Beerhippie
Well-known member
Just sayin': I'm not laughing with you....
Rolling Mechanic/Garage Chair?
- Thread starter Jbear
- Start date
Just sayin': I'm not laughing with you....
Bulldog13
Well-known member
Jagmandave
Well-known member
Yes, that's exactly why they're there! Good eye!
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I've had a few different styles that were a POS. Some were a glorified POS, but a POS nonetheless. When leaning over to get something off of the floor, every one of them felt like they were about to tip over, and a couple of times actually did. About a year ago I gambled on the ICON stool and have to say it's the best I've ever used. I liked it so much that I bought another just to have one for each side of the vehicle. I have a hard time imagining a better stool in the price range.
I have the round one, too, but then I bought the better one when they were running a sale. It's a significant upgrade, IMO.
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Lassen Forge
Well-known member
The pedicure stool looks like a good idea, except I always had issues with stuff on casters rolling around. Had one of those old school square cube milk crates I turned upside down, with a piece of closed cell foam ziptied to the top (I may still have it, I think I used it to pack stuff for the move), and it was awesome.
While not really an answer to the OP's question since it's not on wheels, but here's a stool I made for sitting at the telescope. I got the idea from an astronomy forum. It's called a "LYBAR" chair (Lift Your **** and Rotate). It provides four different sitting heights depending on how you turn the box. In this case, I have 20", 16", 14" and 9". If I ever make another one I'd drop the board on one side to give me more like 12" rather than 14" but it works as is.
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KwikFab
Well-known member
Based on some of the items shared, y'all must be really young sitting on those uncomfortable things 
I have a few. Mostly DIY for the cars. Sure, I'd like a Vyper or similar. Just takes more space in my situation.
My goto is a Craftsman 4 leg/wheeled. 15? years old. It's a rebranded Whiteside. Reasonable lightweight. Durable. The seat extremely durable. Very good stability. Has magnetic strip in the tray. I've added a few more. Due to the low tech wheels, brakes are not really required. Not entirely a smooth roller. Sitting and rolling is limited. Somewhat implicit in it's design. Maybe a rear handle upgrade for picking it up.
Folding plastic step stool. $10? The local PDR guy had to resolve some dents. He uses his for short work. I've assimilated for short work.
Don't knock it. It does have it's value. And can go just about anywhere. No rolling, and no storage.
Hydraulic Whiteside. It's more for work that requires some height adjustment or just some extra height. Primarily used for detailing. As others have noted, it is hydraulic. It will fail eventually. Mine is still working and I've got my value out of it.
The medical screw stool listed above is a great idea.
If you believe you are planning on sitting a lot, factor in comfort. Either by purchase or modification.
Rear seat back (depending on chair) has the advantage of using some **** movement to move it backwards as you stand.
My goto is a Craftsman 4 leg/wheeled. 15? years old. It's a rebranded Whiteside. Reasonable lightweight. Durable. The seat extremely durable. Very good stability. Has magnetic strip in the tray. I've added a few more. Due to the low tech wheels, brakes are not really required. Not entirely a smooth roller. Sitting and rolling is limited. Somewhat implicit in it's design. Maybe a rear handle upgrade for picking it up.
Folding plastic step stool. $10? The local PDR guy had to resolve some dents. He uses his for short work. I've assimilated for short work.
Don't knock it. It does have it's value. And can go just about anywhere. No rolling, and no storage.
Hydraulic Whiteside. It's more for work that requires some height adjustment or just some extra height. Primarily used for detailing. As others have noted, it is hydraulic. It will fail eventually. Mine is still working and I've got my value out of it.
The medical screw stool listed above is a great idea.
If you believe you are planning on sitting a lot, factor in comfort. Either by purchase or modification.
Rear seat back (depending on chair) has the advantage of using some **** movement to move it backwards as you stand.
Vinny
Well-known member
If you're looking for Made in the USA options, look at Whiteside Manufacturing. They make mechanic chairs of various types. They also have a chair that converts into a creeper. I have the basic mechanics chair from them and like it. I also didn't know how good life could be until I bought a creeper from them with an adjustable headrest.
I ordered a Williams Mechanics Seat Creeper and very pleased. This is Snap-On brand for industrial use. This popped up on a quick search.
JH Williams 42302 Mechanic's Seat Creeper - evacontinental
JH Williams 42302 Mechanic's Seat Creeper
www.evacontinental.com
Okay...got it...built it (no instructions BTW...thanks Vevor), and used it. It's fine. I like that it has five wheels and so it's very stable...no tip...period. I like that it gets low and the mechanism is smooth. The seat is padded and comfortable for longer periods of time. I like the small back rest...it's just enough to support when you need a little but doesn't get in the way. The handle built into the back is surprisingly handy...didn't see that comin'. Tray is utilitarian and not obtrusive...I don't kick it and it spins decently. Seems build decently and wheels roll well so far. Really like that two of those wheels have brakes cuz there are just some times when you are planted and need to be, but you push to get purchase on something and the stoopid chair rolls just enough to F you up.
