Re-upholster an office chair?

[Peabody]

I have an old rolling desk chair that fits me just perfectly, but has long since looked just awful. The fabric is worn out, and the padding compressed. Anybody here ever tackled re-upholstering a chair like that? Where would you go to find the fabric and padding? I wouldn't even attempt something like a couch or nice chair, but this is basically the seat, and I just wonder if it's something an ordinary human being could do without it looking like a three-year-old did it.

 

[ameijers]

I have an old rolling desk chair that fits me just perfectly, but has long since looked just awful. The fabric is worn out, and the padding compressed. Anybody here ever tackled re-upholstering a chair like that? Where would you go to find the fabric and padding? I wouldn't even attempt something like a couch or nice chair, but this is basically the seat, and I just wonder if it's something an ordinary human being could do without it looking like a three-year-old did it.

It depends- may be easy, may be a major PITA. If it has internal cording, springs, etc, probably wanna leave it to a pro. If it is a typical office chair, it is a plywood/plastic/metal shell, a hunk of foam, and fabric stapled or glued over it. Hard part will be figuring out how to get it apart w/o trashing it. Local upholstery company/boat cushion/tarp company will have the fabric and the foam, or possibly even a big sewing supply store. Get a slab of <high-density> foam and carve to fit, use dabs of glue rated for foam to keep it in proper place on base, and then strech the new fabric over it and secure it however it secures. If old fabric had sewn shape, or was 'molded to shape', you will have to figure out an eye-pleasing way to fold and tuck everything so it looks right when reassembled. Fabric store will have the buttons and cord for any buttons- I usually ignore such details. Check library or big-box DIY book aisle- I'm sure somebody has a book with pictures.

Having said all that- I usually find the pivot socket on the bottom of the chair dies before the fabric does. Stand facing chair, grab the arms, and wobble it side to side. If it feels loose, time for a new chair. But if the frame is strong and tight, with no cracked parts, I'd consider paying for a pro upholstery job- quality office chairs are amazingly expensive. The fanciest plastic made-in-China junk chair at the big box costs less than the entry-level models from Herman Miller, Steelcase, et al. I usually buy mine at auctions or garage sales- pay 20 bucks, get 2-3 years before it gets annoyingly wobbly.

aem sends...

 

[Phisherman]

I have an old rolling desk chair that fits me just perfectly, but has long since looked just awful. The fabric is worn out, and the padding compressed. Anybody here ever tackled re-upholstering a chair like that? Where would you go to find the fabric and padding? I wouldn't even attempt something like a couch or nice chair, but this is basically the seat, and I just wonder if it's something an ordinary human being could do without it looking like a three-year-old did it.

It is certainly a do-able project by the average home repair person. I recommend getting a book from the local library about the procedure. There are a few tricks to it, and some tucking and pulling. Look in the phone book for upholstry or foam shops where you can purchase material. Shops will cut foam for you if you don't have a band saw. Select material that will wear well. Cow hide leather is very nice.

 

[Peabody]

ameijers says...

It depends- may be easy, may be a major PITA. If it has internal cording, springs, etc, probably wanna leave it to a pro. If it is a typical office chair, it is a plywood/plastic/metal shell, a hunk of foam, and fabric stapled or glued over it. Hard part will be figuring out how to get it apart w/o trashing it. Local upholstery company/boat cushion/tarp company will have the fabric and the foam, or possibly even a big sewing supply store. Get a slab of <high-density> foam and carve to fit, use dabs of glue rated for foam to keep it in proper place on base, and then strech the new fabric over it and secure it however it secures. If old fabric had sewn shape, or was 'molded to shape', you will have to figure out an eye-pleasing way to fold and tuck everything so it looks right when reassembled. Fabric store will have the buttons and cord for any buttons- I usually ignore such details. Check library or big-box DIY book aisle- I'm sure somebody has a book with pictures.

This one is a Hon, and I don't detect any springs. So it appears to be just a metal base with foam and fabric. The arms and back are attached to the base with screws, and it looks like it would come apart, and go back together, pretty easily.

The original upholstery is fabric, except that the sides of the base are the skins of the elusive mountain nauga, but I would just use plain fabric on the re-do.

Having said all that- I usually find the pivot socket on the bottom of the chair dies before the fabric does. Stand facing chair, grab the arms, and wobble it side to side. If it feels loose, time for a new chair. But if the frame is strong and tight, with no cracked parts, I'd consider paying for a pro upholstery job- quality office chairs are amazingly expensive. The fanciest plastic made-in-China junk chair at the big box costs less than the entry-level models from Herman Miller, Steelcase, et al. I usually buy mine at auctions or garage sales- pay 20 bucks, get 2-3 years before it gets annoyingly wobbly.

