Modifying a Steelcase Leap to be a drafting chair

MrKrane

MrKrane

MrKrane

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Joined
12 Jul 2015
Posts
18
Hey guys

Long time lurker, especially lately as I've been in the market for a proper chair and have spent a long time reading about all sorts of chairs on this site, started off thinking about a DXracer and then a noble but in the end decided to buy two Steelcase Leaps from ebay for what I hope is a good price (£220 for both).

Now my question is has anyone had experience converting this chair or others into a drafting chair? I want to convert one but am not sure what size gas lift I would need nor can I actually find one of those foot rings (not actually sure what they are called, tried searching for many different things with almost 0 results) anywhere (apart from one on amazon but I'd like a choice).

Sorry if this is in the wrong place, please move it if required!

Thanks
 
Are you referring to using it with a full, hands on A0 style drafting table?
If so, I can't believe that any normal office chair I've come across would have the height capability really required.
My first ever job was as a draftsman, and we used chairs nearly as high as a bar stool in typical use, but with large adjustability. The reality was that we'd end up standing up quite a bit.
 
Hey Mr Sukebe

Thank you for replying. I plan on using it with an height adjustable table rather than an actual drafting table.
I would like to be able to have a drafting style chair to match the standing height of the table for when I no longer want to stand at it for a variety of reasons (raising or lowering this desk is slow and noisy plus a few other things that leads me to want to do this).

I was wondering if it might be possible to buy a cheap drafting chair, this one for instance: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pledge-Dr...585469?hash=item2ee501a37d:g:0ZwAAOSwKtVW1VIQ
and use the piston and ring from it to modify the Leap chair?

Thank you
 
MrKrane said:
Hey Mr Sukebe

Thank you for replying. I plan on using it with an height adjustable table rather than an actual drafting table.
I would like to be able to have a drafting style chair to match the standing height of the table for when I no longer want to stand at it for a variety of reasons (raising or lowering this desk is slow and noisy plus a few other things that leads me to want to do this).

I was wondering if it might be possible to buy a cheap drafting chair, this one for instance: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pledge-Dr...585469?hash=item2ee501a37d:g:0ZwAAOSwKtVW1VIQ
and use the piston and ring from it to modify the Leap chair?

Thank you
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Hey man, a bit off topic but did you get the V2 or the V1 chair? Any link to where you got one as £220 for a V2 is good.

You can get the V1 for £170 ish so I don't know if the difference is worth the 50-100 in getting a V2.
 
Trojan Horse said:
Hey man, a bit off topic but did you get the V2 or the V1 chair? Any link to where you got one as £220 for a V2 is good.

You can get the V1 for £170 ish so I don't know if the difference is worth the 50-100 in getting a V2.
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Hey

I actually bought 2 V1 Leaps, they were 110 each. I'm actually wondering if the V2 would be better and by how much cause I'm currently not that impressed by the Leap and am going to return them and hopefully get an Aeron.

This is the Leap I got (but Black, same seller though): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steelcase...042540?hash=item2cab18126c:g:j-4AAOSwiYFXEJ9V

I did actually talk to a guy who has been a Herman Miller engineer for 24 years and basically there is pretty much no chance of personally modifying an Aeron into a drafting chair without the correct kit, which is expensive apparently. I'm now wondering if I would have the same issues with trying that with a Leap, had I wanted to keep them.
 
MrKrane said:
Hey

I actually bought 2 V1 Leaps, they were 110 each. I'm actually wondering if the V2 would be better and by how much cause I'm currently not that impressed by the Leap and am going to return them and hopefully get an Aeron.

This is the Leap I got (but Black, same seller though): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steelcase...042540?hash=item2cab18126c:g:j-4AAOSwiYFXEJ9V

I did actually talk to a guy who has been a Herman Miller engineer for 24 years and basically there is pretty much no chance of personally modifying an Aeron into a drafting chair without the correct kit, which is expensive apparently. I'm now wondering if I would have the same issues with trying that with a Leap, had I wanted to keep them.
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How are you going to return them to an eBay seller?.. won't it cost like £20-30 in shipping alone lol

What was wrong with the Leap?
 
