Do you have an armchair with lumpy and saggy coil springs? It may be time to replace them with new biconical coil springs. But with so many options available, how do you know which ones to choose?
Firstly, it's important to establish what the coil springs are sitting on. They are typically placed inside a frame on top of either jute webbing, metal straps, wooden rails, or a flat wooden base. If the springs are sitting on webbing, you should replace it with 10lb jute webbing and use a webbing stretcher to ensure it is nice and tight.
Next, arrange the springs on top of the webbing and sew them into place with jute twine and a strong needle, using only 3-4 stitches to hold each spring in place. The top of the springs are compressed and tied together with jute twine, and/or compressed down using a layer of hessian.
When it comes to selecting the appropriate gauge and height of the springs, it depends on several factors. Generally, 9g coil springs are recommended for seats and 10g coil springs for backs. To determine the appropriate height, measure the height of the side frame and add approximately 10cm. For example, if the frame is 8cm high, purchase a spring that is about 18-20cm.
Finally, it's important to compress the spring down enough to provide resistance on the top padding and fabric, but not so much that it forces the bottom out. Simply press the spring down with your hand and tie it off at the height where you feel the spring starting to resist.
By following these guidelines, you can replace the coil springs on your armchair and create a comfortable platform for the rest of your stuffing to sit on.