Mechanic's Seat

[welder4956]

I've been looking at rolling stools for doing brakes and body work at home. Anyone here have one of these or know how good they are:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM1396290401P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

Thanks.

 

[PT Doc]

You can regularly get seats from Checkers, Pep Boys, Torin that are really nice, also have a treat and some have a drawer. I think Auto Zone uses that same maker and Harbor Freight plays this game also. Only difference is color in the various models. These can be had for around $20 on a regular basis.

Check out this one from Costco:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...ang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC22577-Cat21277&topnav=

I have a similar with Memory foam seat and an additional support for the seat so that the U-shaped support doesn't flex.

Good luck.

 

[briggsguy17]

Don't have one of those, but I have this one. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=19855&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog I had a Cman creeper seat for years and it is still around here somewhere, the SO one is far and away the most comfortable, smoothest rolling seat I have used.

 

[yo_its_ok]

Just make sure to periodicly check the wheels that they are tight, and you should be fine with any rolling seat.

 

[PT Doc]

Or you can overpay and get this one: http://www.griotsgarage.com/product...=basic&keyword=seat&sortby=newArrivals&page=1

 

[yo_its_ok]

or just make your own

 

[welder4956]

or just make your own

I haven't ruled that out yet either.

 

[Scout Driver]

I have used a $19.99 seat from a parts store for years without issue. Don't really see the need to pay a ton of money for one.

Scott

 

[Rickster]

I have one of the small Snap-on seats above and I don't care for it. Feels like you're always going to tip over and it's uncomfortable as hell. I also have the Craftsman mechanics seat with the short back riser in the seat. This seat is very comfortable. The one you have in the pic is new and it looks pretty good.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Or you can overpay and get this one: http://www.griotsgarage.com/product...=basic&keyword=seat&sortby=newArrivals&page=1

Has anyone actually bought/used this? Actually looks kind of nice.

 

[tw33k2514]

it does not have a shelf like the others but let me tell you, this thing is heaven on the back.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WYK7B4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Pukeballs]

I got one from Sams club a few years ago. Its the Goodyear one. Pretty comfortable and easy to roll around on. Cant remember the price but I think it was around 20-25 bucks. Has a shelf below your seat to keep tools on, pretty handy. Also has a beer holder mounted to the side of it. My two year old boy likes it too. He sticks his screwdrivers in the foam seat and pokes holes in it.

 

[peterbilr98]

i use the craftsman pro it is a good one tryed 3 others before that they didnt work out.

 

[fr0mastaj]

I have two of the craftsman circle swivel stools. Everyone seems to make their own, Sears, Lowes, HF, Northern, etc. Mighty comfortable IMO.

Actually used these to change out my friends wheel bearings a couple of weeks ago...
________
Pornstars Hungarian

 

[I can fix anything]

I have two of the craftsman circle swivel stools. Everyone seems to make their own, Sears, Lowes, HF, Northern, etc. Mighty comfortable IMO.

This is the kind to buy, the four wheel kind will dump you on your ***.

 

[crewchief888]

i'm not much of a fan of creeper seats, i do have a $20 CM hanging in the garage.

i usually sit on a milk crate.

 

[welder4956]

Man, you guys are great! I got a bunch of comments and suggestions here within just a few hours of posting my question. Awesome!

My normal seat is a 5 gallon plastic bucket turned upside down or a plastic seat cafeteria type chair. I want something a little more mobile and capable of handling my 280 lb. frame. I've got some 1-1/2" square tube left over that I may use to make a heavy duty version similar to the one from Costco that PT Doc posted. HD has some 3" rubber threaded stud casters for a good price. I'll post pics in the fabrication forum when I make it.

 

[Ign]

I have two of the craftsman circle swivel stools. Everyone seems to make their own, Sears, Lowes, HF, Northern, etc. Mighty comfortable IMO.

Actually used these to change out my friends wheel bearings a couple of weeks ago...

Yep, these are awesome. Upgrade to HF casters part #90997, 3" stem swivel caster and use flat washers on both sides to spread the load on the tray. You'll need to grind a small flat on the upper washer to clear the inner radius of the tray - very simple.

Makes it so you can zip across the whole shop w one push of your leg.

TRUST ME ON THE CASTER UPGRADE, IT MAKES THESE STOOLS AMAZING AND YOU'LL THANK ME.

 

[TheGrooveking]

This is the kind to buy, the four wheel kind will dump you on your ***.

A big +1! At a company I worked at starting in 2003, the f*ckin executive style chair had only 4 casters. The third day on the job I went to backup and the thing flipped over with my in it, the worse part was the the back of the chair had wood trim at the top and it landed right under one of my discs

Needless to say after weeks of miserable pain I ended up having injections into my spinal duct to relieve the swelling around that disc, my back as never been the same. So heed the warning on 4 casters under your ***...

TheGrooveking

 

[Wes28376]

My wife picked this one up for me about 5 years ago when it was on sale. It has held up extremely well and I use it all the time. It his a lawn tractor style seat and a wide enough base that it has never tipped over. IMO it's overpriced unless you can find it on sale.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...03j&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=20-67235765-2

 

[Joe From NY]

Get the Harbor Freight one, they are all made in china anyway.


