Seat pan

shaydaddy · Full Member Joined: May 17, 2009 Posts: 55

I'm ready to make my seat pan, but need to know what guage steel to use. The seat will be hard mounted just like the factory seat. Any advice would be appreciated.

borjawil · Posted: June 4, 2009, 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: Seat pan

I dont know if this is the right answer but im assuming your welding it to the frame so you're gonna want something that want be destroyed by the heat.
Oh and will you just be having the metal as a seat or will there be an actual cushion deal goin on?

shaydaddy · Full Member Joined: May 17, 2009 Posts: 55

picked up some sixteen guage steel today. the factory seat pan looks to be about the same thickness. I'm going to weld some bolts to the pan that will secure to the crossmembers with wingnuts. I'm going tho use closed cell foam rubber from som gardening kneeling pade for the cushion and then cover with marine vinyl. I'll try to get pics up when it's done.

cretin75xs650 · Full Member Joined: Dec 24, 2008 Posts: 99

Would be interested to see pics of your progress. I took my stock seat, made a template from my frame, used it to cut the seat pan. Now I am trying to re-form the seat foam and then get it re-covered. I'm having difficulty in shaping the stock foam. I am using a craving knife but can get it to round the corners. Does anyone have any suggestions?

nudude53 · Posted: June 5, 2009, 8:11 am Post subject: Re: Seat pan

An air grinder with 5 or 6 inch 36 grit disc

www.oneoceankayaks.com...eat18b.htm

shaydaddy · Full Member Joined: May 17, 2009 Posts: 55

Not sure about stock foam. I'll be using closed cell foam, right angle die grinder, and 3-inch sanding disc to form cushion. should have some pics today or tomorrow.

xsleo · Posted: June 6, 2009, 12:20 am Post subject: Re: Seat pan

Is your carving knife an electric knife. the electric knife works very well.

cretin75xs650 · Full Member Joined: Dec 24, 2008 Posts: 99

Yes, electric knife. But the foam on the stock seat is very thick. I have tried a sander, but will check the grit. Thanks for the input.

borjawil · Posted: June 7, 2009, 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Seat pan

whats the best way to shape foam for a seat? i cut the foam down but need to detail it i guess you would call it.

xsleo · Posted: June 7, 2009, 11:33 pm Post subject: Re: Seat pan

Mine came out ok with just the electric knife. A sander with a coarse grit is what some use.
I started at the front of the stock foam, about an inch back from tank, cutting down at the same angle as the tank. Down to about a 1/2 inch from pan.
Turn blade flat, cut back flat till I got to about where I sit, the foam changes color. I then cut with the blade almost straight down and cut a curve across the seat foam.
It fits around my butt pretty well. had to do a little trimming to get it all smooth.
Just need to put the vinyl on.
If you look at some of the pics I've posted you can see what it looks like. Kinda crappy with the shredded vinyl thats on it .

borjawil · Posted: June 8, 2009, 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Seat pan

not sure where the pics are that you posted... i do have a question though if anyone knows.

If i have the main shape of the seat cut out but its not rounded on the edges and more blocky, can i fit the cover and use the cover to compress the edges and shape them that way? or would that give me problems later on?

shaydaddy · Full Member Joined: May 17, 2009 Posts: 55

Well here are some pics of my seatpan process.

shaydaddy · Full Member Joined: May 17, 2009 Posts: 55

A couple more pics sorry they are out of orde but I think you get the idea

borjawil · Posted: June 9, 2009, 9:20 pm Post subject: Re: Seat pan

Very nice and simple too. I finished smoothing and shaping my seat today. prepared the seat pan for fitting to the frame. gotta pick up some hardware to get it to bolt down. thanks for the help.

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