Classic & Vintage - East Hill - Bicycle Rim Chair

Per your request, attached is a picture of the chair that my son designed and built for his 7th grade, Science project. The assignment was to design and build a functional chair using recycled materials.

The framework is made entirely from old wheels that were loitering in my worshop. With the exception of the rim for the seat base (which is a 20", steel, BMX rim), the remaining rims are 26" alumumunum ATB rims that have be cut and reshaped. Don't worry, they were all cheap rims from trashed X-Mart bicycles. The framework is held together by 8 self-tapping screws and 4 tie-wraps.

The only wood product is some peg board used in the backrest and seat. There was contemplation of cutting the flange off an old hub and using spokes as the seat and backrest, but there was a "comfort" element to the grade. So the pegboard was overlaid with some underlay left over from a recent carpet installation and an old dress supplied the fabric covering.

The anti-scuff covering on the bottom of the legs are made form old inner tubes.

The chair is light and very strong. It is solid, even for a 200 lb person.

The whole process of working closely with my son was extremely satisfying, as this was his first foray into my field of mechainical engineering. It was quite challenging for me not to tell him what he do, but try to guide him by asking him questions that would cause him to think and logically come to workable concept. I had suprisingly little direct input to the actual design.

T-Mar,

very nice indeed. sounds like it was the perfect project.
Of course the bike geek in me wants to ask about the rims, you
know Tubular or clincher? 32 or 36 hole? that kind of thing.
I like the chair, might have to undertake a project like that
some time.

Marty

Marty, they are just cheap, 36 hole, ATB and BMX clincher rims from X-mart bicycles. The rims holes were actually quite helpful in the assembly. It almost made it similar to assmbling Erector or Meccano.

BTW, how can I correct my typo in the thread title? I went into the advanced edit mode and corrected it. Its correct when I "preview" it, but doesn't show up after I save things. :(

T-Mar, I was only kidding about what kind of rims. . .you know just being a
bike geek :D
I edited the thread title. I don't think non mods/admins can do that.

Marty

*Rim, not room

Per your request, attached is a picture of the chair that my son designed and built for his 7th grade, Science project. The assignment was to design and build a functional chair using recycled materials.

The framework is made entirely from old wheels that were loitering in my worshop. With the exception of the rim for the seat base (which is a 20", steel, BMX rim), the remaining rims are 26" alumumunum ATB rims that have be cut and reshaped. Don't worry, they were all cheap rims from trashed X-Mart bicycles. The framework is held together by 8 self-tapping screws and 4 tie-wraps.

The only wood product is some peg board used in the backrest and seat. There was contemplation of cutting the flange off an old hub and using spokes as the seat and backrest, but there was a "comfort" element to the grade. So the pegboard was overlaid with some underlay left over from a recent carpet installation and an old dress supplied the fabric covering.

The anti-scuff covering on the bottom of the legs are made form old inner tubes.

The chair is light and very strong. It is solid, even for a 200 lb person.

The whole process of working closely with my son was extremely satisfying, as this was his first foray into my field of mechainical engineering. It was quite challenging for me not to tell him what he do, but try to guide him by asking him questions that would cause him to think and logically come to workable concept. I had suprisingly little direct input to the actual design.

That is most impressive. I don't think that as a 7th grader I would have come up with anything nearly that elegant. Let me rephrase that. I know I would not have come up with anything remotely resembling a chair, never mind a useful and good looking one.

East Hill

Makes me wish I had held on to some of the cheap rims I have tossed out over the past few years.

T-Mar,

That is really cool. I'll have to show my son this. If he gets bored in his metal tech class, maybe he could do something like this. Welding steel rims would be much easier than aluminum (presuming there was welding involved).

Z

That chair came out great. It reminded me of this chair (http://www.bikefurniture.com/pagesSeating/stuffedfish.htm) and this chair, (http://www.bikefurniture.com/pagesSeating/lcvxored.htm) made from recycled parts, including crashed frames.

fixed title again. . .

Per your request, attached is a picture of the chair that my son designed and built for his 7th grade, Science project. The assignment was to design and build a functional chair using recycled materials.

The framework is made entirely from old wheels that were loitering in my worshop. With the exception of the rim for the seat base (which is a 20", steel, BMX rim), the remaining rims are 26" alumumunum ATB rims that have be cut and reshaped. Don't worry, they were all cheap rims from trashed X-Mart bicycles. The framework is held together by 8 self-tapping screws and 4 tie-wraps.

The only wood product is some peg board used in the backrest and seat. There was contemplation of cutting the flange off an old hub and using spokes as the seat and backrest, but there was a "comfort" element to the grade. So the pegboard was overlaid with some underlay left over from a recent carpet installation and an old dress supplied the fabric covering.

The anti-scuff covering on the bottom of the legs are made form old inner tubes.

The chair is light and very strong. It is solid, even for a 200 lb person.

The whole process of working closely with my son was extremely satisfying, as this was his first foray into my field of mechainical engineering. It was quite challenging for me not to tell him what he do, but try to guide him by asking him questions that would cause him to think and logically come to workable concept. I had suprisingly little direct input to the actual design.

Nice job!

How much for reproductions:p That is very impressive!

Aaron:)

The New Belgium Brewing factory (Fat Tire beer) has bar stools made of rims like that.

Good job by your son!

That chair came out great. It reminded me of this chair (http://www.bikefurniture.com/pagesSeating/stuffedfish.htm) and this chair, (http://www.bikefurniture.com/pagesSeating/lcvxored.htm) made from recycled parts, including crashed frames.

Thanks for that site! I love recycling bike stuff (since I have so much I hate to throw away) and there are some great ideas there

great job, and congrats to your son. Much nicer than anything I ever accomplished at that age. I like those Andy Gregg designs, too, it all inspires me to do something "practical" with old rims rather than toss them in the recycling bin.

Very nice! My daughter is also in 7th grade, great age to build stuff together. Reminds me it's almost time to build our ski bike.
John

Wow! Props to your son. He might take after the old man and become an engineer :D

Love it!

Congratulations Son of T-Mar. I am very impressed with your imagination and technical competence - well done.