Trojan Horse said:
How are you going to return them to an eBay seller?.. won't it cost like £20-30 in shipping alone lol

What was wrong with the Leap?
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Yeah, it cost me 40 quid to have them delivered and I assume another 40 to get them back lol sucks but better than having two chairs I can't use and be 220 quid down.

Honestly the Leap isn't as comfortable as I was expecting based on all the reviews I read, especially ones that said that it is better than the Aeron. I think I'm going to be able to get a guy bring an Aeron down for me to try out before I buy so that'll be good not to have to buy it to try it.

The Leap is sturdy and good quality but it just doesn't fit my body that well unfortunately :( Hopefully the Aeron will.
 
MrKrane said:
Yeah, it cost me 40 quid to have them delivered and I assume another 40 to get them back lol sucks but better than having two chairs I can't use and be 220 quid down.

Honestly the Leap isn't as comfortable as I was expecting based on all the reviews I read, especially ones that said that it is better than the Aeron. I think I'm going to be able to get a guy bring an Aeron down for me to try out before I buy so that'll be good not to have to buy it to try it.

The Leap is sturdy and good quality but it just doesn't fit my body that well unfortunately :( Hopefully the Aeron will.
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Oh wait so the item was £110 + £40... it was £150 then wasn't it?


God damn it man I am in the exact same scenario as you. I'm buying off the internet as I don't have any office places for 100miles. I really hope I enjoy it! Well, maybe the reviews over hype me for it, it does seem like the reviews are over enthusiastic about how good it is... perhaps, too good to be true?
 
Trojan Horse said:
Oh wait so the item was £110 + £40... it was £150 then wasn't it?


God damn it man I am in the exact same scenario as you. I'm buying off the internet as I don't have any office places for 100miles. I really hope I enjoy it! Well, maybe the reviews over hype me for it, it does seem like the reviews are over enthusiastic about how good it is... perhaps, too good to be true?
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I mean sure, you could put it like that I suppose :D 270 quid total for the 2 chairs then.

Yeah it sucks, closest place to go an get the chairs is in london for me and I don't really wanna spend an hour on the train and then god knows how long trying to find the place after that.

Are you buying a Leap or an Aeron? I will backtack on the Leap a little and say it does feel better today compared to yesterday, yesterday it felt as if it was the worst think in the world and my back was killing me but today it feels much better.
I think that maybe my back was adjusting from the crappy posture I had had to a more correct one and was rebelling against it. That being said I'm still very curious as to what the Aeron feels like, the Leap doesn't recline quite the way I like chairs to whereas I think the Aeron does, judging by the videos anyway.

Have you ordered a chair yet or are you looking at them atm?
 
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MrKrane said:
I mean sure, you could put it like that I suppose :D 270 quid total for the 2 chairs then.

Yeah it sucks, closest place to go an get the chairs is in london for me and I don't really wanna spend an hour on the train and then god knows how long trying to find the place after that.

Are you buying a Leap or an Aeron? I will backtack on the Leap a little and say it does feel better today compared to yesterday, yesterday it felt as if it was the worst think in the world and my back was killing me but today it feels much better.
I think that maybe my back was adjusting from the crappy posture I had had to a more correct one and was rebelling against it. That being said I'm still very curious as to what the Aeron feels like, the Leap doesn't recline quite the way I like chairs to whereas I think the Aeron does, judging by the videos anyway.

Have you ordered a chair yet or are you looking at them atm?
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I literally placed an order on the Steelcase Leap V1 about 30 minutes before your post. I'm already getting buyers regret, look what you made me do!

I don't want to change it out though. I got a good deal and I really hate the look of Aeron. It would have to be the Embody or something if I was to buy a HM chair. Steelcase make a really nice update, Gesture, so when I have the money in a year or two I might put 1K on that.

