Dilapidated Desk Chair: Re-Cover? Discard? Any Off-The-Shelf Solutions?

[GammaGlobulin]

 

This is the third time I have purchased a “leather” desk chair, and the ones I am getting in CM typically fall apart after a year or two of use.

 

The first one, I sent to the bin, or had a junk-man/scrap-dealer take away.

 

Now, I am wondering if there is any very simple way to cover the “leather” of the chair, with something, so that I can continue using it; the metal mechanism, the gas lift, and the wheels seem in good shape. And the wheels needed replacing anyway with softer wheels to protect the wood floor.

 

Is there some easy way to cover this chair with an alternative to leather, such as a slipcover, or using some other quick solution?

 

This is not my chair, but an image of a similar almost identical chair.

 

Also, the chairs I buy are cheap, about Bt.8000 or Bt.9000. This means that one should not expect to get leather for this price, and instead, they give you:

a. BONDED Leather (This kind of material has just GOT to be the WORST!)

 

b.  PU Leather

 

 

c.  Bicast Leather and another type made from scraps of leather bonded together using some type of adhesive

 

 

These days, it seems hardly anyone buys good quality leather chairs for desk use. Maybe this is because, at least in CM, quality leather chairs seem overpriced. Recently, I have been recalling the days when I watched Bonanza, and just how durable those leather chairs appeared to be. In the US, maybe in Texas, especially, you can get good quality leather chairs for a reasonable price. Sort of like this one…

But since I am not in Texas, and rather than discard my dilapidated desk chair, I would like to cover it and continue to use it, as a second chair for my second desk.

 

Any ideas?

 

Tks.

 

Please Note: It's hard to guess why leather is expensive when there are so many people eating beef, these days. One would think there should be plenty of hides available...

 

 

[nglodnig]

get a life?

[save the frogs]

which aspects of your life are NOT dilapidated?

 

just keep it. as is. 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

which aspects of your life are NOT dilapidated?

 

just keep it. as is. 

 

You are right!

Sometimes, one must just be satisfied with the cards life has dealt, 

And then carry on as best one is able.

This is the story of my life.

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

5 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

just keep it. as is

Did you notice that one of these faux types of leather might be vegan!

 

 

[nglodnig]

Maybe find another hobby that ISN'T posting drivel?

[GammaGlobulin]

4 minutes ago, nglodnig said:

Maybe find another hobby that ISN'T posting drivel?

The topic is a serious one about what to do when the faux leather begins peeling off the chair, and when repair of the leather is not practicable, as was stated.  Also, the reasons why repairing the leather should not be attempted is ALSO posted in the OP.

 

I do NOT wish to discard the chair; the mechanical parts of the chair are working almost as new.

 

Others may have experienced just this problem.

In the future, others may experience this identical problem.

 

Therefore, this is NOT drivel, as you questioned.

 

 

Edited September 6, 2023 by GammaGlobulin

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Did you notice that one of these faux types of leather might be vegan!

 

 

 If the faux leather is vegan, it will tell you.

Again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

 

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

 

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

 

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

 

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

The topic is a serious one about what to do when the faux leather begins peeling off the chair, and when repair of the leather is not practicable, as was stated.  Also, the reasons why repairing the leather should not be attempted is ALSO posted in the OP.

 

.

 

 

If you do not want to discard it, take it to a shop and have it recovered , like a normal person would.

[GammaGlobulin]

19 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

If you do not want to discard it, take it to a shop and have it recovered , like a normal person would.

OK.

I found this suggestion from a CM Post on TV, submitted 13 years go.

Seems the shop is still in business.

I'll give them a call tomorrow to check the price.

 

Still, I think it might be overkill for this Bt.9000 desk chair of mine.

Some sort of fabric slipcover might be more practical and cheaper.

 

I will keep you posted if the price is good, and the leather they offer is not bonded.

 

But doing it DIY would be better, if anyone has done this before.

 

 

 

[save the frogs]

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Did you notice that one of these faux types of leather might be vegan!

 

 

great.

now you can invite a vegan girl over and eat quinoa while she rubs your temples on your dilapidated faux leather chair. 

 

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I will keep you posted if the price is good

I will sleep better at night when you do.

[Searunner]

I have seen chair covers somewhere recently (sorry for being so vague). Try somewhere like ThaiWasadu.

 

[GammaGlobulin]

7 minutes ago, Searunner said:

I have seen chair covers somewhere recently (sorry for being so vague). Try somewhere like ThaiWasadu.

 

Thank you.

If I know they are out there (not the leather type), then I will keep looking.

Of course, I have seen a few UTUBE videos of people spending tremendous effort to produce uniquely designed cloth covers for their worn-out leatherette desk chairs, but I just need something utilitarian. The peelings from the chair cling to everything, and so the chair is not usable in this condition.

 

 

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Thank you.

If I know they are out there (not the leather type), then I will keep looking.

Of course, I have seen a few UTUBE videos of people spending tremendous effort to produce uniquely designed cloth covers for their worn-out leatherette desk chairs, but I just need something utilitarian. The peelings from the chair cling to everything, and so the chair is not usable in this condition.

