How to Remove a Chair/Stool Cylinder
Step by step visual guide to removing chair cylinders
- Lay the chair down
a. It’s best to remove the cylinder from the seat before removing the base (the part with casters/wheels attached to it) from the cylinder.
b. Lay the chair down so it’s resting on the back piece and the base.
- Tools you will need
a. Wrench (one that can easily be tightened or that remains tight as you hold it)
b. Mallet
c. Masking tape
A lock wrench or channel lock wrench would actually work better than the wrench shown here.
Example of a lock wrench:
Example of a channel lock wrench
- Tape the cylinder
Next, you’ll want to tape a section of the cylinder off. Make sure it’s wide enough to accommodate the width of the wrench. Wrap it around many times. The point of this is to give the wrench better traction when turning the cylinder.
- Removing the seat
Place the wrench over the taped area of the cylinder and tighten it as much as you can. If the wrench uses pressure, you should almost lean on the handle of the wrench to get as tight as possible of a hold. Once the wrench is securely tightened, turn the wrench and the cylinder counter-clockwise.
The first 1/10th inch of the turning is extremely difficult, and you will want to apply some elbow grease. After that, it is very easy and can be done by hand. If the tape rips, just apply more tape and try again.
- Removing the base
a. Once the cylinder is detached from the seat of the chair, you will need to remove the cylinder from the base (the part with casters/wheels attached to it).
b. Place the base upside down between two sawhorses, or other support device. Safety first!
c. It is helpful to spray some WD-40 or a similar lubricant around the cylinder where it’s touching the inside of the base.
d. Get a small piece of scrap wood, or a thick book (one that you don’t mind beating up a little; I find that old Algebra book works well). Place that object, which we will call a buffer, on top of the cylinder that is poking out of the base.
e. Make sure the buffer is placed squarely on the cylinder.
f. Hold the base still with one hand or have someone else help support the base so that it isn’t knocked off the sawhorses (or other support device).
g. Firmly strike the middle of the buffer until the cylinder is freed from the base. Congratulations!