$26-

http://www.harborfreight.com/mechanics-roller-seat-3338.html


$30-

http://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-adjustable-roller-seat-90825.html

 

[Skin]

in this instance Sears wins price wise

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00951164000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

The above goes on sale quite often during the Craftsman club saver days for $19.99 and was that price again for black friday. Just have a tiny bit of patience. I've picked up 2 over the last month. Comfortable and stable. I like it a lot better than the 4 wheel rectangular style when it comes to stability. The adjustable height and the fact that the whole seat spins is a really nice plus too.

If i were nearly 300lbs i would perhaps be a bit leary of the longevity of the hydraulic aspect. Even at its lowest height though its as high as any of the fixed height ones so not much to risk losing in my opinion.

 

[rockchucker]

I have this one with a round seat. Couldn't find the exact one anywhere.


http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...le&cm_ite=Torin%20Big%20Red%20rolling%20stool


The only issue I have had with it is the POS Caster Wheels that came with it. they lasted for about 6 years of solid abuse then they just failed. So I went down to NWCaster here in Seattle and found some Ball Bearing Style Casters. Holy **** should I have done that a million years ago. It rolls so smooth now. Like Butter.


NWCaster...

http://www.nwcaster.com/


I also have this Creeper that was a cheap buy. I think it is a Mechanix brand. Either or... The thing was a hunk of ****. Creeper worked great it was just that the Casters sucked. Bought new Casters for it and she is like butter.


So my point is that most of the upper parts of the stools and seats out there are sturdy and up to the task. It is just a personal preference on style. Just make sure that the Casters are replaceable and removable. Buy it only KNOWING that you will eventually replace them if not right when you get home.

 

[littletoes]

Great thread guys! I've needed one for years.

Since I've been in the trade, I've developed the nasty habit of working on my knees, and boy am I paying the price after years and years....knees always hurt now. Even when I do wheel bearings, its hard for me to grab a bucket or something to kneel....old habits are hard to break.

 

[Phuckin' Jim]

$18 at Crappy Tire.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...0097P/Pneumatic%2BRoller%2BSeat.jsp?locale=en

If you are a fat-***, avoid this one as the base cracks all the way around the seat post.

This one might be better, kind of expensive @ $30 though:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...aster%2BPremium%2BRoller%2BSeat.jsp?locale=en

 

[logical]

or just make your own

exactly...

 

[Wes28376]

exactly...

That's pretty ****. Do the armrests get in the way?

 

[les_garten]

exactly...

Dude? Where are the Cupholders?




If I had that thing I couldn't resist trying to figure out how to get a cooler in the base!

 

[ZenMoto]

This one is spendy, but it's really comfy if you don't need the tray underneath!

[URL="http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00981022000P?sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=00981022000P]http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00981022000P?sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=00981022000P[/URL]

Dale Adams Enterprises (make really comfortable creepers too). ...didn't know Sears was carrying them now until I did a search for a link. Cheaper than they used to be too.

 

[dankicksass]

I built up an Ikea six-way-adjustable chair base with a new replacement Snap-On creeper seat and some premium ball bearing heavy duty casters, looks like a pro job and cost about $50. Got everything on special/closeout, wish I'd ordered double.

 

[logical]

That's pretty ****. Do the armrests get in the way?

Hasen't been a problem, they're completely out of the way flipped up but I generally leave them down.

Dude? Where are the Cupholders?




If I had that thing I couldn't resist trying to figure out how to get a cooler in the base!

I should update the pics...I did actually add a dual cupholder on one side and a bin on the other, found them at bass Pro in the boat dept.

 

[cheap bastard]

Dual cup holders.....

 

[padronanniversary]

I'm sure someone will post it

 

[padronanniversary]

My biggest issue with most of them are that the welds break, the caster tend to get bent and brake, and the little rivets in your jeans tend to rip the vinyl cover. The rubber ones like above tend do better. I do like high back. I think alot of this can be avoided with simply tightening the casters and making sure they do not come loose as someone mentioned earlier.

 

[JerryTX]

I have the Harbor Freight swivel stool and its not too bad. It rolls around my garage no problems even when I'm sitting on it. I put some magnetic part holders in the bottom and does a great job keeping my tools from falling out.

Only complaint is that the seat padding is limited so its not good for sitting for long periods of time and no back support.

The other square seat from HF is basically a Torin. You'll find Torin at Northern and HF (rebranded). Seems like the Torin stuff at Northern is a little better quality (and likewise more expensive).

 

[jeffk14]

$19.99 @ Northern. Online-only 3 day sale.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_375713_375713

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

Used to have 2 , one rolled away

 

[NewShockerGuy]

exactly...

I know SUPER old thread, but WHERE did you get this seat???

I want to build a chair for my maxjax simply because all the ones listed here especially the craftsman chair is simply TOO high for me being 6'2"... the one you have pictured is freaking awesome, plus would make doing brake work nice and easy on one's back... I don't like that I can't lean back against things..

Thanks,
-Nigel

 

[Nocturnal-G]

Since this thread was bumped... I think this is a cool seat/creeper.

 

[welder4956]

Since someone resurrected this thread, here is the one I went with:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200349950_200349950