Split and Zwitter seat padding

[esde]

Hello,
During the pandemic, I ordered a full set of covers from Marcus Raeke, and am just getting ready to install them onto the restored seat frames..
Marcus did install the front covers onto seat frames, and secured the padding inside the covers so they are filled correctly..
For the rear covers, what padding are people using? I see the stock type from Wolfsburg West, are these good? Are you using burlap over the springs? Did you have to use other padding to help fill the upholstery and what did you use?
My daughter is home from college where she is studying fashion and garment construction, so she is a natural choice to help with this project.. I'm just trying to get as much info as possible going into it.
Lastly, do any of you have web pages or videos bookmarked that might show some of the details of working on these early seats? There are a bunch on the later seats, using TMI covers and foam pads, but they don't really get the details of a properly restored seat.
I'll be sure to document this as we go.. Thanks.
SD
_________________
modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that.

[beetlekey]

Hi,
the rearpaddings fit not well. The quality is getting more and more bad. I use 20 mm plane coconut material and clip it to the frame.

[RUNKLE]

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Links: 50 Standard Seat Padding • Seat padding for a 53 beetle

[beetlekey]

You are comparing apples with bananas.
We are talking about coconut ( export ) padding

[Martin Southwell]

[scarabee]

^^ Very interesting, Martin. Thanks.

[esde]

This is all very interesting, thank you
I have some burlap to cover the springs, a tighter weave that we use for wrapping root balls. I wonder if it is suitable? And, I did already order the pads from Wolfsburg West. I assume they will be mostly the correct shape and fit, but if not is it possible to add padding to make them fit better? Would you add padding between the cover and coconut pad, or between the springs and coconut pad?
Beetlekey, do you have any details you would share about how you make your pads? I realizer you run a business and don't want to give away your secrets, but any advice and methods you can give is much appreciated.
_________________
modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that.

[pat griffith]

I recently had my seats redone using WW seat pads. The rear seats came out very nice. I believe some modification were made to make them fit right. The front seats came out ok but there were some issues. The main one being the seat backs that came out a little to thick to me. I wouldn't add any foam to them. On the seat bottoms I would study some of the pictures on Marcus site to see what a correctly done seat looks like. The seam on the seat bottom needs to be pulled down in order to make them look original. I would imagine there is a lot of fitting and refitting when putting the covers on. The original seat pad material on my seats were in bad condition and unusable. If yours are in good shape I would use them and perhaps add some new material to build them up. I have seen plenty of photos on your gallery. No doubt your skill level is up to it.

[RUNKLE]

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[Martin Southwell]

When I bought my present Kubel 25+ years ago, which I believe found itself in Italy at the end of the war, when I stripped the covered front seats down, what I found was layers of old clothing and hay. Whatever you could get your hands on back in the day!