Visit our Popular Forums

soldiermedic · 03-06-2008, 07:21 PM

Hey Gang,

After long anticipation, I received my Leg-O-Matic chairs earlier in the week. I knew one of the chair backs was missing some laminate before it came, but there were other spots that need a bit of repair. I have replaced the missing laminate on on chairs back, and repaired a large crack in one of the legs. As much as I would like to keep these in the wood tone, the repairs will be very visible. We are going to paint them, but what color. The first picture is the fabric color we have to recover the cushions in. The second is of the chairs of course.

I think black would be too dark, but I am no interior designer. Our floor is a brown stone texture.

Anyone have a color thought????

Steve

Fyrzowt · 03-06-2008, 07:42 PM

Steve, maybe it's my computer - the photos aren't showing, just boxes with an X in the center.

soldiermedic · 03-06-2008, 07:51 PM

ya know....another person said they get the same thing, but others can read it. You can also read the blog.

Steve

GStephens · 03-06-2008, 09:38 PM

I'm also only getting two squares with an X in them.
GStephens

soldiermedic · 03-07-2008, 12:13 AM

Lets try again

rickandsandi · 03-07-2008, 04:24 AM

Hi there Steve-

Great chairs! I would try to keep them in the original finish if at all possible. Painting them would be a shame. Once you have mastered veneering you will be surprised how well the repairs will come out. Are the labels still on the bottom of the chairs? Is so could you email me a photo of the complete label?

Rick

soldiermedic · 03-07-2008, 07:23 AM

Rick,

No lables were found on them

Unfortunately, we want to be using these chairs soon, and painting is a good option for us. I will never be able to match the old finish, and if I sand down all the old finish, I will still have areas that will stick out like a sore thumb (veneer repair), etc.

Steve

fotochop · 03-07-2008, 07:26 AM

after doing a forum search for "leg o matic" and getting about 10,000 non-relevant threads (my typical forum search experience...any hints anyone) I must ask: what 's a leg o matic chair? do the legs fold up under the chair? if so, that's a good looking folding chair!

soldiermedic · 03-07-2008, 09:38 AM

Rick,

Do a search on google and you will come across some antique furniture information. The chair back folds down towards the seat cushion, and both sets of legs fold towards one another.

Here is a pic of them folded.

Steve

soldiermedic · 03-07-2008, 05:06 PM

I took some time today and recovered one of my cushions. I have not used my power stapler in about 5 years so lets just say I had a few machine gun moments. Looking at a chair with the same wood and seat back as mine on ebay with no broken laminate. Hopefully I can get it, and recover it....no painting required.

Steve

2airishuman · 03-07-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotochop

after doing a forum search for "leg o matic" and getting about 10,000 non-relevant threads...

here ya go 'chop...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f46/...air-11327.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f46/...rage-2088.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f46/...airs-7624.html

it's laughable that ne1 would suggest painting these OLD CHAIRS is a shame or affects their 'collectibility' ...

what IS a shame is hoping that even a painted and glued up version of these old frail chairs...

with very dried wood and un braced legs..

can withstand the rigors of camping or heavy usage or youngsters, after 40+ years.

cheers
2air'

vswingfield · 03-07-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

what IS a shame is hoping that even a painted and glued up version of these old frail chairs...

with very dried wood and un braced legs..

can withstand the rigors of camping or heavy usage or youngsters, after 40+ years.

cheers
2air'

Hi 2air,

Under most circumstances I would agree about that. In this case, I think the medic clan will be better off than most of us. You know them. They won’t place nearly the strain on the chairs as my big ole fat a**.

2airishuman · 03-07-2008, 06:22 PM

u could be right vaughan, and lets hope so.

but most old dried, brittle wooden furniture (like these) serves best now as decoration...

and imagine taking one of these OUTSIDE 2 use on concrete or gravel or other camping surfaces.

so paint and new coverings may actually STRENGTHEN these...

cheers
2air'

vswingfield · 03-07-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

so paint and new coverings may actually STRENGTHEN these...

cheers
2air'

You may be right there.

Best to you!

georgezink · 03-07-2008, 06:41 PM

2Air...where is your appreciation of vintage?

Steve - I'm just a couple of weeks behind you - waiting for my e-bay leg-o-matics to arrive. I'm not expecting perfection - but hopefully, the seller was honest in describing them - and I will not be disappointed. I am expecting work - check out this vap - 1960 Airstream Ambassador Project! » 2007» May . His leg-o-matics looked great after the restoration and he added more cush to the seat. These chairs are well-designed and well-made (and made in the USA) - kinda like our Airstreams - and should last much longer with reasonable care. The Howards Restore-A-Finish might work well for your chairs - they do look good in the photos...

soldiermedic · 03-07-2008, 06:42 PM

These chairs are only being used for extra seating at the dining table opposite the sofa. We have a set of three bag chairs for outside use. Other than that, I sat a long while playing guitar with no issues in one of them.

As long as the locking mechanism stays working I am comfortable.

soldiermedic · 03-07-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgezink

2Air...where is your appreciation of vintage?

Steve - I'm just a couple of weeks behind you - waiting for my e-bay leg-o-matics to arrive. I'm not expecting perfection - but hopefully, the seller was honest in describing them - and I will not be disappointed. I am expecting work - check out this vap - 1960 Airstream Ambassador Project! » 2007» May . His leg-o-matics looked great after the restoration and he added more cush to the seat. These chairs are well-designed and well-made (and made in the USA) - kinda like our Airstreams - and should last much longer with reasonable care. The Howards Restore-A-Finish might work well for your chairs - they do look good in the photos...

George,

Which ones did you get off ebay? We were likely bidding against one another for them.

Steve

Royce · 03-07-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Hey Gang,

After long anticipation, I received my Leg-O-Matic chairs earlier in the week. I knew one of the chair backs was missing some laminate before it came, but there were other spots that need a bit of repair. I have replaced the missing laminate on on chairs back, and repaired a large crack in one of the legs. As much as I would like to keep these in the wood tone, the repairs will be very visible. We are going to paint them, but what color. The first picture is the fabric color we have to recover the cushions in. The second is of the chairs of course.

I think black would be too dark, but I am no interior designer. Our floor is a brown stone texture.

Anyone have a color thought????

Steve

Steve,

If I might respectfully suggest. Sanding is not needed. Make the repair then scrub the entire chair with denatured alcohol, 4/0 steel wool, and apply two coats of two pound cut dewaxed orange shellac. No need to paint but if you decided to do so then you can paint over the shellac. Dewaxed shellac will stick to anything and anything will stick to the shellac. I think the original finish was shellac, if so denatured alcohol will clean them nicely.

georgezink · 03-07-2008, 06:51 PM

Steve,
Actually this wasn't an e-bay auction. It was an e-bay "Buy It Now" or "Best Offer" Listing (item 310018502243). I asked a few questions - got satisfactory answers - and made an offer which was accepted. This listing was "hidden" when I did a search for "Lorraine chair". Lorraine made the leg-o-matic...