[SOLVED] Need Bolts For Office Chair

[Appletax]

Solution: sold it cheap without bolts.


I lost the bolts to my office chair and need to get some from Menards that will fit it, but have no idea what to get.

This is the chair: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Vinyl-and-Mesh-Task-Office-Chair-Multiple-Colors/44488686

 

[Sky-Knight]

This isn't a tech question, this is a time for the anthem of all home owners everywhere!

TO HOME DEPOT!

Seriously though, it's probably cheaper to buy a new chair before you make all the trips to get those bolts sized correctly and pay for that time.

 

[HCHTech]

Seriously though, it's probably cheaper to buy a new chair before you make all the trips to get those bolts sized correctly and pay for that time.

Yeah, but then you wouldn't get to go to HD or Lowes! I'm positive there is something else there I need anyway!

 

[backwoodsman]

I'm guessing all the bolts/screws you need go into nut inserts that are in the bottom of the seat. So just carry that part into any hardware or building supply store, and find what you need. They'll have an aisle or two full of little trays & bins of every conceivable type & size of bolt, screw, nut, washer, etc. Don't forget washers. (I'm assuming you don't have a tap & die set you can use to find the size & thread you need.) The chair is probably made in China, so all the bolts are almost certainly metric.

 

[VISA MC]

Buy a second chair, take the bag of bolts into the store and buy a duplicate of everything that’s in it. Then you have a backup chair too.

 

[mattsnoddy]

Buy a second chair, take the bag of bolts into the store and buy a duplicate of everything that’s in it. Then you have a backup chair too.

So, a RAIC-1? Mirrored Redundant array of independent chairs?

Or is that more of a hot swappable spare on standby?

 

[VISA MC]

So, a RAIC-1? Mirrored Redundant array of independent chairs?

Or is that more of a hot swappable spare on standby?

Hot swappable for sure. Not exactly a mirrored version of the chair since the hardware will no doubt be higher quality from the hardware store.

 

[Markverhyden]

They'll almost certainly be metric. If you have more on the chair, find one that fits and take it a big box. I know both Lowes and and home depot bolt and nut fixtures to tell you what size you need.

 

[HCHTech]

I always wanted to source one of those blocks tapped with all of the various thread sizes, just to have it as a reference at home. Something like this. But then I figured knowing what size I needed beforehand wouldn't save that much time at the store, plus they were a bit more scratch than I was willing to spend on such a thing. And no, the cheaper ones aren't the same - they can tell you the diameter, but don't account for different thread pitches.

 

[backwoodsman]

I always wanted to source one of those blocks tapped with all of the various thread sizes, just to have it as a reference at home. Something like this.

Wow, for that kind of money you can get a decent (good enough for most of us who aren't using it to make our living) tap & die set that will not only tell you size & thread pitch, but let you clean up messed-up threads, or cut new threads if you need to. Definitely a worthwhile investment if you're not right next door to a hardware store.

 

[Sky-Knight]

@backwoodsman I'm literally 200ft from a hardware store and I'd still rather have a tap and die set than that mess.

I'm pretty sure you can make your own version of that from nuts and bolts and some scrap lumber for a fraction of that cost. It would be handy to have around if for nothing else a teaching tool for the kids. I don't let the critters muck about with my tap and die set... That results in me buying a new set in a blind fury when I need it.

So yeah, I'm with you much better options out there for a better price.

 

[Markverhyden]

I used tap and die extensively when I worked on drilling rigs. Occasionally considered getting a kit since I started my business but only ever've run into a handful of occasions where it might have been helpful. Every single one was racking equipment. Decided it wasn't worth getting another kit for "just in case" since it becomes another kit that I have to keep track of. And maintain in this case since corrosion will be an issue.

 

[mikeroq]

Could be M8-1.25 thread.

The assembly instructions list 4 3/4" long and 1 3/4" long screws. They don't list the thread but the hex key head is specified in metric 5mm. I suspect they just put the closest imperial equivalent or maybe they actually got metric thread screws at imperial lengths.

I would buy one and try it out. Maybe you could bring in part of the chair and test it out.

 

[Markverhyden]

Could be M8-1.25 thread.

The assembly instructions list 4 3/4" long and 1 3/4" long screws. They don't list the thread but the hex key head is specified in metric 5mm. I suspect they just put the closest imperial equivalent or maybe they actually got metric thread screws at imperial lengths.

I would buy one and try it out. Maybe you could bring in part of the chair and test it out.

From what I've seen with other stuff they just post the closest imperial value. But in the hardware stores the lengths are in mm as well.

 

[Appletax]

Found someone a while back to take it for cheap that has lots of bolts in their garage.