I'm fixing a communal garden bench and a chair of similar design.
They both have metal sides, joined by wooden slats making up the seat
and back.

I'm struggling a bit to understand the mechanics involved.
The bench, now with a replaced slat, is quite stable.
The chair is disturbingly wobbly, with a side to side motion.
There are no braces or similar stabilising parts on either.

The only significant difference I can see between the two is that the
ends of the slats of the bench are bolted fairly tightly against the
recieving part of the metal sides.
While the ends of the slats of the chair, though bolted quite firmly
do not reach fully into the recieving socket.

Most of the slats on the chair are firmly fixed with rusted nuts and
bolts, so I don't want to cut then off.

Someone here has suggested a horizontal strap/rod fixed between each
metal side, just under the seat. I can't quite envisage the
effectiveness of this.

I'm thinking a diagonal brace at the back, from the foot of one metal
side to the head of the other metal side would be more effective.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.


--

Mike

Mike Halmarack brought next idea :
Someone here has suggested a horizontal strap/rod fixed between each
metal side, just under the seat. I can't quite envisage the
effectiveness of this.

Nor I.

My similar bench, has two 1/2" x 1/16" straps, which meet in the middle
of the part you sit upon and are bolted to it. From there, they go down
diagonally to fix to the horizontal cast into the legs, joining front
legs to rear. It is very stable.

The only way using an horizontal bar, using a quite rigid bar, would be
to have the bar threaded at each end. So that would be at each end -
bar, nut, heavy washer, through leg, then another heavy washer and
finally a nut. It would need to be tightened well, so the bar couldn't
move.

On Thu, 11 Jun 2020 13:53:18 +0100, Harry Bloomfield, Esq.
wrote:

Mike Halmarack brought next idea :
Someone here has suggested a horizontal strap/rod fixed between each
metal side, just under the seat. I can't quite envisage the
effectiveness of this.

Nor I.

My similar bench, has two 1/2" x 1/16" straps, which meet in the middle
of the part you sit upon and are bolted to it. From there, they go down
diagonally to fix to the horizontal cast into the legs, joining front
legs to rear. It is very stable.
Thats the one I like best so far.

The only way using an horizontal bar, using a quite rigid bar, would be
to have the bar threaded at each end. So that would be at each end -
bar, nut, heavy washer, through leg, then another heavy washer and
finally a nut. It would need to be tightened well, so the bar couldn't
move.

Much more demanding than the other options.
--

Mike

Bracing the slats will take some movement out but if the fixings to the metal sides are loose there will still be some movement. My suggestion is to remove the two bolts on the top and bottom slats then brace with diagonals attached by bolts at the same points.

Richard

On Thu, 11 Jun 2020 06:47:30 -0700 (PDT), Tricky Dicky
wrote:

Bracing the slats will take some movement out but if the fixings to the metal sides are loose there will still be some movement. My suggestion is to remove the two bolts on the top and bottom slats then brace with diagonals attached by bolts at the same points.

Richard

Yes that looks like the way to go, thanks.
--

Mike

I have seen two braces from the slats to the bottom of the sides on each
side on some designs. However I feel that if it was ok before then something
is definitely missing!
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Mike Halmarack" wrote in message
...
I'm fixing a communal garden bench and a chair of similar design.
They both have metal sides, joined by wooden slats making up the seat
and back.

I'm struggling a bit to understand the mechanics involved.
The bench, now with a replaced slat, is quite stable.
The chair is disturbingly wobbly, with a side to side motion.
There are no braces or similar stabilising parts on either.

The only significant difference I can see between the two is that the
ends of the slats of the bench are bolted fairly tightly against the
recieving part of the metal sides.
While the ends of the slats of the chair, though bolted quite firmly
do not reach fully into the recieving socket.

Most of the slats on the chair are firmly fixed with rusted nuts and
bolts, so I don't want to cut then off.

Someone here has suggested a horizontal strap/rod fixed between each
metal side, just under the seat. I can't quite envisage the
effectiveness of this.

I'm thinking a diagonal brace at the back, from the foot of one metal
side to the head of the other metal side would be more effective.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.


--

Mike

On Fri, 12 Jun 2020 07:31:34 +0100, "Brian Gaff \(Sofa\)"
wrote:

I have seen two braces from the slats to the bottom of the sides on each
side on some designs. However I feel that if it was ok before then something
is definitely missing!
Brian

It was probably ok to begin with. No parts have been lost. just age
and imperfect design taking it's toll.
--

Mike

"Mike Halmarack" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 12 Jun 2020 07:31:34 +0100, "Brian Gaff \(Sofa\)"
wrote:

I have seen two braces from the slats to the bottom of the sides on each
side on some designs. However I feel that if it was ok before then
something
is definitely missing!
Brian

It was probably ok to begin with. No parts have been lost. just age
and imperfect design taking it's toll.

