Dear Netfah,
I am somewhat on a budget yet need to replace the cushion on one of my living room chairs that my husbands’ 93 year old mother has decided to call home over the past year. The job seems simple enough and would save me some money, but a few pointers are needed if you wouldn’t mind. I guess an idea of what to cut with would be a start. Heard scissors would suffice, but I am looking to purchase a 4 or 5″ thick foam padding. Any suggestions?
~ signed Fugal Female
Dear Fugal Female,
While many would be willing to pay someone else a few bucks to custom cut your foam, your initiative to do it on your own will not only allow you to save those dollars for a rainy day, but also empower you as well. Cutting foam can be easy, but it does require a few basic rules of thumb. Trade the idea of using scissors in for using either a carving knife or electric one for your project, then check out the tips below.
1) First, measure your foam size from either an existing cushion you are replacing, or dimensions taken from frame. Add 1/2-1″ around since wear and tear over time will cause foam to give. Then draw your cutting lines on BOTH sides of the foam, so you cut it even top and bottom
2) Before you start any cutting, be sure your work surface is flat, stable and won’t be damaged by any cuts through the foam that might occur.
3) If you choose to use a carving knife, a gentle back-and-forth motion through the foam should offer you an easy cut. Since some foam is more compressed than others (ie. firm high density foam), it is important to be mindful of the amount of force you use. The firmer the foam, the more control you will have in making straight cuts.
4) If you opt to use an electric knife, do not force the blade through the foam. Forcing the knife tears the foam, leaving rough edges and a sloppy cut. The slower you go, the more control you will have.
Good luck with your project Fugal Female. Thanks for looking us up!
