Viewing Chair - Any Recommendations?

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

if you use an office chair like i do Suzy - you take the back off it

push it right down to transport in the back seat

geoff

[Suzy]

I see... Thanks Geoff.

[Liz]

Originally Posted by Suzy

I'm curious to know how people fit office chairs in the car, esp. with dobs, bases and other equipment already taking up a lot of room.
Just curious... always wondered.

I have a Mazda Tribute Suzy, and can squeeze my collapsible Dob, and stool into the back easily. Put stool in upside down.

[Suzy]

Thanks Liz.
Yes I knew you were pretty happy with yours.

How does the chair go height wise for viewing at Zenith?
Me at 5"5 the chair has to go pretty high.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

I have a strong preference and bias to the Bintel Chair...I helped introduce them into Australia (the chairs not Bintel)...

As a "portly" gentlemen (gentlemen is a matter of opinion the portly is fact), I find it supports my bulk comfortably with no difficulties. I am actually using it on vacation as a step to load/unload the luggage carrier on top of the car...

Cheers All!

[gmbfilter (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by wavelandscott

I have a strong preference and bias to the Bintel Chair...I helped introduce them into Australia (the chairs not Bintel)...

As a "portly" gentlemen (gentlemen is a matter of opinion the portly is fact), I find it supports my bulk comfortably with no difficulties. I am actually using it on vacation as a step to load/unload the luggage carrier on top of the car...

Cheers All!

I'm definitely "portly" and occasionally a gentleman

I love my Bintel so much chair I got two.

Not because I need two for me

I have found that a extra chair helps support the logs when I'm cutting firewood...you can't be too carefull!

[ColHut (Colin)]

How about your own variation of a Denver observing chair? They fold flat and work fine.

Here are a few links. I used a variant of the last one shown but
I hinged mine at the top rather than the middle but pretty much the same. I also attached an elastic cord at the front underside of the seat and back to keep tension on it at all times.

regards

http://www.tulsawalk.com/projects/de...air/index.html

http://www.schlatter.org/Dad/Astronomy/chair.htm

http://www.umce.ca/astroclubnb/chairjim.htm

[GraemeT (Graeme)]

I have a Denver chair for my dob. It was easy to make and doesn't foul my EQ platform, it's comfortable and easy to transport. (and cheap)

[rathalian]

+1 for the Bintel chair.

After reading this thread and others, and checking out the offerings in places like OfficeWorks I took the plunge and ordered one.

First impression - the box was much heavier than I expected. The chair is solid steel tubing all round and is incredibly rigid.

Setup time out of box - 5 seconds. I unfolded the base into position and slotted in the seat.

Seat padding is wide and comfortable and takes all of a second or two to move to another position.

The foot rest is also comfortable.

It packs up in a couple of seconds and lays flat, with the seat hanging on the main body.

Looks like a requirement, particulary for Dob mounted scopes.

[Steffen]

I'd like to ask those who use the Bintel chair: how easy is it to adjust the height of the seat while your sitting on it? For example when you're at the eyepiece and find that the seat could be notch higher or lower for better comfort. I imagine it's not as straightforward as with a friction-locked seat?

I'll eventually get around to driving all the way to Glebe (and finding a car park there somewhere) but if someone could answer this question I may be going there with a lot more motivation

Cheers
Steffen.

[mikerr (Michael)]

I purchased one of these http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail...irs/OWZODBARBK last Saturday and really like it so far. Using a C8 SCT pier mounted with rotary multiple eyepiece holder I had a comfortable non wobbly viewing session for the first time.

If I needed to increase the maximum height it would be very easy to just insert a block of wood of the appropriate thickness between the seat and the stand. Longer screws would be all that would be needed.

Michael

[Liz]

Originally Posted by mikerr

I purchased one of these http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail...irs/OWZODBARBK last Saturday and really like it so far. Using a C8 SCT pier mounted with rotary multiple eyepiece holder I had a comfortable non wobbly viewing session for the first time.

If I needed to increase the maximum height it would be very easy to just insert a block of wood of the appropriate thickness between the seat and the stand. Longer screws would be all that would be needed.

Michael

Hope that works Ok Michael, I worry that it doesnt go low enough??

This is mine - nice and comfy and goes quite low, and high.
http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail...irs/OWMESHSTOL

[mikerr (Michael)]

Liz, low will not be a problem as the pier is fairly tall and I am 6 feet.

The eyepiece Turret allows convenient positioning of the eyepiece.

I had a look at Saturn and the Moon last Saturday and it was the first time that I sat and stared into the Eyepiece without wobbling around due to standing. Very relaxing and finally able to enjoy/study detail.
A whole new experience
Not sure if I should add castors or not. The far edge of the water tank is about a four meter drop onto rocks

Michael

[Liz]

Originally Posted by mikerr

Attachment 97291

Liz, low will not be a problem as the pier is fairly tall and I am 6 feet.


Michael

Yep, gotcha now.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Originally Posted by Steffen

I'd like to ask those who use the Bintel chair: how easy is it to adjust the height of the seat while your sitting on it? For example when you're at the eyepiece and find that the seat could be notch higher or lower for better comfort. I imagine it's not as straightforward as with a friction-locked seat?

I'll eventually get around to driving all the way to Glebe (and finding a car park there somewhere) but if someone could answer this question I may be going there with a lot more motivation

Cheers
Steffen.

Best to see it in person...Once you see it in person you can form your opinion.

I can adjust one handed and backward in the dark with no problem...Having said that remember, I have had a lot of history with these chairs so it is second nature.

I have seen that some folks have a learning curve in connecting the chair the very first time but it should become second nature quickly.

Do note that this design is hook and ladder like and not friction based...it is not infinitely adjustable but adjusts in small ladder increments.

[Suzy]

Scott, when I first posted on this thread I was looking for the link for that chair and couldn't it (the review that you did), do you still have the link for it please?

Liz, that really is a nifty stool!!

Steffan, I haven't gotten the knack of adjusting it with one hand- I turn around and re-hook it. It is very easy & quick- I got it the first go. Just make sure it's hooked in well tho. The chair pad itself is too heavy for me to attempt one handed- like the frame, the chair pad itself is solid and heavy, which is a good thing.

In my opinion, the solid nature, height flexibility, storage convenience of this chair, far out weighs the inconvenience of having to get my butt off and turn around and adjust the chair. Okay, I know I'm a lightweight, but others have said it's solid enough to hold people that have got some weight on them- I can perform near gymnastics on this thing and it doesn't budge for me, so I'm secure that I don't fall a over t on top of the tube.

I did a measure of my chair and here it is:

Total height of complete frame: 3 feet.
Adjustable increments: lowest level to highest level is 2 feet.
Seat width: 34cm
Seat depth: 25cm
Seat depth in total from the frame/back rest: 32cm

The adjustable working level is huge. Great for a dob at Zenith. I'm only 5 5" and have not needed to use the highest level yet on my 10" dob (come close but ).

[Steffen]

Ah ok, thanks. It still seems a lot easier than with the Aldi ironing chair, where you actually have to undo two knobs in order to move the seat (not really suitable for on-the-fly adjustment).

Cheers
Steffen.