Studio chair?

[silver70]

Hello,

Just wondering what chairs you all have at your bench? What is best? With arms? Without arms? Back rests etc.

Thanks.

[Dennis]

I have an upholstered office chair from Staples, formerly Office World, which is height adjustable. No arms, as they would get in the way when reaching for things to the side and probably when moving forward.

With time the telescopic pillar does not hold its pressure which has to be restored by letting it right down and up again. A regular chore I can well do without. Oiling the pillar all over does seem to help. However the price of these chairs has escalated so much since I bought mine, maybe twenty years ago, that I put up with the inconvenience rather than replace it.

You certainly need to try before you buy, as they vary in comfort. Dennis.

[art925]

I have an ergonomic mesh chair that was custom made for me. The company are local; they came to my workshop and made all the measurements. I have my seat tilted slightly forward and lumbar support. I believe the seat was made shorter for my little legs. Being mesh and moulded plastic it is perfect for cleaning and removing all traces of metal. I have a very nice office chair from the same company. I broke my back many moons ago so a good chair is important for me.

[Aurarius]

Hello,

Just wondering what chairs you all have at your bench? What is best? With arms? Without arms? Back rests etc.

Thanks.
This is the very question I was going to ask a while back. There's a huge range on offer of the sort of chair Dennis refers to. One thing to check for is the minimum and maximum seat height; it's an important factor in the chair's overall useability. This one (http://www.officeandchairs.co.uk/index.php?webpage=product_detail.php&product_id=17164)is about the best in the business, but the supplier currently has none in stock.

[Goldsmith]

I spent my first 7 years at the bench sitting on a three legged wooden stool with a half round seat, the seat sections were originally made from the bench cut outs. My stool was a bit short for me as an apprentice so I nailed three wooden cotton reels to the legs. As soon as I became workshop foreman, I fitted out the workshop with second hand office chairs, with no arms. In my current home workshop I still use old office chairs, I also have an old draughtsman's seat, which is much higher and great when I am working on tools held in my large vice. Check out the second hand office furniture warehouses, they are always getting new stock of chairs from closing businesses. I still have my original stool stored away.

James

[ssssue]

I'm using a saddle stool with castors. It's comfy to sit on and good for the back apparently. It also moves easily so I can get to all the bits I drop in the floor!

[silver70]

Cool thanks for your advice - it looks like no arm rests are a must! And James - your stool story is cool! I bet you keep it forever. Thanks.

[Aurarius]

I spent my first 7 years at the bench sitting on a three legged wooden stool with a half round seat, the seat sections were originally made from the bench cut outs. James
I think wooden stools were the norm in many kinds of industries at one time. I've got three oak stools that came to me from a tailoring business that ceased trading about 60 years ago. At 540mm high they're a bit high for piercing and setting work, but they have four legs and are very stable and very comfortable. I'm alternating at the moment between the stools and an old dining-room chair, whose seat height is 440mm. I'd prefer a single chair that could do both jobs.
Mark.

[LydiaNiz]

I use an old office chair, although it has arms, as occassionally I like to pretend I am 'M' from the Bond films. (James, not Peter).

[Keia]

I use a height adjustable breakfast bar chair, no arms ;)

[silver70]

I use an old office chair, although it has arms, as occassionally I like to pretend I am 'M' from the Bond films. (James, not Peter).

Lol!! I like that thought - do you find your arms get in the way - chair arms that is!!?

[Petal]

We've got a staples chair for way too much and one from a charity shop that looks similar for £5 !

Les, your chair in mesh sounds wonderful and I bet its really comfortable too.

Oh yes and they are armless too. :D

[medusa]

I have a terrible short stool. with the legs cut off because my bench is far too low. It is a really bad arrangement and is on the 'to do' list for next year. Ssssue, your stool sounds interesting. gotta link?

[ssssue]

Medusa, can't remember where I got it but if you search for 'saddle stool' online you should find them. Mine has gas lift adjustment and castors. Cost me around £40 I think. I'm away at the moment and only have my iPhone so I'm limited in what I can post - internet connection is very iffy here. I tried to attach a picture to my original comment but the forum wouldn't let me as I'm very new and haven't posted enough. Will get around to introducing myself properly when I have better access.

Sue.

[LydiaNiz]

No, the arm rests don't get in my way, but I do have it high up. Those 'back saving' stools are awesome, but way too low for anything in my studio.

[EmmaC]

I like the kneeling posture stools as I have a habit of slumping when I'm working on very detailed things. I use one at my drawing board, and am trying to see if I can get a table the right height so I can use it for chasing and repousse too. My biggest bugbear is I'm quite small so find most desks too high for me in relation to chairs for good posture. With an adjustable office chair sometimes my feet are off the ground so I can get it to the right height, smallness is an advantage for the right sawing height though!

[ps_bond]

I use a kneeling stool for computer work, but there's a real issue using them for jewellery work - foot pedals... Chasing & repousse might work.
Most of the time I use an office chair, but the castors can mean the chair shifts if I'm doing anything that requires some force.

[medusa]

Medusa, can't remember where I got it but if you search for 'saddle stool' online you should find them. Mine has gas lift adjustment and castors. Cost me around £40 I think. I'm away at the moment and only have my iPhone so I'm limited in what I can post - internet connection is very iffy here. I tried to attach a picture to my original comment but the forum wouldn't let me as I'm very new and haven't posted enough. Will get around to introducing myself properly when I have better access.

Sue.

cheers, had a quick google and they look ideal. keep posting!

[ShinyLauren]

I use a kneeling stool for computer work, but there's a real issue using them for jewellery work - foot pedals... Chasing & repousse might work.
Most of the time I use an office chair, but the castors can mean the chair shifts if I'm doing anything that requires some force.

Haha! I've zoomed myself backwards stone setting on more than one occasion!

I also have an office chair, but am a short arse and sometimes it doesn't seem high enough for my bench, so I might try one of those height adjustable breakfast bar stools next.

[Keia]

Took me a while to find the correct link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Casino-Retro-Breakfast-Kitchen-Leather-Bar-Stool-Stools-Chair-Barstools-/360639033306?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Stools_Breakfast_Ba rs&var=&hash=item53f7c2efda I have the white one - I'm swapping it for black after I move as mine is now filthy from silver dust/polishing compounds etc etc ;)