Dining Chairs Makeover & Seat Pad Conversion

in this video I work on 2x CC41 utility furniture dining chairs from the 1940s for a makeover, repair and restoration. I convert their webbed upholstery to solid chair seat pads. I also re-upholster them and give the wooden frames a clean up and a re-finish.
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[@vincentferrari]

Even if people don't want them now, knowing the way tastes go, someone will want them 10 years from now :)

[@aaaa-me9uu]

Sell them as "war vintage" and get twice the price.

[@user-oy4gf6ck5u]

The upholstery turn out way too good , i think the light colour of the fabric and the dark finish made the chair very beautiful . As always great job . !!!!!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@markharris5771]

An important part of our history saved, thank you.

[@raysmith1992]

Thanks, I have 3 IKEA dining chairs that we use as desk chairs that need recovering so this has helped me plan how to do it, I think I might have used a plywood seat as it may be stronger than MDF, and a nice refurbish of some old chairs which have a history

[@VampyRagDoll]

You did a really nice job of covering them Keith. 👍🏽

[@1959ticktock]

Really liking the content coming out of your channel at the moment Keith. One of the first serious English woodwork channels I started watching, and still one of the best. Loving the interview series. Going part time in your job has certainly benefited your KZbin output so far. Hope it works out for you financially.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@StuffUCanMake]

I enjoyed this rebuild.

[@tropicaltanktv]

Great work as always!

[@Landruman2002]

Very clever problem solving! Keep up the excellent work!

[@jigsey.]

Great project and back story

[@MissLady-pq4hc]

I love your work. You are a good teacher.🙂👍🏼

[@ColonelCustard]

You rescue unwanted wood like some do dogs. After refurbishment by you, they're bound to find (make) good homes. I am up for viewing whatever projects inspire you. The outcome is always satisfying.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@SuperCanerat]

Cool story about the stamp! Pretty cool stamp design too

[@dlamb2840]

Dylan seemed to approve!! Nice job. Very enjoyable. Thanks for the upload.

[@SmithMrCorona]

And here I thought it was a product of The Ministry of Pac-Man Chairs. . .

[@RagnBoneBrown]

😂 that was my first thought when I saw the logo too!

[@Boultonful]

liked your chair conversion, you showed a webbing stretcher at the beginning, Now a chap with your skills could easy make one, it would come in handy for future projects. I made my own over 50 years ago, it still comes in useful frome time to time. keep up the good work.

[@theopiner402]

I remember watching your shed build years ago, you have come a long way, Keith. Good job.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks!

[@angelaarena5208]

Awesome job I’m glad you brought them it’s sad to see gorgeous chairs that old been thrown away, if people would only take the time fix them up and sell them or keep them there wouldn’t be so much land fill.👏🇦🇺

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@ronnakeil3313]

Nice

[@andytyrrell62]

You're not wrong regarding the price these chairs will bring Keith, I just purchased two similar chairs on Ebay for £35. The difference between yours and the ones I purchased is that yours are refurbished and the others not, yet the others were about 30 years older. Anyway there ended up being a problem with the order and I got a refund. I would love to buy these chairs off of you, mainly because the story of the CC41 means they would fit perfectly in my reclaimed/industrial/slightly steampunk themed living room that I have just finished. The only thing putting me off is the pale fabric. Had you used a red or tan leather then I would definetly be taking a Norwich detour from my journey back to Grimsby from London on Sunday.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Cheers Andy. It’d be a quick job to re-cover them again so if you’re interested drop me an email and we can see if we can sort something out. I’m probably going to hold on to them until after Christmas though as we have people coming over so the extra seats will be useful !

[@NJ-zi9lr]

CC41 chairs like these deserve authentic restoration I reckon. Some serious design and a fascinating history.

[@infinity.....000]

I liked this video of yours.

[@elizabethamizdail7939]

Nice.

[@Yusufmasron]

interesting fact about the CC41, and for that reason i think the value should worth more of just an ordinary chair

[@hansdegroot8549]

Great makeover and interesting background story. Thanks for sharing. It's a pity that many things end at the dumpster because it's time consuming, and therefore expensive, to restore them New is much cheaper (but will fall apart in 5 to 10 years). These ones will hold up another 70 years or so.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Yes, very true. They are very well made and I’m actually tempted to keep them now if I can find somewhere to put them!

