Introduction: Chairformer
I work for a furniture company so I thought it'd be fun to make a transformer chair costume for our Halloween office party.
Step 1: Materials & Tools
The video above shows the chair in action. Make sure to check out the video at the end to see trick-or-treaters' reaction to the chair coming to life!
MATERIALS:
3/4" Plywood
Open cell polyurethane foam
Vinyl Upholstery
Leather Upholstery
Wood screws
Hinges
Adhesive Spray
Eye Hooks
String
TOOLS:
Orbital Saw
Band Saw
Drill
Staple Gun
Step 2: Body Dimensions
First I had to measure different parts of my body to figure out what dimensions to make the chair costume. Critical measurements were length and width of me sitting with my legs crossed, forearm length, chest width and depth, and sitting height.
Step 3: 3D Modeling
I 3D modeled the general shape of the chair with the dimensions I took to ensure that the proportions of the chair looked right visually before I started building. It’s not a model of the final product, but it boxes out the dimensions appropriately.
Step 4: Making the Arms
For the arms, I used a 4” diameter cardboard tube and cut it to the length according to the 3D model. I capped off the front end of each arm with small plywood discs.
Step 5: Wood Construction
I used an orbital saw and band saw to cut the wood pieces according to the dimensioned model. I joined them using wood screws and wood glue. The head piece had a hinge so that it could raise up. The front of the base also had a hinge so that it could swing out when I was standing up. After it was constructed, I put the costume on to make sure it fit right. The wood was a bit too heavy so I cut a large hole in the middle of the seat and covered it with Dymetrol, which is a structural webbing material used in lounge furniture.
Step 6: Harnesses
I had to be able to wear the costume so I created harnesses to strap the costume to my body. For the base piece, I measured my waist and created a plywood piece that sat on my hips. I lined the hole with foam (blue) so it would be more comfortable to wear. It hinged to the base with bolts so that it could swivel. For the top piece, I used backpack straps threaded through holes in the plywood. When I was wearing both pieces, I tied them together using a D-ring belt.
Step 7: Foaming
After the wood frame was fully constructed, I measured each panel that needed foam and cut the foam to size on a band saw. I used spray adhesive to glue the foam to the wood pieces. I made sure to cut a hole in the head piece so that I could see out of it (the leather had tiny holes in it so I could see through it).
Step 8: Upholstery
I measured all of the panels that needed upholstery and created upholstery patterns to be cut. I had more vinyl than leather so most pieces used vinyl. The seat cushion, chest piece, and head piece used leather. There were a few pieces that needed to be sewn together. However, since I don’t have a sewing machine and sewing leather is hard on the fingers, I opted to staple them together. I then attached all the upholstery to the foam and wood by using spray adhesive and staples.
Step 9: Pulley System
In order to be able to see better, I needed the head piece to raise when I was standing. Since my hands aren’t accessible in the costume, I needed it to raise automatically so I used eye hooks to create a simple pulley system. The string was tied to the head piece, looped through eye hooks in the wings of the chair, and then attached to eye hooks on the seat section. When I stood up, the seat piece would rotate down, pulling the strings, and raising the head piece. I used quick release S-hooks so that I could attach and detach it easily.
Step 10: Surprising Trick-Or-Treaters
I wore the costume outside of my house on Halloween. My wife sat next to me in a Banana costume in her own chair and when trick-or-treaters came up, she said "You can take candy from this bowl, or if you're brave enough, you can take candy from the Haunted Chair." Check out the video for some great reactions.

First Prize in the
Halloween Costume Contest 2016
31 Comments
1 year ago
I just discovered this, dude I'm speechless! This is one of the coolest costumes I've ever seen, and the instructable is very well made, kudos!
Question 2 years ago
Do you have a guesstimate of what your budget was for this? (AMAZING and BRILLIANT btw)
4 years ago
Hey I know this is SUPER late but I really wanted to know how you connected the shoulder part to the waist part with the belt. That is the only part I need clarification on before I get building! Thanks :)
Reply 4 years ago
The shoulder part uses a backpack for the shoulder straps and the belt to keep it tight to my body (see Step 6 bottom picture). The waist part just sits on my hips (Step 6 top picture). I put both pieces on, and then I thread the belt from the shoulder section through the 2 vertical slots in the waist section. That connects the two pieces.
Reply 4 years ago
Thanks so much for replying. I'll try and update you on how it goes!
Reply 4 years ago
Oh also, where can I buy the dymetrol material? I can't find it anywhere.
Reply 4 years ago
Great question. I work at a furniture manufacturer so I just used some of our scrap. You might be able to use a strong fabric that doesn't fray in place of dymetrol. As a last resort, you can forgo the dymetrol and make that part solid without the cutout (it'll just make the costume a bit heavier).
5 years ago
That's amazing!
5 years ago
What a fantastic and creative Instructable! Brilliant!
5 years ago
OMG that is brill!!! Makes me think someone needs to revive Pee Wee's Playhouse . Great job!
5 years ago
This is amazing!
5 years ago
How does one vote around here anyway?
5 years ago
Nice work!
5 years ago
oh my goodness that was so,great i just had to vote for you well done on something totally original lol, loved the way the children reacted to you lol
5 years ago
Very very well done. You even have the potential, with your design, to make openings in the arm rests for your hands that would not be seen when you are in the chair position. I'm voting for you!
5 years ago
Haha, this is hilarious! Way to go.
5 years ago
That is such a creative ideas. Well done.
5 years ago
This is so very Professor Slughorn!! I absolutely love it!
You got my vote!
5 years ago
nice one I like the prank?
5 years ago
Thats AMAZING!~!!!!!!