Office chairs offer excellent aesthetics and relaxation spots and help your back while you work. Without them, sitting at a desk would be rather tricky and unbearable. Unfortunately, these chairs break down over time because they are not indestructible.
Nonetheless, they can last a long time after serving you well. However, you cannot just discard an office chair like a lousy sandwich.
Instead, you can drop it off to recycle or repair it yourself. If you have decided to take this step, you are lucky. Here are the steps to dispose of an office chair.
- Detach the Metal Parts From the Plastic.
- Remove the Leather Cover From the Seat.
- Peel Away the Layer of Worn Wood Underneath.
- Apply Some Glue on the Open Parts of the Wooden board.
- Use Clamps to Hold it to Add Pressure.
- Detach the Metal From the Plastic Base.
- Test the Fitting at the Center of The Plastic Base
- Tape Some Cylindrical Pads Cut to Fit the Hole and Place Them.
- Hammer Them in Place and Insert the Metallic Rod that holds the Seat.
- Use the Seat Board to Measure Foam for the Padding.
- Measure Your Desired Seat Cover (Any Material of Your Choice).
- Place the Foam on the Material and then the Board and Nail Them Together.
- Drill Two Latches Into the Sides of the Chair.
- Clean the Base with Some Vinegar to Remove Dirt and Add Some Shine.
- Line the Base With the Underside of the Seat and Drill the Bolts and Nuts in Place.
- Attach the Backrest to the Seat Base and Drill the Nuts in Place.
- Pad the Armrest with Foam Covered with the Same Material.
- Add Finishing Touches.
18 Steps to Dispose of An Office Chair
Office chairs are essential in a workspace as they provide space and better arrangements. In addition, they also offer personalization of individual properties. For example, each employer has a seat while in the office and no struggle for territory. Unlike other types of chairs, office chairs can help you move around your space with the aid of rollers.
Now, when these chairs get old, you can do two things. You can leave them on the curb for the recycling guys to find or do it yourself. However, the most profitable of the two is to rebrand it. Most times, recycled chairs become scrap materials and do not benefit you.
But, of course, it would be best to put in some work and discard it properly. The materials you need depend on the damage to the old chair. So, assessing what you have to deal with before embarking on this journey is best. After you confirm and purchase all that you need, you can begin the repairs.
1. Detach the Metal Parts from the Plastic
The first thing to do is to disassemble the old office chair into various parts. This way, you can clean and scout for durable parts. To do this, detach the seat from the backrest by loosening the screws with a screwdriver. Also, remove the center from the plastic base or legs by loosening the bolts.
Next, remove the leather and pad from the armrest, backrest, and seat base. This action will help you prepare the chair for repairs.
2. Remove the Leather Cover from the Seat
The leather cover helps to protect the seat from damage from moisture. It is a suitable and acceptable cover for office chairs. You must remove the leather from the seat and backrest. Often, old office chairs barely have any leather on them when aging.
However, this may only be the case for some chairs. So, whatever the case may be, ensure to remove the leather. Use your hand or any other sharp tool to cut through the leather.
3. Peel Away the Layer of Worn Wood Underneath
After removing the leather cover, there is foam and then wood. However, the foam would most likely be worn and no longer helpful. Consequently, you would need a new one. On the other hand, the wood will have a rough surface from the Pressure. Use a chisel to peel away the bad cover.
This way, you would have a smooth and clean surface for your foam to rest on. But, of course, you must replace the wood if it is no longer suitable.
4. Apply Some Glue on the Open Parts of the Wooden Board
The wood would have some open sections that need repairing. To do this, add some glue on the open edges. This way, you hold the wood together despite its efforts to fall apart. Apply a generous amount of glue using a brush or other suitable tool.
Avoid the surface of the board. Also, you can smoothen the board surface with some sandpaper. This way, you make it easier for the foam to rest on it.
5. Use Clamps to Hold it to Add Pressure.
Next, some clamps hold the edges together to aid the gluing process faster. To do this, you need several small clamps. Tighten them enough to be firm, but do not break the wood. So, you must be careful while doing this because the wood might be fragile.
Contrarily, if you are using a new board, this step is not necessary.
6. Detach the Metal from the Plastic Base
The base of the chair has two parts. One is the rollers, and the second is the metal pole. This pole acts as a support to the seat and a link between the seat and the rollers. Remove the bar from the rollers and set it aside. Most times, the pole hardly goes terribly, and you can use it again. But, ensure to clean it with oil to get rid of rust.