 

 

A couple years ago my wife took the pickup to have the drivers seat recovered. The guy that did it had several desk chairs in the workshop that had obviously been recovered. May be worth looking around for an auto seat repair shop in your area.

[GammaGlobulin]

7 minutes ago, sandyf said:

A couple years ago my wife took the pickup to have the drivers seat recovered. The guy that did it had several desk chairs in the workshop that had obviously been recovered. May be worth looking around for an auto seat repair shop in your area.

I never even considered that solution. 

Should be lowest cost, too! 

 

You see? 

 

Some guys here think that I ask dumb questions, and I often get castigated as a result. 

 

But what they don't consider is that I often receive smart, innovative answers, too. 

 

 

[KannikaP]

Contact the BBC, and ask them where the Mastermind Chair came from. It's been going about 50 years.

Also the ones on Countdown seem to be faring quite well.

[GammaGlobulin]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Contact the BBC, and ask them where the Mastermind Chair came from. It's been going about 50 years.

Also the ones on Countdown seem to be faring quite well.

No need to contact BBC or anybody.

Here is the chair.

Here is the PRICE of the chair.

Not cheap enough for me.

 

I would not buy it even if I were willing to pay the exorbitant price.

For one thing, it's faux leather.

Secondly, although faux, it may not be vegan.

 

What good is a desk chair without wheels?

 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2023 by GammaGlobulin

[NE1]

18 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

This is the third time I have purchased a “leather” desk chair, and the ones I am getting in CM typically fall apart after a year or two of use.

My Mrs. puts these these covers on , don't know the name for them , they are what Thai females wear pre/post showering.

 

[save the frogs]

who still uses a desk chair and sits rigidly at a desk?

 

unless they're a computer programmer with a desktop?

 

if you are using a laptop,  why not just ditch the chair and get a lazy boy recliner?

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

11 minutes ago, NE1 said:

My Mrs. puts these these covers on , don't know the name for them , they are what Thai females wear pre/post showering.

 

I tried using bedsheets.

But, they kept sliding around, and then off the chair.

So, I just bought a new chair.

Now, I think I might try the automotive repair shop solution, to check the price.

 

Those covers that your wife is using, I think you really need to secure them to make them work.

I know from experience.

 

 

[msbkk]

14 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

who still uses a desk chair and sits rigidly at a desk?

 

unless they're a computer programmer with a desktop?

 

if you are using a laptop,  why not just ditch the chair and get a lazy boy recliner?

 

 

It very much depends on what you are doing. For just browsing aseannow or reading news you might do that. There are others playing games or doing something useful and than it is not the perfect solution. Typing for example is easier sitting at a desk.

Edited September 7, 2023 by msbkk

[GammaGlobulin]

13 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

who still uses a desk chair and sits rigidly at a desk?

 

unless they're a computer programmer with a desktop?

 

if you are using a laptop,  why not just ditch the chair and get a lazy boy recliner?

 

 

I have two desktop computers, and also notebooks, which I often use at the same time, while sitting at my desk chair.

 

I uploaded a Topic to the DIY Forum recently concerning my need for more desk space, using two very large doors, and one extra door for my bread machine and three microwave ovens, and chicken roasting oven.

 

I need to spend much time in my desk chair, and they wear out fast.

 

This is another reason my cloth slipcovers would be a superior solution, compared to re-covering using some faux leather material.

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

2 minutes ago, msbkk said:

doing something useful and than it is not the perfect solution

I don't play games.

I try to be useful.

This requires MUCH time sitting at desks.

 

The CLOTH slipcover solution would be best.

Easy to wash in the machine.

Then, good as new.

 

Also, in the cold season, more comfortable.

 

 

[jvs]

3 hours ago, sandyf said:

A couple years ago my wife took the pickup to have the drivers seat recovered. The guy that did it had several desk chairs in the workshop that had obviously been recovered. May be worth looking around for an auto seat repair shop in your area.

Had mine done at a similar shop in Cha-am total cost 1200 baht,very happy with the result.

[GammaGlobulin]

Just now, jvs said:

Had mine done at a similar shop in Cha-am total cost 1200 baht,very happy with the result.

Yes.

I agree 100%,

I have a driver that must know the best places for this work around here.

Bt.1200 is super low cost for this kind of work.

 

 

[NE1]

10 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Those covers that your wife is using, I think you really need to secure them to make them work.

I know from experience.

The chair I have , you can force the cover between the seat and back upright. It doesn't move.

[save the frogs]

11 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I have two desktop computers

why?

what are you doing with all this high-powered high tech?

cracking the genetic code? 

running algorithms to predict the end of time? 

[GammaGlobulin]

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

running algorithms to predict the end of time? 

I am using older i5 CPUs.

Insufficient power for what you are suggesting.

 

[GammaGlobulin]

By the way:

 

It's my belief that the faux leather on these chairs wears out more quickly when the sitter wears poorer quality clothing.

 

Jeans cause increased wear.

Expensive trousers are better.

No trousers is even better, from my experience.

But these days, I have taken to wearing silk pajamas, originally popularized by Hefner years ago.

 

 

Edited September 7, 2023 by GammaGlobulin