seat pads I got from Wolfsburg West. They use a modern type of glue to hold the pads together that do not break down and shed like OG.

Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:53 pm

I was wondering the same thing myself. Think I will just go with the hair.To bad I can not just make some pads out of my pubes, have enough down there.

Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:02 pm

First it ain't hair it's coconut shells ground up, second just say not to foam, and third refer to number one and two!!!

Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:31 pm

Coconut fiber is the way to go, Looks like og, is og and comfy. The foam pads are great and last, of coures the price is right, but they look wrong.

Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:53 pm

Wiithout a doubt, in my opinion, horsehair pads are the best. I've never found another seat pad that looks or feels as good. or as original as horsehair. I've had friends who could make foam pads look alright, but after awhile were unhappy with the feel, and the perpetual 'ass groove' that developed with foam pads. Pay a bit more up front and do it only once, instead of paying twice when you need to redo the cheap stuff.

Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:54 pm

That makes me feel so much better knowing millions of horses did not donate their hair, or pubes.

Sat Mar 05, 2005 8:01 pm

Will the "horse hair" pads work with any of the typical suppliers upholstery? Like Sewfine, TMI, or the West Coast Metric, stuff?

Sat Mar 05, 2005 8:47 pm

ldmooth wrote: Will the "horse hair" pads work with any of the typical suppliers upholstery? Like Sewfine, TMI, or the West Coast Metric, stuff?

Yes, they work, but I had to do some serious trimming. The pads seem to be cut to the "largest common denomination". Better too much than too little, you can always trim. If you have the original cocoa, you can probably figure out exactly how to cut it, if it hasn't deteriorated too much. By looking at the "good" side of one of mine, I was able to determine the measurements for the whole thing.

Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:04 pm

Need some help, my WW pad is kickingmy ass, what are the tricks to keep in on the seat back, it keeps popping off

Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:01 pm

nevermind, my wife helped me

Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:10 pm

I also agree that the horse hair/coconut shell padding is the best for look. I will add though that after 2 or more hours on the road your ass starts to fall asleep. after about 6 hours your ass starts to hurt. I am going to ad a 1/4" or 1/2" memory foam pad to the next front seat that I do for my Bus to see how it looks & feels for long drives.

Sun Aug 09, 2009 7:16 pm

spookymulder wrote: First it ain't hair it's coconut shells ground up, second just say not to foam, and third refer to number one and two!!!

Funny, I have been a upholster for 40 yrs ( Ya i am old) And I and my coworkers always thougt horse hair was just that , horse hair coated with rubber glue, I have never used or reused horse hair, the new moderen Foam is much better, sometimes it is hard for a homebody upholster to get it to look good, just use good foam, If this is a 100 point Org bus then you will have to use horse hair, or it would not be org.

Sun Aug 09, 2009 7:48 pm

Mikee wrote: nevermind, my wife helped me

Wife help is the trick to a lot of things in life... :wink:

Sun Aug 09, 2009 7:59 pm

Alaskan Adventurer wrote: spookymulder wrote: First it ain't hair it's coconut shells ground up, second just say not to foam, and third refer to number one and two!!!

Funny, I have been a upholster for 40 yrs ( Ya i am old) And I and my coworkers always thougt horse hair was just that , horse hair coated with rubber glue, I have never used or reused horse hair, the new moderen Foam is much better, sometimes it is hard for a homebody upholster to get it to look good, just use good foam, If this is a 100 point Org bus then you will have to use horse hair, or it would not be org. Disagree 1000%. "modern" foam is not better.The horsehair or coconut pads look, feel, perform, last and fit like og. I don't care who installs it, foam, high or low quality, looks, feels and is wrong. My .02

Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:09 pm

Coconut seat pads from WW are the way to go. I just had the bench seat from my 59 Single cab restored by Octavio. Check my gallery for pics. I have not figured out how to post pics here :oops:

The coconut pads may cost more then the cheap foam stuff, but you get what you pay for 8)

Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:29 pm

Nobody has mentioned that with foam you don't get the mandatory bus smell, it's a subtle blend of many things but the seat padding is a crucial ingredient. You decide.

Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:29 pm

I think the horsehair is what gives the interior of a VW one of it's unique smells. The original poster in this thread knows what I'm talking about, he has smelled this in my '61 Mango with original seats and pads.

Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:28 pm

EA57RHD wrote: Coconut seat pads from WW are the way to go. I just had the bench seat from my 59 Single cab restored by Octavio. Check my gallery for pics. I have not figured out how to post pics here :oops:

The coconut pads may cost more then the cheap foam stuff, but you get what you pay for 8)

he usually makes his own seat pads, did you request for him to use WW coco pads.

his guys are skilled, but I am cheap