Anyone replaced the gas strut on a office chair?

[giddyup]

Was it a pain or a breeze?

[johng]

I have looked at doing it but all the chairs I have had so far   the "gass strut" was not easy to replace  as it was welded in place..all my chairs have been cheapo ones  so maybe a Hi-So one will offer the chance of replacement ?

[Crossy]

Yup.

 

Not really complex.

 

Hardest part was getting the old one out of the base (large hammer and wood block).

 

Make sure you get the right length, although I got longer struts being a lanky (but fat) chap.

 

I will say that they really don't last well with a fat-farang as a load, they start going down under load after a while

 

A piece of 1" PVC pipe slips nicely over the top part and doesn't move. OK no adjustment but once set who needs to move it? Of course you could just do this anyway if you're a cheapskate (paint it black and no-one will ever know) 🙂 

 

EDIT I've not seen a welded-in one and my chairs aren't exactly top class ones.

[giddyup]

11 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Yup.

 

Not really complex.

 

Hardest part was getting the old one out of the base (large hammer and wood block).

 

Make sure you get the right length, although I got longer struts being a lanky (but fat) chap.

 

I will say that they really don't last well with a fat-farang as a load, they start going down under load after a while

 

A piece of 1" PVC pipe slips nicely over the top part and doesn't move. OK no adjustment but once set who needs to move it? Of course you could just do this anyway if you're a cheapskate (paint it black and no-one will ever know) 🙂 

 

EDIT I've not seen a welded-in one and my chairs aren't exactly top class ones.

A Youtube video shows using a pipe wrench to loosen the strut from the top fitting, also giving it a squirt with WD40 before trying to remove it.

What does putting PVC pipe over the top part do?

[VocalNeal]

27 minutes ago, Crossy said:

A piece of 1" PVC pipe slips nicely over the top part and doesn't move. OK no adjustment but once set who needs to move it? Of course you could just do this anyway if you're a cheapskate (paint it black and no-one will ever know) 🙂 

 

Exactly . I've seen many used office chairs in "Japanese" thrift type shops usually with collapsed struts. All that is needed is a piece of plastic pipe. And Chrome paint is available if needed. 

[sometimewoodworker]

13 minutes ago, giddyup said:

What does putting PVC pipe over the top part do?

It stops it from moving down and defects the bounce 

[giddyup]

Sorry, change of mind. Seems it's more economical to replace the chair. As well as needing new gas strut, the arm and the seat needed recovering, so just took it to local upholsterer who quoted 1200 baht to do the job. If I add another 150 baht for a strut I'm already up to the price of a new chair.