With lots of lard arses doing it over over time }-(

On Fri, 12 Jun 2020 17:21:34 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

FLUSH the trolling senile asshole's latest troll**** unread

--
Richard addressing senile Rodent Speed:
"**** you're thick/pathetic excuse for a troll."
MID:

On 12/06/2020 08:11, Mike Halmarack wrote:
On Fri, 12 Jun 2020 07:31:34 +0100, "Brian Gaff \(Sofa\)"
wrote:

I have seen two braces from the slats to the bottom of the sides on each
side on some designs. However I feel that if it was ok before then something
is definitely missing!
Brian

It was probably ok to begin with. No parts have been lost. just age
and imperfect design taking it's toll.


Not helped by BMI 30+ and waist sizes of 40+ :-)

On Thu, 11 Jun 2020 12:27:30 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:

On Thu, 11 Jun 2020 10:29:00 +0100, Mike Halmarack
wrote:

I'm fixing a communal garden bench and a chair of similar design.
They both have metal sides, joined by wooden slats making up the seat
and back.

I'm struggling a bit to understand the mechanics involved.
The bench, now with a replaced slat, is quite stable.
The chair is disturbingly wobbly, with a side to side motion.
There are no braces or similar stabilising parts on either.

snip

I'm thinking a diagonal brace at the back, from the foot of one metal
side to the head of the other metal side would be more effective.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

A diagonal brace at the back, simply screwed onto the back slats as
near to the ends as you can get. Saves having to attempt to drill the
metal sides. If you can use thin braces, then two would be better, in
opposite directions, maybe screwed together in the centre. Screwing
the braces to the slats at each crossing point would also help

Much better idea and easier. Thanks for the tip.
--

Mike

On 11/06/2020 12:41, Mike Halmarack wrote:
On Thu, 11 Jun 2020 12:27:30 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:

On Thu, 11 Jun 2020 10:29:00 +0100, Mike Halmarack
wrote:

I'm fixing a communal garden bench and a chair of similar design.
They both have metal sides, joined by wooden slats making up the seat
and back.

I'm struggling a bit to understand the mechanics involved.
The bench, now with a replaced slat, is quite stable.
The chair is disturbingly wobbly, with a side to side motion.
There are no braces or similar stabilising parts on either.

snip

I'm thinking a diagonal brace at the back, from the foot of one metal
side to the head of the other metal side would be more effective.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

A diagonal brace at the back, simply screwed onto the back slats as
near to the ends as you can get. Saves having to attempt to drill the
metal sides. If you can use thin braces, then two would be better, in
opposite directions, maybe screwed together in the centre. Screwing
the braces to the slats at each crossing point would also help

Much better idea and easier. Thanks for the tip.


Since it is outdoors, you could use a pair of these, overlapped
like the white cross on the Scotland flag

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-600m...Strut/p/156722

I strengthened a wobbly wooden step ladder with two pairs or these
crossed over 'back to back' and also drilled through the crossover
and bolted the centre of the X with a suitable brass bolt.

Paint them with some suitable black gloss external paint and they
won't be too obtrusive.

Being intended for cross-strutting flooring joists they can be bent
as needed.

On Thu, 11 Jun 2020 13:46:04 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

On 11/06/2020 12:41, Mike Halmarack wrote:
On Thu, 11 Jun 2020 12:27:30 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:

On Thu, 11 Jun 2020 10:29:00 +0100, Mike Halmarack
wrote:

I'm fixing a communal garden bench and a chair of similar design.
They both have metal sides, joined by wooden slats making up the seat
and back.

I'm struggling a bit to understand the mechanics involved.
The bench, now with a replaced slat, is quite stable.
The chair is disturbingly wobbly, with a side to side motion.
There are no braces or similar stabilising parts on either.

snip

I'm thinking a diagonal brace at the back, from the foot of one metal
side to the head of the other metal side would be more effective.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

A diagonal brace at the back, simply screwed onto the back slats as
near to the ends as you can get. Saves having to attempt to drill the
metal sides. If you can use thin braces, then two would be better, in
opposite directions, maybe screwed together in the centre. Screwing
the braces to the slats at each crossing point would also help

Much better idea and easier. Thanks for the tip.


Since it is outdoors, you could use a pair of these, overlapped
like the white cross on the Scotland flag

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-600m...Strut/p/156722

I strengthened a wobbly wooden step ladder with two pairs or these
crossed over 'back to back' and also drilled through the crossover
and bolted the centre of the X with a suitable brass bolt.

Paint them with some suitable black gloss external paint and they
won't be too obtrusive.

Being intended for cross-strutting flooring joists they can be bent
as needed.

Good option. Thanks
--

Mike