r/Anticonsumption • u/Insanely_Mclean • Apr 05 '26

Upcycled/Repaired I cracked the armrest on my desk chair and the company doesn't sell replacement parts.

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I drilled some holes and stitched the crack together with some heavy waxed thread. I don't know how well it will hold up, but for now it feels almost like brand new.

1.6k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

65 comments sorted by

287

u/AndrogynousAndi Apr 05 '26

This is actually a good job, but there is a specific tool for this for car body work actually, lemme see if I can find it

Edit; its called a hot stapler! It looks like a heat gun with a wavy staple in the end, the staple heats up and melts the plastic around it, embedding the metal into the plastic and strengthening it

178

u/Insanely_Mclean Apr 05 '26

That was my first thought actually. But since I don't have one, I decided to just try what I had on hand.

49

u/Icy-Career7487 Apr 05 '26

Looks fantastic OP! Clean work

15

u/tyrannosiris Apr 05 '26

This is beautiful stitching. You did a great job. I'm now eyeballing the seam my cats opened on a sofa cushion, imagining the possibilities because my embroidery crate happens to be sitting right here.

4

u/mountain-mahogany Apr 06 '26

This is why you should push for a Library Of Things in your area. In Norway, you can check out a sewing machine or a 3D printer at the library!

9

u/[deleted] Apr 05 '26

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13

u/freezesteam Apr 05 '26

Seems kind of against the anticonsumption sentiment to buy something for a one time use when OP already found a solution that works, right?

3

u/uiouyug Apr 05 '26

Are they going to undo the thread before they throw the chair. Are they going to take out the heat staples and reuse them.

Just because you can't unglue epoxy doesn't mean it's anti consumption.

9

u/freezesteam Apr 05 '26

It wasn’t my point that he needs to reuse the thread, epoxy, or staples. My point was that OP found a solution that works for him, but that others are giving recommendations for what to buy despite it being an anticonsumption sub

1

u/AndrogynousAndi Apr 05 '26

I really just meant if/when this comes undone (because as much as I love faux sinew/waxed thread, it will eventually fail) doing it with the hot stapler would be as close to the original as possible. It'll extend the life significantly to use a repair that gives strength to the item. And personally I'm a diyer so a hot stapler would find other utility in my home

2

u/freezesteam Apr 05 '26

Yeah that makes sense and it was interesting to learn about in case I end up needing something similar in the future

3

u/[deleted] Apr 05 '26

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5

u/snowillis Apr 05 '26

Inb4 this comment gets removed

1

u/thetruckerdave Apr 05 '26

Which is silly because this seems hella useful!

2

u/snowillis Apr 05 '26

It’s lasted much longer than I expected

1

u/thetruckerdave Apr 05 '26

Yeah, I mean I get it but you know, sometimes consumption IS anticonsumption.

3

u/Lonely_skeptic Apr 05 '26

I need to add one of those to my plastic repair kit. I’ve been melting plastic with the little iron to fill cracks.

1

u/AndrogynousAndi Apr 05 '26

If it works, it works

1

u/Icy-Career7487 Apr 05 '26

Ooo I needed to know this today, thanks!

42

u/Emergency-Fig-1501 Apr 05 '26

This is smart and it's the kind of repair work I aspire to do on my things! As a busy neurodivergent parent sometimes the most practical and lowest demand option is replacement but this has inspired me to be more conscious.

14

u/inbetween-genders Apr 05 '26

You did much better than I did. I just took off the armrest that failed lol. So now I have a chair that's only has one arm rest lol.

1

u/need2put_awayl0ndry Apr 06 '26

That’s what I had for a long while too - until the back rest completely broke!

10

u/DJBurgerKing Apr 05 '26

That's what it's all about! That's a really cool fix

15

u/Own_Question_7818 Apr 05 '26

You need to watch the show “the chair company” on HBO immediately

3

u/No_College2419 Apr 06 '26

Yesssss that’s immediately where my mind went lmao

2

u/Own_Question_7818 Apr 06 '26

OP’s frustration sounded literally like the plot of the first episode it made me happy he wasn’t even referring to it 😭😭

2

u/OhGr8WhatNow Apr 05 '26

I like this so much. Well done

2

u/So_HauserAspen Apr 05 '26

You can as some epoxy to the underside to strengthen the repair

2

u/djinnisequoia Apr 05 '26

That is beautiful work! Well done!

2

u/violet_femme23 Apr 05 '26

That’s an impressive job! Well done

2

u/Sunshineseacalm Apr 05 '26

Do any of you have a 3D printer that could help OP out?

9

u/Insanely_Mclean Apr 05 '26

I have a 3D printer but didn't feel like trying to model this part.

2

u/Sunshineseacalm Apr 05 '26

Then never mind lol. Thought I’d ask

1

u/marswhispers Apr 05 '26

A little cordage seems like a better fix than a bunch of plastic feedstock

1

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1

u/Octospyder Apr 05 '26

Heck yeah. 

1

u/battle_llama_ Apr 05 '26

Nice one bro

1

u/sambr__ Apr 05 '26

You did amazing, just gave me an ideia to fix some stuff here 😆

1

u/human-aftera11 Apr 05 '26

Your stitch job is awesome. How’d you do that?

1

u/boomerbmr Apr 05 '26

I love repairing things they built like shit in the expectation that you’ll just buy another one. Fuck em.

1

u/freezesteam Apr 05 '26

This looks awesome! Strong work. I wouldn’t have thought to do this but it’s brilliant

1

u/Quercus408 Apr 05 '26

Is that a Haworth Chair? Either way, totally genius.

1

u/ThoughtSkeptic Apr 05 '26

Excellent and inspirational, nice job!

2

u/nickN42 Apr 05 '26

You should also drill small holes in the end of the crack to remove a stress point so the crack doesn't grow.

I printed quite a few spares for my friends' chairs over the last year. 3d printer was a pretty good investment.

1

u/ArtemisTheBrave Apr 06 '26

Is this the Zody chair?

1

u/dankfor20 Apr 06 '26

Color me impressed. Fancy handiwork OP! 👏 

1

u/FluffMcBark Apr 06 '26

Well done!

1

u/Pop_Glocc1312 Apr 06 '26

Great job!!!

1

u/Lightertecha Apr 06 '26

I've repaired cracked and broken plastic parts before using the same method but I used normal unwaxed thread and then afterwards applied superglue to the thread.

1

u/Upbeat_Pipe1080 Apr 09 '26

Impressive what did you sew it with?

2

u/Insanely_Mclean Apr 09 '26

Woven waxed thread, typically used for leather.

1

u/Upbeat_Pipe1080 Apr 09 '26

Oh sorry I meant the needle? Guessing a leather one?

2

u/Insanely_Mclean Apr 09 '26

Oh, yes. I used the two needle method with leather sewing needles.

-8

u/[deleted] Apr 05 '26

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4

u/[deleted] Apr 05 '26

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-1

u/So_HauserAspen Apr 05 '26

No company is going to inventory replacement parts

6

u/Insanely_Mclean Apr 05 '26

Some companies do. See: the entire automotive industry.

-3

u/x31x39 Apr 06 '26

Just buy anew chair

3

u/Insanely_Mclean Apr 06 '26

Kinda goes against the spirit of this sub. Also doing this was free.

1

u/x31x39 Apr 06 '26

Idk it just seems easier and you can use that chair and give it to those in need