Chair Made From Bicycle Wheels

A few years ago, my mother saw some pictures online of a chair made out of bicycle tires and wanted wanted to create her own using some spare bicycle tires that we had lying around.

After removing the spokes out of three of the tires, and creating a weave of the elastic rope using the holes left from the spokes and zipties, she left it as she was not sure how to proceed. As time passed, it lay untouched in our garage.

Last year, we moved house, and it was resurfaced, wanting to be continued. One again though, it was left in the garage, untouched.

Finally, as a lockdown was imposed, and we were cleaning our garage. It was much easier looking at it again, and with two minds we were able to overcome the problems my mother had been facing and had been unsure how to tackle.

Supplies

- 5x Large Bicycle Tires (3 of them with spokes, tire and inner-tube removed, 2 of them the same size).

- 1x 1-metre long, 10mm diameter threaded rod

- 8x 70mm-long, 8mm diameter bolts

- 6x 10mm Washer

- 4x 10mm Nut

- 10x 8mm Nut

- 6x 8mm Bolt Cap

- 4x Bolt Cap

- 5mm diameter Elastic Rope

- 1x 1-metre long, metal angle

- Zipties

- Tools: metal saw, drill with 10mm and 8mm metal drill-bits, wrenches, scissors

Step 1: The Start

We start our project with:

- The spokes taken out of three of the tires.

- A weave of the elastic rope using the holes left from the spokes and zip-ties.

Step 2: Attaching the Screw Rod

- Use the drill and 10mm drill-bit to expand two holes, opposite of each other on the third spoke-less bike tire.

- Insert the screw rod through the holes and centre it

Step 3: Attaching the Screw Rod and Bicycle Tire Rim

- Use two of the bolts and one of the washers to attach the screw rod to the bicycle tire rim.

- Do this on both sides of the bicycle tire rim.

Step 4: Removing the Bicycle Tire Centres

- Remove the middle of one of the unused bicycle tires.

- Do the same for the second tire.

Step 5: Attaching the Bicycle Tires

- Put the bicycle tire onto the screw rod.

- Use two of the washers and one of the nuts to tighten and attach the bicycle tire to the screw rod.

- Do the same thing for the second tire.

Step 6: Attach the Screw Caps

- Use bolt caps to cover the sharp edges of the ends of the screw rod.

- Do the same for the other side.

(Optional: Cut the threaded rod until a centimetre from the nut and use a bolt cap to cover it)

Step 7: Cut the Screw Rod

- Cut the threaded rod on the inside to create a large hole for the chair to sit in.

- Use bolt caps to cover the sharp cut edges.

Step 8: Aligning the Seat in the Frame

- Align the seat structure with the frame.

- Mark two holes that lone up between the two rims.

Step 9: Attaching the Frame and Seat

- Use the bolts through the marked holes to attach the seat and the frame.

- Do this twice: once on each side, slightly offset from the centre.

Step 10: Spacing the Seat

- Use two of the nuts to space the seat into the centre.

- Do this on both sides to centre the seat

Step 11: Prevent Rotation of Seat

- Use zipties to stoop the seat from rotating when it is sat on.

- Do this at least three times on both the front and back of the frame rim.

Step 12: Prevent the Wheels From Rotating

- Drill holes through the rims of the rotating wheels to stop them from rolling.

- Do the same for both wheels.

Step 13: Protecting Sharp Edges

- Cut any extra length from the various bolts.

- Use the bolt caps to cover any sharp edges.

Step 14: Extra Structure (Optional, But Recommended)

- Cut the metal angle to the height of the frame rim.

- Drill holes into the metal angle that align with holes in the rim.

- Put a bolt through both parts

- Cut the extra length from the bolt and cover it with a bolt cap.

Step 15: Completion

- Cut any extra length from the zipties and/or elastic.

Comments

[LukeB81]

I smiled at this, cool idea if I had several more broken wheels around. Would be useful to see how you de-spoke them?

[MatthewR244]

you can unscrew the spokes from the inside of the rim, using a slotted/ flat head screwdriver. if the spokes are sticking up, through the spoke nipple (nut), you can file a notch in the center of the screwdriver blade. or use a wrench to turn the spoke to get it started. using a drill makes this faster

[QuantumXenon]

The de-spoking was done by my mother before I started, however, to de-spoke them, the tire, inner-tube and any other part that is not the rim should be removed. Then, the screws at the end of the spokes should be undone. Do this with every spoke, and the entire spoke and middle section should come loose, just leaving the rim.

[techyguy2]

This is a true wheelchair.

[QuantumXenon]

:)

[seamster]

Nice and funky, I like it! : )

[QuantumXenon]

Thanks!