It still seems quite sturdy, so I don't think that's a
problem. I just don't want to spend $150 getting it redone, so I may give it a try.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Des Perado]

Your local Public Library should have books on upholstery. The Yellow Pages should lead you to the materials you require.
Des

 

[vjp2.at]

Yes, me did. I replaced the back and bottom with new wood (rounded corners, but bolts now exposed), then I got one of those "Winsdor Chair Covers" off the net and covered up the unpainted wood. The body of this 1978 chair is chrome and still looks good enuf that most folks think it's a new chair. Some even wonder where they can gitemselves one.

- = -
Vasos-Peter John Panagiotopoulos II, Columbia'81+, Bio$trategist BachMozart ReaganQuayle EvrytanoKastorian http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vjp2/vasos.htm
---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}--- [Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards] [Fooey on GIU,{MS,X}Windows 4 Bimbos] [Cigar smoke belongs in veg food group]

 

[dadiOH]

I have an old rolling desk chair that fits me just perfectly, but has long since looked just awful. The fabric is worn out, and the padding compressed. Anybody here ever tackled re-upholstering a chair like that? Where would you go to find the fabric and padding?

Upholstery supply place. Either store or web.

I wouldn't even attempt something like a couch
or nice chair, but this is basically the seat, and I just wonder if it's something an ordinary human being could do without it looking like a three-year-old did it.

Sure. Two easy steps...

1. Remove old, paying attention to how it goes together. Diagrams or photos if you have a rotten memory.

2. Use old as templates/patterns, replace old with new reversing steps in #1

 

[mevlana17]

RE: How to re-upholster an office swivel chair:

I just re-upholstered an IBM office swivel chair that had a plasti back and plastic bottom. You could easily find the screws on the botto (attached to a board that the upholstery is stapled to). the board sai Oct. 1983 and it had brown burlap upholstery, changed to sky blu cotton duck fabric with pink butterflies....looks great now. Shoc absorber (up and down) still works, but tilt button does not. It di take all day and then some. The back of the chair had two strips o plastic at the base that did not come together and you could flip thes from front to back to allow the back post cover of the back to flip u so you could get to the screws to detach the back wooden board fro the back plastic. There were also two small screws at the sides unde the plastic edge on the sides (just peek under the edging, don't tak it all off).On the back there were also two hooks that attached to th plastic back and hooked into the wooden back that the fabric attache to. You have to pull down on the plastic back after loosening the fou screws in the back and the two at the sides under the plastic edging. The foam was glued to the boards so it had to be scrape /pulled off with a paint scraper , then steel wool, then sandpaper. hot glue gun comes in handy for re-attaching the new foam,I cut ne foam with an electic cutting knife and covered it in polyester battin and white muslin. This was not glued on , but any underneath foa build-up of the edges could be glued with the glue gun. All office chairs are different, so just have to be persisten and see how it comes apart and put bolts and screws in a zip lock whil working. Take the staples out of the fabric with a small screwdrive wedged under the staple and a plyers to pull staples out. Mark fabri taken off with top, bottom, sides, etc with felt pen and use as pattern for the new fabric. It helps to put the boards, foam and ne fabric upside down and kneel on it to squish the foam down whil pulling the fabric tight to staple it to board with a staple gun. I did not find any books on this at library or on internet, s just have to wing it . Best to have two people working on it. If yo want a softer seat, maybe don't squish it down as much or use lesse density foam, or if new upholstery is not cushy enough, can also mak an extra matching cushion on top of chair. Mine was worth it, just too a lot of work and time and sweat. Cost less than $60 (gave me extr fabric at store). There is a retrofit available also a http://www.swivel-chair-parts.com/Tips/Retrofit.html (never tried....t change to a wooden bottom). Also saw a parts supplier online (neve tried) at http://swivel-chair-parts.com/Contact.html for tiltin mechanisms, etc if you want to go that far.

 

[clayven]

Designer chair

I was surprised to see an office chair which looked like CHARLES EAMES creation, When I asked the store executive at STAPLES about it, she confirmed and said YES it’s been reproduced and available at a very discounted rate.
I bought one and it’s so stylish. Love my CHARLES EAMES chair. STAPLES they call these CHARLES EAMES chairs Amalfi, Quinto, and Rialto.

 

[heryu]

ACtually guy I was also unhappy with how the chair was holding up after only a few months. I received a response in just a few hours from them that informed me that the chair had a 1- year warranty and I have buy AMALFI, QUINTO, RIALTO chairs with many models and the most consideration part is that its a reproduction of CHARLES EAMES so one thing is clear and that is reliable, quality im also get thses chairs for my office.