[@yellerbellyworkshop]

Great job dude... keep up the fantastic work👍

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@dlamb2840]

Keith I absolutely understand why you need patreons !! You are providing a fantastic service and entertainment for MANY followers. I am not a patreon(yet). I follow Gosforth handyman, Peter Millard,James’s ManCave, Poultry People and many more. I simply can’t afford to pay for them all. I wish I could! I would.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you! And no worries. I don’t want people to feel obliged to contribute at all, it’s really just for those who can afford to and want to support 👍

[@dlamb2840]

Rag 'n' Bone Brown I will become a patreon as soon as I am able to. You’re channel is The one that I follow most closely. I really like your approach. It seems like the approach “real ,normal” guys would employ. Great informative stuff. Thanks.

[@torque8899]

Yeah gotta agree with a previous commenter, still my favourite wood worker to watch. You an jimmy diresta are just really down to earth an practical without being boring. Too many woodworkers are either OTT or boring as f*%ck.

[@merlingallagher4484]

As having a business myself, I can tell you that invested hours is not equal to the the end-price. Just see it as some extra pocket money but mostly it is good for spreading your name out (so basically it is just marketing) Sometimes you also have projects that you just enjoyed somehow. End of the story, I really don't always calculate my hourly rate with all my projects. hope this helps. nice repair project!

[@janerhodsndergard8775]

As a professional upholsterer I must admit I cringed a little. But not the worst job I have seen here on KZbin. Next time maybe use a thin plywood, it can be pressed down to follow the curve, if you cut the right way. Love your videos.

[@robjhurst]

Good work! If you want to use webbing next time, make your own stretcher tool. Super quick and easy to knock up your own 👍

[@hizo64HH]

That was the sharpest butter knife I've ever seen. #pineappleshorts

[@coalitionofrob436]

Not the shorts again! Did I miss them?, didn’t see in the video

[@MrBez007]

great job Keith, they look really cool. I read about the controlled commodity thing in a woodwork mag recently, not sure if it was the woodworker or good working, found it really interesting.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Yeah I’ve read a bit online and I always find it interesting to find out the history of the things I work on. They’re so well made! Tempted to keep them actually!

[@pennypeberdy7001]

Great video. A big help to me as I want to re-cover 4 of these chairs. Incidentally their design is identical to these two of yours! Although they don't have that CC41 mark.🙁

[@63256325N]

I couldn't for the life of me figure out what you were talking about with the "rebate" then it hit me.... "rabbit" ....when I saw what you were up to. It's referred to as a "rabbit" in the states in most cases. Nice result. Thanks for the videos.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Haha yep!

[@phildxyz]

Although the 'Utility' mark is associated with austerity, it also tends to signify quality. They were often made by top companies like 'G-Plan'. I still have some pieces inherited from my parents - they just last for ever!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks, interesting stuff

[@MoranGuyVideos]

Not everything is about the money. something you do it for your soul

[@cobberpete1]

Great idea to 'Rub' the paper to get the template shape. An excellent outcome. Maybe to apply some wax with 4X0 wire wool to give a smooth finish. Yes very hard to make a living on some items. I do it as a hobby (not my main income), so make just enough to cover costs but people still try to beat you down :( I hope you get a good offer

[@RagnBoneBrown]

I considered waxing but I’d be worried about it getting in peoples clothes if there were any areas I missed buffing out the wax. Would have been nice though

[@KoHcTaHTuHAkuMoB]

👍

[@animationcreations42]

The upholstery turned out great, although I think you could have gone with a bolder fabric just to make them stand out I reupholstered some bar stools that came with our house (the house was left to the RSPCA by the old lady who lived there as she had no family) with some red faux leather that I got cheap off ebay. That stuff is a complete nightmare to work with as it just doesn't like to go around the corners and the material itself has started to tear even though they barely get used. I think next time I'll be using some crushed velvet instead as it makes chairs look a lot more expensive than they are, and it's relatively cheap on ebay

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Yeah I went with what I did because a) I had it and b) “neutral” seemed like a safe option for selling them on - but I agree, if I were keeping them I’d have sourced something a bit more interesting

[@colinaskey9777]

Always good to see old but well furniture items saved from the tip, personally I think you paid too much for them,as they were in a fairly awful condition, but you did do a good refurbishment on them and it was a useful learning vidio,well worthy of my 5 ☆ rating

