How To Remove A Swivel Base From An Old Upholstered Chair?

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
15 min read

Old upholstered chairs often have swivel bases, and when these bases break loose, the chairs need to be thrown away. Here are the four simple steps to take apart an old upholstered chair’s swivel base.

How To Choose An Upholstery Fabric For The Furniture?

Upholstery fabric should have the following characteristics.

  • The abrasion test must have been conducted over 15,000 times before it can be used in a home.
  • In terms of longevity, woven fabrics far outperform their printed counterparts.
  • Pick materials with tight weaves, too.
  • “Olefin” fabrics are more long-lasting than others.

Advantages Of Upholstered Furniture: Pros & Cons(Disadvantages)

Advantages/Pros

When compared to other forms of furniture, upholstered pieces stand out for their sophistication and style. Additionally, it can be a nice complement to any high-quality wooden furniture.

When opposed to sitting made of hard materials like wood, metal, or plastic, the cushions on upholstered furniture are far more welcoming.

How To Fix A Swivel Chair Base In 4 Easy Steps - Krostrade

Wooden upholstered pieces are more typical of a classic look, while fabric-covered, straight-backed pieces are more indicative of a contemporary aesthetic.

Fabrics like velvets, wool blends, cotton, silks, etc., and color palettes spanning from neutral to accent shades are just a few of the many options accessible when choosing the perfect upholstery for your home.

Upholstered furniture is built to last, but even so, it needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. This can be done with a moist cloth or a general stain remover. Cleaning upholstered furniture can also be done with the help of an upholstery shampooer.

Disadvantages/Cons

An upholstered piece of furniture is readily damaged by the sun and moisture.

High pressure from children or dogs can cause upholstery to wear and tear over time.

When cloth absorbs water, especially if it’s unclean water, stains may appear after the water has dried.

Upholstered furniture, if not treated with flame retardants, is highly combustible.

Steps on Removing Swivel Base From Old Upholstered Chair

First, remove any screws that could be holding the legs together with a screwdriver or pliers. It’s possible that there are multiple sets of screws securing the legs.

Once all of them are loosened, detach them from the bottom and use needle-nose pliers to pry out any remaining parts. Don’t worry about these right now; you can return to them later.

Step 2: Lie the chair totally flat on its back and look at where the leg rests on the seat. It fits into a groove on the rear and front legs of the chair.

Take a look at the slant of those holes; you’ll see that one is tilted lower than the other (and how they were when your chair was made).

The third step is to insert a flat head screwdriver at an angle into the slot that is lower than the other. Gently rotate your chair so you can access how-to remove swivel base from the old upholstered chair with your elbow as if you were doing arm curls in front of a mirror while holding onto the back of the chair.

How do you adjust the height of a chair without a lever?

Squeezing and releasing the grips on either side of a lever-less chair can raise or lower the seat. Depending on how much pressure you apply, the backrest will go up or down. Your chair should have an indentation on either side of the frame for your fingertips to rest when making this adjustment.

If you cannot locate the lever for this adjustment, you may need to replace your chair.

How do I fix my broken recliner?

The first step would be to figure out how the piece of furniture is constructed to see how best how it should be fixed and how much time or how much money is needed for the fix.

The first step in fixing a broken piece of furniture is to learn its construction so that you can decide which methods are most appropriate and whether you have the time or resources to complete the repairs.

How do you loosen the bottom of a revolving chair?

To start, put the chair on a level surface and rock it back and forth slowly and softly. Five minutes should be enough time to get a sense of how sloppy the seat has gotten.

Second, loosen the base by pulling gently on it while shifting your weight back and forth. Carry on doing so with both hands until you can lift the base away from the chair.

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Step 3: Remove the bottom screws and bolts from the swivel seat. If you have an Allen wrench on hand, use that; otherwise, any flat-headed screwdriver will suffice. Take the swivel seat out by loosening these bolts and nuts until they can be pulled free.

Step 4: Take off the chair’s covering and unfasten any staples. If you don’t have a manual staple remover, you can use an electronic one, or you can just use pliers to remove the staples.

5. Reverse these steps to install a new base.

How do you adjust an old swivel chair?

First, you may need to take apart the chair’s swivel base if it’s an older model without a knob for height adjustment.

The second step is to remove any screws or bolts that are anchoring the base of the swivel seat to the floor. If you have an Allen wrench on hand, use that; otherwise, use whichever tool or pliers are appropriate for the screws you have on hand.

Third, take off the chair’s covering and unfasten any staples. If you do not have a manual staple remover, an electronic one will serve, or you can use pliers to remove the staples by hand.

At this point, you can remove the swivel seat from the chair by simply unhooking it from the chair in the same way it was attached. Using a wrench, remove the screw or bolt from underneath the chair, and then pry the metal bracket free from its attachment on the chair’s back.

In the fifth and final step, you will reattach the swivel seat to the chair using upholstery fabric. It’s not hard to do, but it will take some time to get things just right on both ends.

How do you remove the bottom of a revolving chair?

Finding the chair’s pivot point, which is normally at its base, is the first step. Once located, the swivel base of the old upholstered chair must be removed by inserting a flat head screwdriver into a corresponding hole.