7. Test the Fitting At the Center of the Plastic Base
After you clean the metal rod, test the fitting with the plastic base. Sometimes, the plastic end is slack and broader than its initial size. Consequently, the metal cannot be firm, and the seat will be shaky. To test the fitting, insert the rod into the base and check its compatibility. If you are not satisfied, you must consider the next step.
8. Tape Some Cylindrical Pads Cut to Fit the Hole And Place Them
Next, cut some cylindrical pads and tape them with cellophane. Ensure that they are the same size as the base. After you finish wrapping them, place them into the hole in the plastic rod. This way, you have a perfect cushion for the seat and backrest of the chair.
9. Hammer Them in Place And Insert the Metallic Rod That Holds the Seat
Use a hammer to hit it in places it may require some pressure. Put as much as the space needs since it differs depending on the size of the pads. This step is necessary if the pads refuse to go in when you push them with your hands. Also, you can use a blunt object in place of the hammer. However, be careful not to hurt yourself or damage the base.
Then place the rod into the plastic hole and ensure that it is firm. Put the necessary bolts in place, also.
10. Use the Seat Board to Measure Foam for the Padding
You must use a wooden board to measure the foam for the seat padding. Place the board on a 1-inch foam and mark the four sides. Next, place the board aside and cut out the foam. Use sharp scissors and ensure to follow the mark. In addition, you can cut a few centimeters from the spot; this provides room for some excess.
Nonetheless, if you can cut the exact size without undercutting it, that will be perfect.
11. Measure Your Desired Seat Cover( any material of your choice)
Choosing the right chair cover is a crucial step. An office chair has to appear formal, but not too dull. Black material is always the best choice; however, colors like navy blue, gray, or burgundy are suitable. Although you use the office chair in your house, you can improvise. This way, you can use brighter colors or dull ones with flowery patterns.
Feel free to make your preference with the colors. However, you must ensure that it is a leather material. Now, cut your seat cover using the previous method. Use either the foam or the wooden board, and ensure that you leave excess that you can fold over the edges.
12. Place the Foam on the Material And Then the Board And Nail Them Together
After cutting the material, it’s time to join the three parts together. To do this, first, place the material on your work surface. Afterward, place the foam and then the wooden board. Use a stapler to hold the material edges as you wrap it over the foam and board. Ensure that you put enough nails to hold it firmly to last long.
13. Drill Two Latches into the Sides of the Chair
Now, it’s best to complete the coupling process. Spray the latches with dark spray paint; this makes them appear neater and covers rust. Next, drill two latches into the sides of the chair. This latch is to hold the backrest and armrest to the chair seat. Turn the underside of the heart and drill two latches on each side, in total, that makes four latches.
14. Clean the Base with Some Vinegar to Remove Dirt And Add Some Shine
To make the chair shine, clean the base with vinegar and a small towel. Rub every inch of the plastic ground until you are satisfied. In addition, you can spray the rollers and plastic base with paint to add more shine. This way, your chair looks even better.
15. Line the Base with the Underside of the Seat And Drill the Bolts And Nuts in Place
Now, place the seat on the work surface to connect the underside. To do this, put the roller rollers/legs on the seat and line it up with the holes for the nuts. It will help if you use the previous holes because they are at the center of the seat. Consequently, they would be easier to drill through.
After you align it with the seat, place the nuts in each hoe and drill the bolts in them. This way, the bottom, and the seat are in place. Now, you have the backrest and armrest.
16. Attach the Backrest to the Seat Base And Drill the Nuts in Place
Attach the backrest to the seat base and drill the nuts correctly. However, if the old holes are faulty, you can drill new ones. But, of course, you must place them as close to the previous ones as possible. This way, they do not misalign the chair.
Remember that every step is crucial to the office chair coming out perfectly. Take your time with the procedure to bring the best results. You can save time, resources, and energy if you do. On the other hand, if you succeed, it brings a sense of accomplishment that you will enjoy. In the end, you saved some cash and helped mother nature.
17. Pad the Armrest with Foam Covered with the Same Material
Remember to pad the armrest and backrest with foam and matching material. This way, everything appears better and uniform. Use glue to hold the pad to the armrest. You cannot use drills and nails because it would damage the pad and the aesthetics.
18. Add Finishing Touches
Finally, you have your refurbished office chair. Moreso, the work you put in paid off, and you had a productive day. Now, you can clean the whole chair with vinegar to remove the dirt. The reason is that the process involves getting dirty. So, to make the chair more presentable, you must clean it.
Leave the chair to air dry and take it to your workspace. Your office chair is brand new and ready for use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can make an office chair brand new. You cannot just dispose of an office chair like its garbage. There are standard procedures you must follow. Luckily, recycling is one of them. Everything should be fine if you can do an excellent job. I hope this helps.
