Prototype Welding/Shop Stool

[dr_clyde]

Hey Guys,

There is a local business start up that I am connected with here in town, and we are developing some products for our line. The product line will be focused on garage and shop accessories, and this is a prototype of our shop stool. I was hoping to get some feedback from y'all.

Let me know what you think and if you like it. The production model would be probably not be stainless steel, I just wanted mine to be. The real deal may look more similar to this one below.

How much would you be willing to pay? Keep in mind this will be a premium product, and will be built accordingly. 14 ga powder coated steel with stainless steel fasteners. 6 color options, red, yellow, orange, wrinkle red, black and wrinkle black. Possibly stainless steel. Made in USA of course. Adjustable leveling feet. Clear coated Baltic birch plywood top.

What would you like to see in your ultimate shop stool? Would you prefer a back? Leather padded seat perhaps?

Thanks for looking.

 

[great white tj]

Nice

 

[txvwnut]

I can already tell it's outta my price range but it's damn nice!

 

[BRIANBB]

Nice,,,,,,,,, Dimple dyes would work to finish the look!

 

[mike93lx]

A flat, unpadded seat isn't very appealing to me. Looks beat, but doesn't seem too ptactical.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Are the edges of the seat going to be rounded with a router? If not that might not be a bad idea to do. I'm talking a larger radius curve. It looks slightly, but barely there.

 

[dr_clyde]

Are the edges of the seat going to be rounded with a router? If not that might not be a bad idea to do. I'm talking a larger radius curve. It looks slightly, but barely there.

There is a slight round now, just to take the sharp edge off. I'd prefer to change it to the radius of the bend on the legs.

 

[pi_guy]

attachment for a tig foot pedal
& I second a padded seat.

 

[Dmoen]

The wood top looks cheap. Also you should use a dimple die for the holes. Probably wouldn't take much more time to punch them through. Also don't like how the wood sits off the chair with a large gap. Currently I would not buy that, with some changes, it could be bad ***. I would almost consider a set of 4 for a kitchen table set if you used a stained and sealed hardwood for seat, or a very thin tanned leather cushion

 

[dr_clyde]

Dimple dies are not really an option. I agree they would look cool, but the man hours required on a production basis would be murderous. These holes are laser cut, not punched.

And I agree on the plywood top. It for sure need something.

 

[bullnerd]

I like them with round seats. Cant hang your leg over that pointy corner.

Good luck with your start up.

 

[bczygan]

Looks cool as artwork, but would be very very uncomfortable.

Has anyone even tried sitting on it for periods of time?

Bill

 

[dr_clyde]

Looks cool as artwork, but would be very very uncomfortable.

Has anyone even tried sitting on it for periods of time?

Bill

It's surprisingly comfortable. The large seat spreads some of your weight to your legs off your rear. I'm going to be using it in the shop over the next couple months and I'll report in on long term comfort. That said, I wasn't a fan of the plywood seat from the beginning, and we'll mess around with a couple more seat designs. It is a prototype after all.

 

[fnieto]

I like it dr,
I have been building shop support equipment for myself for a long time. Mostly to impress the quality of our work to visiting customers. In the end, you might find many folks won't pay for such craftsmanship limiting yourself to a smaller market. Production as you know is key to holding down cost.

Hears an example of some rolling shop stands fully adjustable to accommodate all working heights of machines and tables. Not too heavy, but very strong and stable with a different look to them.

BTW, your work present and past is inspirational.

 

[LG63]

Build 10 of them and put them on Ebay with a Buy it Now where you think they should retail but include the Make Offer option. It may take a few months but the offers will give a feel for the market. Obviously you will get some silly offers but eventually the market will tell you what they're worth.

 

[Pardigital]

Build 10 of them and put them on Ebay with a Buy it Now where you think they should retail but include the Make Offer option. It may take a few months but the offers will give a feel for the market. Obviously you will get some silly offers but eventually the market will tell you what they're worth.

Agreed- but I'd go for Etsy...

 

[kazlx]

Honestly, I think you'd have a better chance selling them for home decor that marketed for garages. You are (obviously) on a garage website, but most people don't care about their garage besides being a place to put their car. I think you could price them around higher end barstools ($200ish). At least they would sell for that (or maybe even more) around here. Check places like Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware.

BTW, I dig it.

 

[Kevin54]

Pad the top and back.

I like them!!!!!!

 

[Lippyp]

Surely in a production environment you could dimple them in a press for speed?

 

[aka Larry]

Nice,,,,,,,,, Dimple dyes would work to finish the look!

Agreed. Use a thinner gauge steel with dimple dies to add the strength.

 

[venturesomerite]

I wouldn't personally consider these unless the seat was more rounded at the edges and corners. And perhaps a padded option. It just looks uncomfortable to be honest.

I like the design, but would like dimple dies better.