Overall...didn't break the bank and it'll work for me. I still don't understand those wire tray/shelf things on some of the stools...maybe it's me.
Overall...didn't break the bank and it'll work for me. I still don't understand those wire tray/shelf things on some of the stools...maybe it's me.
Eastwood released 2 new options a couple months back. One of them is clearly an interpretation of the Viper. I think the legs might be cast aluminum instead of press brake sheet metal based on what I can see in the few pics.
www.eastwood.com
Their new lower one is available, only $100: https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-low-rider-mechanics-stool.html
Their new higher one that looks Viper inspired, was $280. I said "was" because it is already unavailable and no longer even linked in their catalog. You have to go direct to the lingering product page URL: https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-high-roller-workbench-stool.html
I am not sure if that is how they typically handle it when something is sold out... part of me wondering if there is maybe a legal hold-up.
New Product Overview: High Roller and Low Rider Shop Stools
Eastwood's new High Roller and Low Rider shop stools are built to keep you comfortable, supported, and focused on the task at hand.
www.eastwood.com
Their new lower one is available, only $100: https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-low-rider-mechanics-stool.html
Their new higher one that looks Viper inspired, was $280. I said "was" because it is already unavailable and no longer even linked in their catalog. You have to go direct to the lingering product page URL: https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-high-roller-workbench-stool.html
I am not sure if that is how they typically handle it when something is sold out... part of me wondering if there is maybe a legal hold-up.
They’re replicable, and not terribly expensive. They’re just sitting on tapers, just need a hammer.
logical
Well-known member
Made this from a take-off zero turn mower seat.
I have a couple old office chairs, the simple secretary's chairs. No arms, narrow seats and backs, gas cylinder for height. Best part? Free clean up week scrounge. Drive around and grab all the office chairs I can find, then mix and match parts, then toss the junk.
KwikFab
Well-known member
Seeing this thread pop up makes me want to make another, for no reason other than making it a different color
mark-NJ
Well-known member
Apologies...Ive posted this before, but here's mine.
I got fed up with my ad hoc stool (shown in the background). It was an old office chair, with a piece of padded plywood bolted atop a steel extension. Insofar as it supported my weight, it was "functional", but that's all I can say about it.
I loved everything about the fancy Vyper stools....except the price. So I cleaned up some square tube, bought an Acme-threaded rod & nuts from McMaster, bought a barstool from a restaurant supply house, and some casters. All-in, about $150 or so.
Why 6 legs instead of the more-typical five? Don't know....can't say.
Here's the clean "final version"; this was several years ago. It's pretty dirty & a bit banged up now, but it's still working great!
I got fed up with my ad hoc stool (shown in the background). It was an old office chair, with a piece of padded plywood bolted atop a steel extension. Insofar as it supported my weight, it was "functional", but that's all I can say about it.
I loved everything about the fancy Vyper stools....except the price. So I cleaned up some square tube, bought an Acme-threaded rod & nuts from McMaster, bought a barstool from a restaurant supply house, and some casters. All-in, about $150 or so.
Why 6 legs instead of the more-typical five? Don't know....can't say.
Here's the clean "final version"; this was several years ago. It's pretty dirty & a bit banged up now, but it's still working great!
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Because a hexagon was easier to lay out than a pentagon?
I've had their tall adjustable shop seat for a number of years. I have had it tip on me a couple of times after moving my indoor shop from a room with carpeted floor to one with vinyl floor, FWIW. Otherwise I've been pleased with it.
Aaaand I just ordered a set of their urethane casters to upgrade the polyolefin casters that came with my stool.
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When I was working for Assa Abloy occasionally we would have to fit new push bars in an entire hospital. I would always pick up a couple of these stools and donate them to the local tech when done. Life saver when working at waist hight all day. Before I started doing that I would be soar for days afterwards.
Schurkey
Well-known member
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I've been wanting one of these Whiteside chairs for a while now. They come in regular and telescopic.
seber
Well-known member
I have three. One is a folding creeper. That one is too bulky to slide around what I am working on. One is the bottom of a salvaged office chair with a padded plate on top. It lacks a storage tray. The one I actually use is a simple adjustable height stool with a small tray over the wheels. Since I am always leaning forward, I doubt a back would be useful.
mark-NJ
Well-known member
Quite likely, but I really don't recall if it was a conscience decision or not.