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Terry Wood

Jupiter (clearer) Nov 5th 2023 w/Mewlon 180c

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Modified Denver Chair complete

Started by tomhole, 02/15/2003 01:50AM
Posted 02/15/2003 01:50AM Opening Post
I finished up the observing chair today. It is a modified denver chair. I modified it becasue I wasn't happy that, when folded, the thing was 24" x 34". The brace at the bottom of the front foot was 2 ft across. I thought about making it shorter, but that would sacrafice stability. I thought about making it fold, but again, stability would suffer. Then I got to thinking about what folks put
their 30 lbs OTAs on and started developing a tripod denver chair. One guy I had read about actually took a leg off of an old tripod and made a denver chair out of it. I didn't have an old tripod, so I had to come up with something else.

Here's what I came up with:

http://home.earthlink.net/~tomhole/dchairfront.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~tomhole/dchairside.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~tomhole/dchairback.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~tomhole/dchairfolded.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~tomhole/dchairtop.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~tomhole/dchairinside.jpg

I had to add the brace to the front leg becasue of torsion, so my single slab of plywood with a hole in it for a seat idea was a non-starter. I just used the denver chair plans for the seat. It works like a champ and folds to 10" x 34". The front "leg" is 2 poplar 2x2's glued together. The back legs are 1x1 oak. Total cost for
the legs was $15 at Lowes. I made the 45* block at the top out of 2x4 red oak. This needed to be strong. The tops of the back legs are angled at the top 45* and set against the outside of the top block. This takes much of the load off of the hinges and keeps the back legs in place without needing aluminium bars at the bottom between the legs. The brass table leg spreader thingy keeps the back legs from splaying out. The pressure at the top of the legs
keeps them from splaying back.

The whole thing cost $20 (I had some oak plywood left over from the eq platform.) If you had no wood to start, add $15 for hardwood or $5-$10 for pine. I highly recommend hardwood for everything.

I modified the 2x4 under the seat. I made it 9" long instead of 3 1/2. I also beveled the back edge to match the angle of the front leg. This puts a lot more wood in contact with the non-skid and makes it rock solid.

At first, I was scared to sit on it because it just didn't look right. But it is rock solid. No creaking or moaning. I am 6 ft, 225 lbs. I stood on it at it's max height and jumped on it. It held up without a moan. Like all denver chairs, it tips over if the seat is in the bottom 1/3 of travel. I will probably add a 4x4" block to the front of the front leg brace to counter this. This will just blend in with the folded seat when the chair is folded.
I'm also going to add a cousion to the seat. I still have to round some corners and finish it, but it's functional now.

Anyway, for 6 hours work and $20, I'm tickeled pink. Of course, we have a blizzard on the way, but I guess I can still sit in my chair.

Clear skies,

Tom
Posted 02/15/2003 05:47AM #1
Really looks good Tom. I think I'll build one. Thanks for showing it.

Don