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rschap
Feb 21, 2010, 5:47 PM
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Does anyone know what kind of foam they use in the big gym pads? We have one that is all packed out but the outside is still in good shape. I was thinking about destitching the side and repacking it with furniture foam and a layer of harder foam on the top like a boulder pad.
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ax
Feb 24, 2010, 9:44 PM
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cut it up into 3 to 4" blocks and other random shapes... should be good.
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petsfed
Feb 25, 2010, 3:13 PM
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About a year ago, the gym I used to work at replaced the foam in their big pads. It felt like the softer foam in most crashpads. Try contacting the original manufacturer about it. The original manufacturer should've built in an opening on the pad so that you could replace the foam (and to simplify construction in the first place).
In a gym climbing situation, you don't need the lighter pad, which is why gym pads are so thick. Rather than have the firm top layer, they just have more of the softer bottom layer (ours were 8" thick, at least). Doubly so since high balling is not really an option in gym settings.
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bigjonnyc
Feb 25, 2010, 3:22 PM
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I've been doing some research getting ready to make my own crash pad and here's what I've found. Asana's big pads for gyms use a single density open cell foam. Open cell foam stiffness is rated by ILD, or indentation load deflection, and basically is a scale from around 20 (super soft) to 100 (very very stiff). Feeling samples I've received from places, I'd say that BD and Metolius pads use around an ILD 70 for their open cell foam, the big Asana pads are probably 70-80, and the stuff used in Organic's pads is probably 90-100. Here are some places I've found to get foam from:
http://www.thefoamfactory.com/...am/opencellfoam.html
http://www.foamandupholstery.com/Open_Cell_Foam.htm
http://www.upholsterysuppliesandfoam.com/xcart/home.php?cat=249
You can probably contact a local upholsterer too and have them order you some, though from what I've found they special order whatever they need and don't know much about it.
If you want to put a stiff top layer like most bouldering pads have, you want closed cell polyethylene. I just got mine in from the place in the second link up there and it seems to be pretty high quality.
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rschap
Feb 26, 2010, 6:45 AM
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bigjonnyc wrote: I've been doing some research getting ready to make my own crash pad and here's what I've found. Asana's big pads for gyms use a single density open cell foam. Open cell foam stiffness is rated by ILD, or indentation load deflection, and basically is a scale from around 20 (super soft) to 100 (very very stiff). Feeling samples I've received from places, I'd say that BD and Metolius pads use around an ILD 70 for their open cell foam, the big Asana pads are probably 70-80, and the stuff used in Organic's pads is probably 90-100. Here are some places I've found to get foam from: http://www.thefoamfactory.com/...am/opencellfoam.html http://www.foamandupholstery.com/Open_Cell_Foam.htm http://www.upholsterysuppliesandfoam.com/xcart/home.php?cat=249 You can probably contact a local upholsterer too and have them order you some, though from what I've found they special order whatever they need and don't know much about it. If you want to put a stiff top layer like most bouldering pads have, you want closed cell polyethylene. I just got mine in from the place in the second link up there and it seems to be pretty high quality.
Sweet, that’s exactly what I was looking for. When you start making gym pads let me know, I’d like to support an up and coming business or even just a do it your selfer. I’ll need a couple gym pads soon.
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bigjonnyc
Feb 26, 2010, 4:35 PM
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rschap wrote: bigjonnyc wrote: I've been doing some research getting ready to make my own crash pad and here's what I've found. Asana's big pads for gyms use a single density open cell foam. Open cell foam stiffness is rated by ILD, or indentation load deflection, and basically is a scale from around 20 (super soft) to 100 (very very stiff). Feeling samples I've received from places, I'd say that BD and Metolius pads use around an ILD 70 for their open cell foam, the big Asana pads are probably 70-80, and the stuff used in Organic's pads is probably 90-100. Here are some places I've found to get foam from: http://www.thefoamfactory.com/...am/opencellfoam.html http://www.foamandupholstery.com/Open_Cell_Foam.htm http://www.upholsterysuppliesandfoam.com/xcart/home.php?cat=249 You can probably contact a local upholsterer too and have them order you some, though from what I've found they special order whatever they need and don't know much about it. If you want to put a stiff top layer like most bouldering pads have, you want closed cell polyethylene. I just got mine in from the place in the second link up there and it seems to be pretty high quality. Sweet, that’s exactly what I was looking for. When you start making gym pads let me know, I’d like to support an up and coming business or even just a do it your selfer. I’ll need a couple gym pads soon.
You misread my post a little. I'm just making my own crash pad. Having used a bunch of pads at my local bouldering co-op and not really like the foam they use (BD, Metolius, Misty Mountain), and not wanting to shell out the cash for an Organic Big Pad, I'm just gonna make my own to the specs I want. I don't have the time or motivation to go into business doing it.
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johnwesely
Feb 26, 2010, 4:39 PM
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rschap wrote: petsfed wrote: Doubly so since high balling is not really an option in gym settings. Says who 
When I first started climbing in the gym, we would stack pads four on top of each other and solo up 2/3s of the wall and jump. I can't believe they let us do that.
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rschap
Feb 27, 2010, 2:34 AM
Post #10 of 13
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bigjonnyc wrote: You misread my post a little. I'm just making my own crash pad. Having used a bunch of pads at my local bouldering co-op and not really like the foam they use (BD, Metolius, Misty Mountain), and not wanting to shell out the cash for an Organic Big Pad, I'm just gonna make my own to the specs I want. I don't have the time or motivation to go into business doing it.
I can understand what you are saying, I am always making my own gear but have no desire to start a gear company right now. I just thought I’d throw that out there. When you make a pad post up a build thread, maybe I’ll break out the sewing machine myself. Here’s mine on the ice tools I’ve been working on, something big just came up so that projects on hold for now but I’ll finish them eventually.
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bullswimmer
Mar 13, 2010, 11:56 PM
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how thick of foam did you end up using?
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rschap
Mar 14, 2010, 4:27 AM
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Well, I haven’t actually acquired the “gym” pad yet but it’s looking like Wednesday is the day so I’ll let you know.
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spr
Jun 2, 2010, 1:42 AM
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when you've got your pad all built out, let us know how it went. i'm considering making my own as well, and any tips or pointers would be good.
i might work at an outdoor retailer and get prodeals... but i also make the money of someone who works retail, and therefore cannot afford even the prodeal prices.
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