 

[Richard D]

I agree on the square top, I'd prefer round, or a big radius on the corners. Padded would be nice, but I've spent lots of time sitting on solid seats with no problem. I agree also that it is too nice for my garage; but we're pretty rough on the seats I have out there now. A "man cave" type garage, where guys watch sports and drink beer, as opposed to actual work, they'd be great. Or as bar stools in the house. I'm guessing a grand for a full set would'nt be out of line.

 

[motofool33]

With those stools your market is the garage look, not really the garage use type stool.

anyone of us that spends alot of time on the stool actually working will go with a curved/padded extended seat time type stool. these are what come up in labratory stool searches.

that said the market for the garage look for man caves is bigger then us working guys by a vast amount. because these will look nice in a basement or den or back porch where the guys are watching sports.

Good luck on your venture, and i can say id be more inclined to buy if the seat pan edges were a longer radius.

 

[SRD9Boss]

Not to pick on your work... but without the holes dimpled the stools look cheap and 1/2 done.

 

[creativecars]

Hire this one to market them and you will be a millionaire... don't forget my cut.

 

[kazlx]

Cheap and 1/2 done is harsh. Fit and finish looks better than most anything commercially available. I agree dimples would complement the look though.

Might want to post up your own stuff before calling out other people...

 

[SRD9Boss]

OP posted for opinions. I gave mine.

 

[kazlx]

Cheap and 1/2 finished is a stretch...

 

[SRD9Boss]

I apologize for ruffling anyone's feathers. That was not my intent. I was not insinuating that the OP's work was cheap or shoddy... it is not and overall I like the style and design. What I was trying to state was that - in my opinion - OP's choice to not dimple diminished the PERCEPTION of his work and doesn't allow the quality of workmanship and design to come through.

 

[Koken]

My first impression was that it looked like it was built from an old Erector Set. I agree with everyone about the dimple dyes and the seat. You might also want to add some kind of a brass or copper accent (bolt heads, entire metal seat, logo, etc.). If you are targeting the garage crowd, I think you are going to fall way short. I would target yuppies/metrosexuals in New York who are into design and the industrial look. They will spend crazy money for stuff like that for inside their house. Keep with the stainless steel/bare metal look. Paint only makes it look cheap. Maybe add a brass or copper plated metal tractor seat.

 

[stihlntime]

Stihl attempted to do a high end shop stool with a very nice laser etched top that was about 1.5 to 2 inch slab of oak. Heavy frame that was powder coated. Intent was to sell at 100.00 a piece. So far it have not been well received. I committed for two of them last week for 50.00 a pop. I don't see a market for that type of stool. If I were wanting high end stools for my shop my first stop would be Vidmar.

 

[nine4gmc]

Nice,,,,,,,,, Dimple dyes would work to finish the look!

I like them with round seats. Cant hang your leg over that pointy corner.

Good luck with your start up.

Pad the top and back.

I like them!!!!!!

All of this!

 

[larry_g]

For me I would not consider that square top. I find that round tops sit easier unless the seat pan is on a swivel and it has a back. That stool as presented would have to be positioned to the work squarely and to position each time would become a bother. Think how you swivel to dismount the stool and move away from the work or bench.

On the up side I think it looks good.



lg
no neat sig line

 

[b-dog]

I dig it. Clearly too much for me to buy though.

 

[aka Larry]

I would target yuppies/metrosexuals in New York who are into design and the industrial look. They will spend crazy money for stuff like that for inside their house. Keep with the stainless steel/bare metal look. Paint only makes it look cheap.

Good advice here IMO.

To the OP, if you ask for opinions on GJ, be careful what you ask for. If you want honesty, you'll get it. If you want a 'fluffer', well maybe TampaGT can help you with that.

 

[Burgerkong]

Mold the plywood so it is **** shaped, what pricepoint are you planning to sell these at? Keep in mind Tolix (the original manufacturer) sells their stool for aroun d$250.

 

[Fender1325]

I like the square plywood top - but it needs contours for your ***. Think of old school tractor seats - maybe not that extreme in contour but something to that effect.

Also - it would look nicer if you brought the top of the legs inside the top sqaure rather than bolted in from the outside. Yes youd have to finish the corners better and maybe weld but itd look more professional. Dimple dies would be nice.

I wouldnt pay any more than 80--100 for it.

 

[FJ 432]

Given that the legs are CNC cut could you not use a dimple die on these holes to finish the look or do I not understand the dimple die process?

 

[Burgerkong]

If it's CNC done, just run a contouring pass on the seat (or maybe even on a bandsaw though I'd be worried about blade deflection), make it a slight half moon at the very minimum? Something like:

https://www.google.com/search?q=shi...TCJqy1_WSwsgCFYaCPgodfkED4g&biw=1824&bih=1002

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

Make the legs shorter...would make a great end table.