Office Chair Leather Removal

The removal of the leather from an office chair should be carried out step by step, and corresponding tools should be prepared before operation. The specific steps are as follows:

I. Prepare Tools and Materials

According to the disassembly requirements, tools such as a rubber mallet, screwdrivers (flat-head/Phillips), wrenches, large scissors or crowbars, pliers, utility knives, and sandpaper should be prepared in advance. If the leather is fixed with glue, additional cooking oil can be prepared as a lubricant; if residual glue needs to be stripped, cotton cloth should be prepared for auxiliary operation. The tool selection should match the chair structure. For example, crowbars are suitable for prying stubborn components, utility knives are used for cutting seams, and sandpaper is used for sanding glue residues.

II. Remove Casters and Gas Lift

1. Caster Removal: Simply grasp the wheel with your hand and pull it outward. If it is stuck due to long-term use, insert a flat-head screwdriver or crowbar into the gap between the wheel and the bracket and gently pry it to loosen it before pulling it out.
2. Gas Lift Removal: Turn the chair upside down and tap the lower part where the gas lift connects to the five-star base with a rubber mallet to loosen the locking collar through vibration. If the collar is too tight, apply a small amount of cooking oil at the connection for lubrication and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before tapping again. Hold the chair steady during disassembly to prevent the gas lift from suddenly popping out and causing injury.

III. Remove Seat Cushion

1. Loosen the Base: Turn the chair upside down and tap evenly around the metal rim at the bottom of the seat cushion with a rubber mallet to separate the base from the rim. If there is wire wrapped around the bottom for fixation, use pliers to cut the wire.
2. Separate the Seat Cushion from the Chassis: Use a screwdriver to remove the upper seat screws connecting the seat cushion and the chassis, then gently tap the edge of the metal chassis with a hammer while holding the hydraulic rod with one hand and stepping on the chassis with the other foot. Apply slow force to completely separate the two. Pay attention to the force during operation to avoid damaging the hydraulic rod.

IV. Remove Chair Back

1. Screw-Fixed Type: Use a screwdriver to find and remove the fixing screws at the connection between the chair back and the seat cushion, and directly separate the chair back from the seat cushion.
2. Leather-Fixed Type:
   • Edge Fixing Nails/Clips: Use a screwdriver to carefully pry open the fixing nails or clips to avoid scratching the leather or the chair back frame.
   • Seam Fixing: Use a utility knife to cut along the seams fixing the leather, and move gently to prevent cutting the internal foam.
   • Fully-Wrapped Backrest: First remove the screws at the base of the backrest, take the entire backrest down and lay it flat. Slowly peel off the old leather along the leather seams using a screwdriver or utility knife, and place cotton cloth under the backrest during peeling to prevent scratching. If there is residual glue on the old leather, gently sand it with sandpaper until the surface is smooth.
3. Overall Removal Type: Turn the office chair upside down, use a screwdriver to remove the screws on the base and armrests, and remove the old leather and foam together from the frame for subsequent replacement with new leather.