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you Colin

[@ksp1278]

A cool project for your channel and I enjoyed watching it, but you are right that it doesn't make business sense to do projects such as these. Especially if you consider storage costs whilst waiting for a buyer. I notice that you have a few large restoration projects that have been on your Etsy page for a long time. If Peter Millard and Gosforth Handyman are anything to go by, most people want painted MDF furniture. Lol.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Haha yes you’re quite right! I store a lot of things in the garage I am renting to store materials so that’s not too much of a problem but it’s not great to have a lot of large items sitting around gathering dust. They don’t seem to sell well on Etsy at all whereas smaller items do much better. I should start doing some more fitted MDF stuff though and try and get some business doing that as like you say there’s a market for it!

[@loriconnell5996]

How did you attach the pad to the chair?

[@sandman2651]

Problem nicely solved,it would be interesting picking up on you not being to sure of the kind of wood used on the frame by doing a vid on how to know what the different types of wood look like?

[@RagnBoneBrown]

I’m not sure it’s something I know enough about to be able to put together a video on it to be honest. I’m never 100% sure on wood types but I’ve learned a bit through experience. It’d be good if someone with more expertise than me did a video on it! 👍

[@sandman2651]

@@RagnBoneBrown Thanks for taking the time to reply hope you and partner have a great xmas

[@uknowulikethat4042]

nice work on the chairs, it's a shame to see so much stuff get dumped, you'll sell them for sure

[@michellew5934]

I have a question. I am recovering 4 chairs on a budget and only have the egg carton foam and no batting will this work in a pinch?

[@mrscalifdreamer]

Some friends of mine were staying in a motel while their house was being finished. The hotel was doing a restoration and I saw them throwing out chairs. I asked the guys if they would be willing to sell them to me. They said that I could have them for free as long as I carted them out myself plus it would have saved them a trip to the dump center! I was able to get 14 chairs home before they had to clean out the area where they were placing the old furniture. Now I have to clean them up and reupholster the seats...lots of work but these are really heavy duty chairs and I love them. I don’t have an air staple gun, what would you suggest instead? These are dining room chairs so just the seats need replacing.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

That sounds like a great haul!! I’ve had a few electric and hand operated staplers but they’ve not been good to be honest. The air ones work great and are inexpensive if you have a compressor. Maybe get a good quality hand operated one with good reviews as all the ones I have used were cheap and rubbish!

[@mrscalifdreamer]

Rag 'n' Bone Brown are air compressors expensive?

[@MoranGuyVideos]

which spray of varnish did you use ? how much it cost ?

[@RagnBoneBrown]

I get it on eBay it’s called Motip and works out a few quid a can

[@oreocarlton3343]

What is the traditional method of padding? Didnt they used seaweed? Those chairs are stunning btw

[@RagnBoneBrown]

I’m not sure but I’ve heard of horse hair being used! Thanks, Keith

[@oreocarlton3343]

@@RagnBoneBrown good thing about seaweed is that you can reuse it, you just have to wash it

[@allanarun9091]

Please do a video of making a 4string bass guitar from scratch at minimum cost please

[@virtualfather]

put them up for bid?

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Nice idea might do that

[@scottmclean6301]

Is this your main job now, have you left your job to focus on the builds?

[@edrowling8217]

He still works 3 days I think

[@scottmclean6301]

@@edrowling8217 this is something I want to get into 100% but the computer and camera work is jus not my skill base. Jus have to advertise other ways

[@edrowling8217]

@@scottmclean6301 I think it's much harder to get into KZbin than it use to be

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Yeah I’m still part time. I think it’ll be about 2 years or so from now before I can go full time with it, unless I can monetise things in different ways (sponsors etc) and a lot depends on if KZbin is still alive and kicking then!

[@scottmclean6301]

@@RagnBoneBrown not sure if sponsorship is worth it. Money wise I mean. KZbin seems to be getting stronger so sure it will be going in year's to come. Jus maybe more interactive. Anyway good luck

[@Mr_Judge_Benny_Hinn]

The chairs are not my cup of tea, but nice backstory at the end...well done on 70k..soon you will be making what DanTDM made last year (over 16 million!!)

[@RagnBoneBrown]

🤞