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Post by shokdu on Nov 30, 2012 13:47:23 GMT -5
I recently acquired a 1970's era Plycraft Eames chair and ottoman. I plan to refurbish this fine piece and will post the progress here. The chair is going to be reupholstered, and I bought 50 sq ft of cream colored cow hide in a 3mm thickness to do the job. The wood is going to be stripped and re-stained to a cherry color, and will be top coated with a semi-gloss polyurethane. All the chrome will be polished, and I may change out the hardware (screws, nuts, bolts) on the chair to be chrome as well. When I dig in to this project I will post pictures of my progress! Attachments:
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Post by paradigmE on Nov 30, 2012 16:30:35 GMT -5
NICE - I have the same project need.....just think its beyond my talent to pull off. Was going to look into me doign the wood, and then just have the leather work handled by someone else.
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Post by shokdu on Nov 30, 2012 17:49:34 GMT -5
Trust me, it is not beyond your grasp. I'll post all the threads and posts I've read on the subject. Tons of amateurs do this job, very easy chair and ottoman to re-cover.
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 30, 2012 17:53:25 GMT -5
I have a Stressless chair and ottoman thats similar except its made from wood and has no head rest. Circa 1980
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Post by shokdu on Nov 30, 2012 18:06:42 GMT -5
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Post by shokdu on Nov 30, 2012 18:10:16 GMT -5
I have a Stressless chair and ottoman thats similar except its made from wood and has no head rest. Circa 1980 Yep, stressless chairs are quite close in design. Ekornes manufactures them and they are very nice indeed. Every once in a while they pop up on craigslist in my area, but they seem to sell quite quickly. Brand new ones are $1500+, so that's kind of out of reach at the moment. Someday I will have one though. The Eames is classic because of the beautiful exposed wood frame. I love that look, and I love refurb projects like this. The satisfaction at the end product is second to none. |
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Post by shokdu on Nov 30, 2012 18:12:17 GMT -5
This is close to what I figure mine will look like, though mine will have a much more cherry looking frame. Attachments:
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Post by djoel on Nov 30, 2012 21:41:02 GMT -5
Will be peeking in here, love these chairs....Just don't have the dough for one, will be interesting to see you do this.
Thanks for sharing
Dan
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Post by shokdu on Nov 30, 2012 23:03:51 GMT -5
I found mine cheap, at $75! The supplies to make it perfect again are costing me near $300 though. When I'm done with it the market would suggest tht it will be a $1500-2000.00 chair.
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Post by paradigmE on Dec 3, 2012 18:57:33 GMT -5
Shokdu,
Thanks for the great links - I think I now see this is a doable. - much appreciated
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Post by bigred7078 on Dec 3, 2012 20:19:30 GMT -5
I found mine cheap, at $75! The supplies to make it perfect again are costing me near $300 though. When I'm done with it the market would suggest tht it will be a $1500-2000.00 chair. While I LOVE this chair and I think your project is fantatic, I am a little confused by your $1500-$2000 market valuing. It's not the original, it is still just a similar reproduction. For the market value you give it, I would rather have a brand new reproduction by Manhattan Home Design and for less than $999 manhattanhomedesign.com/eames-lounge-chair-and-ottoman.htmlRegardless, I'm really interested in your project! Good luck and update with lots of pictures along the way |
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Post by shokdu on Dec 3, 2012 23:18:06 GMT -5
pardigmE, you're welcome. Hope you hop into the project and have fun! bigred, I was going off of historical sold values for pristine plycrafts on ebay. You're right, the plycraft is not the original Eames, or the Herman Miller licensed product. I have my reasoning why I believe the Plycraft/Selig chairs are superior in design to the Herman Miller, or the Manhattan design chair. On the chairs designed like the Miller or Manhattan the way the back is fastened to the seat base is really inadequate, IMO. There are bonding glues that hold a rubber shock mount (two rubber mounts on the rear, two on the seat base), the armrest bolts to these shock mounts; then these rubber mounts fail and breakages happen, and the worst ones end up like this; www.designaddict.com/design_addict/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread_show_one/thread_id/8749/www.designaddict.com/design_addict/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread_show_one/thread_id/6619/These breakages are commonplace among the "vintage" Eames loungers, and the same risk runs for the new chairs as well. Now, have a look at the Plycraft or Selig chairs. The seat base attaches to the back via a brace. It seems to reason that a brace attached with bolts would be more secure than a rubber shock mount that is secured by glue. The downside to this design is that the fasteners are exposed. I think that the OEM's kind of messed up though. They used black hardware to try and mask that it was exposed. I think they should have exploited the hardware as jewelry on the chair! It's got a chrome base and supports, so why not use chrome hardware? Another pitfall to the HM or Manhattan is that it is permanently reclined at 15*. What happens if you want to actually not be lounging? There's a time for lounging, but you must admit, there is a time for actually being able to sit straight up in a chair as well. The Plycraft/Selig is the best of both worlds there, sits straight normally, but you can recline to the same 15* lounging position at your own discretion. I know the HM or Manhattan design may be prettier around the armrests, but for all other intents, I think the Plycraft/Selig is a better chair. Now you know my reasons why. |
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