How To Glue Foam: Helpful DIY Foam Tips

DIY projects are more popular than they have ever been, as people look for ways to stretch a dollar, find a new hobby, or take greater ownership of the things in and around their lives. With this trend, people aren’t only taking on more of the typical at-home projects, they are also expanding their efforts into areas formerly reserved for trade workers or craftsmen.

Soft eggcrate can be glued to a firm or water-resistant base

Soft eggcrate can be glued to a firm or water-resistant base

With more than 30 years in the comfort and support industry, The Foam Factory has seen the evolution and progression of many trends in home furnishing, and the development of DIY in recent years is one that has staying power. Things people used to replace or purchase without a second thought are now being fixed or built at home with customization potential beyond anything that can be bought in stores.

As the scope of projects people are willing to take on widens, custom seating cushions have become one particularly popular endeavor. Whether it’s to replace worn out couch cushions or for padding a chair for the perfect feel, making your own cushions from The Foam Factory’s open-cell foam is surprisingly doable. However, the hurdle that slows many people after they buy foam for a project is when they realize it can’t be created using just a single piece of material. The surprising solution to this problem is as simple as gluing multiple pieces together.

The idea of gluing something as soft and flexible as foam may sound strange, but in actuality, it has been a standard industry practice for decades. The best news for do-it-yourselfers is that it’s a very simple process that can be done at home. Armed with a few tips to keep in mind when it comes time to glue, you can put together a top-notch end-product.

When bonding pieces of foam together, the adhesive used makes all the difference. With the different chemical formulations that make up foam, some glues aren’t able to form a strong bond, and in a worst case scenario, the wrong adhesive can cause a physical reaction that results in a breakdown of the material. Fortunately, there is glue for foam designed specifically for use with all different varieties, and they are readily available from many retailers. The Foam Factory stocks adhesives designed for bonding open-cell foam, closed-cell foam, and even polystyrene, which can break down when the wrong adhesive is used.

Adhesives for foam are specially made to function in products used for comfort and support without changing their qualities. Sold as aerosol spray, this application method assures even distribution across large surfaces. These glues are also very strong while remaining flexible. This prevents the forming of an uncomfortable hard seam in a cushion. Instead, the foam is allowed to flex and compress without tearing. While a significant part of DIY is using on-hand materials, spray adhesives are the right tool for the job and perform in ways white glue or brush-on paste can’t.

Spray glue on both foam faces that will be bonded together

Spray glue on both foam faces that will be bonded together

Once you’ve gathered the materials you need for a project, there’s the matter of knowing the right way to bond the separate pieces of foam. When gluing foam, apply adhesive to both surfaces evenly, and wait a few seconds for the glue to get tacky. Once you’ve properly aligned your cut foam, compress it together as firmly as possible. With foam’s absorptive nature, this pressure works the glue deeper into each piece. Instead of a thick and rigid glue line that would be present if the foam was gently compressed, tightly squeezed foam seams create gradual bonds that make cushion pads stronger and more flexible.

This gluing method is easy when dealing with items like smaller cushions or throw pillows, but sometimes extra-large pieces of foam are difficult to glue together. When the foam pieces are too large to squeeze together from both sides, there is another technique to ensure you get the strongest bond possible. Using two fingers and your thumb, pinch the seam being glued, firmly holding for a few seconds before moving down the foam. It’s important to not to tear the foam’s edges while pinching, but by being careful, you can get a strong bond on even the largest cushions. Don’t forget to gently turn the cushion over and pinch the bottom edge as well, before declaring the project complete. With The Foam Factory’s quick-drying adhesive, just minutes after finishing your pinching, even larger cushions should be ready to be re-covered and relaxed on.

With these tips on gluing DIY cushions, you should be able to create cozy seating all through your house, for only the cost of glue and foam!

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