To effortlessly remove the swivel base from an old upholstered chair, gently use your elbow to revolve it in a circular manner while holding the chair steady.

How to Maintain Upholstered Furniture

Choose the Right Fabric

If you shop wisely, you can give yourself a leg up. If you pick the appropriate fabric for the proper spot, keeping your furniture looking good won’t be as much of a hassle. In addition, the longevity of your upholstered furniture can be improved by selecting a fabric that is well-suited to both your preferences and the piece itself. Synthetic fibers, for instance, are preferable for upholstered furniture placed in high-traffic locations. It’s best to avoid using textiles with a lot of texture or a loose weave if you have dogs.

Protect Your Fabric

Prompt cleaning of spills is the most effective method of fabric protection. A lot of the legwork is completed for you during the manufacturing process, as most upholstery fabric is treated with soil and water repellents as part of the finishing process. Mildew inhibitors of some sort could also be utilized. Protective fabric treatments can be applied to your upholstered furniture at the store or at home.

This aids in care and maintenance by preventing spills from being absorbed into the upholstery fibers immediately, but there is no replacement for timely cleaning. Avoid letting it offer you a phony sense of safety. Immediately remove any stains or spills and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance.

Turn the Cushions

Turning over the cushions on your sofa or chair once in a while can help it last much longer. How much easier can it get? Because of the little upkeep involved, the cushions will not quickly get indented, and the wear will be distributed evenly. Fluffing cushions after cleaning is another easy way to ensure they retain their form for as long as possible.

Flip the cushions over and switch the sides. Swapping out cushions from more frequently used seats with less used ones might help distribute wear and tear fairly.

Vacuum

The best way to maintain your upholstered furniture is to vacuum it once a week to get rid of dust and dirt. In addition, this keeps grime from settling deep into the fabric.

Alternatively, you can use a brush to lightly sweep the grime away. For the sake of avoiding snagging the cloth, a soft-bristled brush should be used at all times.

Spot Clean

Accidents are inevitable, no matter how carefully you take care of your upholstered furniture on a regular basis. If there is a spill, quickly blot it up with a clean, folded towel; do not rub, just blot. If the fabric has been treated with a protection beforehand, this may be all that is needed to remove the stain completely.

Spot cleaning products should be tested in an inconspicuous area first, and the manufacturer’s instructions should be consulted to determine whether a water-based or solvent-based cleaner is required. To avoid any potential irritation, a light cleaning agent should be used. Use a gentle brush and work it into the fibers in a circular motion; once dry, vacuum.

Avoid Sunlight and Pollutants

Too much exposure to sunlight can weaken the fibers in couch fabric, resulting in fading and fraying. Place it so that it won’t be directly exposed to the light for long. This is true especially for more delicate fabrics like silk.

Fabrics can also be damaged by airborne contaminants like kitchen smoke or car exhaust. Avoiding that isn’t always simple, but a well-ventilated space can make a difference. Upholstered furniture is notorious for being a receptacle for odors, so this can be a useful tool in combating that problem as well.

Call a Professional

Every few years or so, it’s a good idea to have a professional clean your upholstered furniture. Professionals advise doing this on a consistent basis rather than waiting until it becomes obviously dirty. A couch or chair’s resale value drops precipitously as filth accumulates.

FAQs

Is there a way to take the swivel out of a swivel chair?

A rubber wedge should be inserted between the chair’s base and the swivel pole to prevent the chair from moving around. The chair’s base must be sealed to the pole it rests on, so hammer the wedge carefully into place. Don’t smash the chair with your hammer. The wedge will create friction, reducing the range of motion available to the chair.

Can you remove a swivel base from recliner?

With the swivel feature deactivated, the chair may only be reclined and the footrest used. If the chair’s swivel could potentially knock over neighboring objects, such as end tables or bookcases, you may wish to lock it in place. Screws are inserted into the chair’s frame.

How do you remove the wheel base from an office chair?

Place your office chair on its side, carefully, so that you can reach the wheels. Grab one of the chair’s wheels firmly and lift the whole thing off the floor. Assuming all went well, the caster should now be freed from the socket. Use a glove or an old towel to improve your grip on the caster if necessary.

How do you remove a cylinder base from an office chair?

Turning the base on its side will release the cylinder from the base. Protect your surface and flooring by covering them. You should move back so the cylinder doesn’t smash into your feet. To remove the cylinder from its base, hit it with a rubber mallet.

Antiques Atlas - 70s Leather Tetrad Nucleus Swivel Armchair & Stool

How do you unlock a swivel chair?

Just get under the left arm of the chair and you’ll find it there. To prevent the chair from swiveling, turn the lever’s knob clockwise. To enable the swivel function, move the knob to the front of the seat.

How do you make a rolling chair stationer?

This can be achieved in two distinct methods, one of which is specific to each type of chair. You may easily remove the chair’s wheels by grasping the chair firmly and pulling the wheels away from the chair’s legs or base. If a wheel is secured by bolts, you can remove it by turning the bolts counterclockwise. Protect the chair’s legs from damage by gluing on padding.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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