I paid £160 for the re-fitted V1 with Aluminium base.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262489856389?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Hope it's not that bad though ;( Perhaps you haven't fully adjusted it? What's the problem with it anyway?
 
Trojan Horse said:
I literally placed an order on the Steelcase Leap V1 about 30 minutes before your post. I'm already getting buyers regret, look what you made me do!

I don't want to change it out though. I got a good deal and I really hate the look of Aeron. It would have to be the Embody or something if I was to buy a HM chair. Steelcase make a really nice update, Gesture, so when I have the money in a year or two I might put 1K on that.

I paid £160 for the re-fitted V1 with Aluminium base.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262489856389?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Hope it's not that bad though ;( Perhaps you haven't fully adjusted it? What's the problem with it anyway?
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I see you ordered what I believe is the older model Leap, I got the newer version so I don't know how much they differ.

Funn you say that cause I love the look of the Aeron and am not really fond of the look of the Leap, although it doesn't matter as long as whatever chair I settle with does the job.

I have adjusted it a bunch, there is nothing wrong with it per say, I feel like the lumbar support is a little high and since it is the V1 I can't adjust it, but honestly the discomfort I felt yesterday isn't here today at all. As I mentioned, I think it was just my body readjusting to the new posture.

What is your current chair that you are replacing with the Leap?
 
Trojan Horse said:
My current chair is a PoS amazon £50 leather **** bucket.
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I also had a similar chair before my leather recliner, broke the chair right off the base lol

I will say that if you have back pain/discomfort on your current chair and the leap feels like it isn't making it better or perhaps making it worse, give it a few days and see how it feels. I'm really surprised at how different my back feels today compared to yesterday, strange but pleasant surprise.

Still gonna test out an Aeron though, especially since it is a draft chair version and I really need a drafting chair.
 
I have a home made adjustable desk, works fine but making it go up and down is sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow and I want to quickly be able to stand up and sit down during working and such without having to waste time rising and lowering it and interrupting my work flow.
 
Trojan Horse said:
Steelcase make a really nice update, Gesture, so when I have the money in a year or two I might put 1K on that.
Click to expand...

I have Steelcase Leaps both v1 and v2 and the Humanscale Freedom plus tried the Aeron and most recently the Steelcase Gesture thinking it would surpass the Leap.

I was disappointed with the Gesture for a 'sit at your desk chair'. It's more designed for reclining at odd positions (leaning one way or other - see the videos) and the arms that move apart if you lean on them getting up weren't great. In contrast the Leap keeps its arm rests and seat level during recline and the synchro seat slide is great. In the end I bought a new Leap v2 despite the fact the Gesture was slightly cheaper.

I would recommend anyone buying a Leap v2 with the lumbar height adjust fitted to remove it because it can be intrusive on the slimmer back padding unlike the v1 (in other respects the v2 is better - seat padding and arm rests).
 
MrKrane said:
I have a home made adjustable desk, works fine but making it go up and down is sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow and I want to quickly be able to stand up and sit down during working and such without having to waste time rising and lowering it and interrupting my work flow.
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The Danish manufacturer Conset are due to release an electronic control box for their sit/stand desks that might suit your needs as you can preset the heights.
 
Hey guys.

I'm actually having an Aeron brought down to me today to try out and hopefully buy if it suits my needs. I was able to find a guy that sells ex demo aerons and he had a drafting version. The chairs I am told are under a year old because they are ex demo.

I was considering buying a different Aeron chair on ebay, a chrome drafting version, I didn't know this but the chrome one had actually been modified to be a drafting chair without actual Herman Miller parts and was offered to me for the same price as the ex demo one I will be looking at, goes to show it pays to shop around more rather than rushing into it.

BigBangtheory:
I don't think I could make any use of that, my table it made from a hospital bed attached to a desk, I'm not sure I could connect the motor to the control box.
 
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