The Fractal Chair

I have recreated a "fractal" chair based off a patent from 1913. Similarly to the "fractal" vise that I previously restored, this chair uses the same series of pivoting sections to fully adapt to the shape of someone sitting down. The original patent can be seen here: patents.google.com/patent/US1...
I used the original patent explanation as best I could to help design the function of the chair which uses stacked tongue and groove steel plates that interface with each other through a series of ball bearings that provide the movement. The design was fully realized with the help of / joshsfick who digitally created all the pieces needed to be cut with a fibre laser.
Once the sheets of 1/4" steel were cut, I could start machining and assembling all the other components. Overall the chair weighs about 150lbs.
Sitting on the finished chair is odd. It's comfortable in how it conforms to you, but not comfortable to sit on wood slats that can sometimes be too far apart due to their movement.
There is lots of room for improvement here. Slats that are less thick would help lower the pivot point of each, so that it feels better to sit on. More "sections" would also increase the comfort. Increasing the range of each "section" and making a version where the backrest could pivot as well would be very nice.
Overall this was so much fun and I will constantly sit in it every time I get the chance.
Wrenches, screwdrivers, and socket drivers are now for sale at www.handtoolrescue.com
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Podcast (with @jimmydiresta and Andrew Alexander) - anchor.fm/fitzall

[@HandToolRescue]

The original tool this is based off of is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3PIgJp9qcSijbc. *Be forewarned, it's too sensual to handle by mere mortals.* These are the antique replica tools I used in this video: www.handtoolrescue.com/ Behind the scenes of the chair making: instagram.com/handtoolrescue/

[@nicholasheath2473]

Paul from corona?

[@mattstroker3742]

The Buttpincher 9000! Now do the backrest too. And make them all soft and cushiony. Complete the task with the backpincher 9000!

[@trickywily2823]

Definitely amazing. Love the plastic hand

[@ianm7741]

Please help, the piece of music at the end when you try the chair is amazing, I can't find the name of it anywhere. Please can you let me know what it's called? Wonderful chair, thanks for the great video's.

[@danieldecker6396]

Cut square o ring for the seat slats

[@wrdougherty1]

Rule #1 of fractal chair : wear pants.

[@grilnam9945]

Rule #2 of fractal Chair Do not connect directly to mains electricity

[@evgenym9078]

А то яйки клац клац😂😂😂

[@AB-wf8ek]

The Nutcracker

[@rileyk99]

​@grilnam9945 what if I need a 3 million amp slow blow fuse?

[@noeraldinkabam]

I learned at the time Grease ran in theaters butts in satin skinnies should not be seated in rotan chairs. We are now decades later and I finally have completed my chair wisdom! Thanks to this channel and its friends!

[@danielprivate7442]

Patent clerk: what's this then? Inventor: It's a fractal vise that you sit on Patent clerk: what's it called? Inventor: I call it the Black and Decker Pecker Wrecker.

[@YogeshKumar-tk1sv]

All hail Uncle Bumblefork

[@sykoben]

pants are a must, don't get your balls caught

[@chrismsmalley2626]

Pen15 Nipper Nutsack Ripper 9000

[@mattmiller784]

It's like those Chinese handcuffs....only much worse.

[@ahvavee]

That punchline was to another joke. 🤪

[@googleyoutubechannel8554]

In a world without deforming surfaces, the fractal chair man is king.

[@Lamawalrus]

Underrated comment

[@peacenow42]

bean bag chairs

[@carlchong7592]

The Roho cushion would like to have a word with you.

[@misterikkit]

You won my heart when you clamped a piece of the recursive chair using a recursive vice.

[@christianclark2763]

I remember watching your old stuff and it was strictly restoration, no talking, hardly any context. I'm glad you've opened up because you are absolutely hilarious and definitely seem like the kind of guy I'd want to have a beer with. That hernia is no joke, hope you recover fast. Looking forward to years of more great content.

[@HandToolRescue]

Thank you!

[@maoschanz4665]

the old stuff has had hilarious subtitles for a pretty long time

[@idcidc1444]

I want talking in all the videos even if it’s a bit or just the end

[@saltycreole2673]

​@@HandToolRescue I'm partial to yowls of pain too. Makes me feel I'm not alone in my inventive lunacy. 😂

[@Nobe_Oddy]

I agree... the Cornholio shirt thing was friggin HILARIOUS ... especially because he acted like it was totally normal and everyone does it BUAHAHAHAA!!!!

[@GGov86]

"This is cherry wood because it's a chair" is a phenomenal pun. Also, the chair is incredible.

[@MegaEmmanuel09]

I missed that part the first time, so it took a reread or two to get it 😂

[@SenselessUsername]

My favourite part is that the subtitles write [MUSIC] each time some metal clangs together, which is... very correct.

[@infinitoCumblast-kun]

timestamp 17:20

[@whophead6837]

Similar to another one of my favorites "you call tell, because of how it is"

[@Gunth0r]

It's not just a pun, but a double entendre too!

[@EvanAndKatelyn]

That slow motion though 🤣👍 very cool project

[@heyimamaker]

👋

[@jarrodmaness5438]

Legends

[@csn583]

Resin fractal chair!!

[@tacosx2237]

I love how when you drilled those first holes the CC said "Applause" and then the bandsaw was "foreign". Absolutely the best start to a video beyond your intro

[@joshfick4107]

@1:33 glad to be apart of this awesome project! Can't wait for the next adventure.

[@alexfurst1397]

From a design and execution perspective, it is undeniably beautiful. As a useful piece of furniture, well, I guess we now know why none were ever commercially produced.

[@NotTheStinkyCheese]

doesn't that kind of apply to a lot of 'ancient' designs though ? Some of these may simply lack the technology and materials to make this practical (I mean ... imagine doing the same thing without the modern day tools ... ). And then there's the problem of converting the design to mass production, which is a new set of problems to solve.

[@lostonearth7856]

Well of course. Cities don't want you to use park bench for longer than 30 minutes and actually design to harm the homeless and people.

[@TheSanezu]

​@@lostonearth7856 In what country?

[@hannankruger4315]

​@@TheSanezu google "hostile architecture"

[@ludvig3242]

@@lostonearth7856 Based

[@svenbjorn9700]

Every aspect of this video was well thought through-the script, shots, the asmr. Absolutely top notch content in...whatever category this is. Chalk up another subscriber.

[@objektivone3209]

My 40-year-old bed base from Dunlopillo is very similar to the principle here. In fact, the principle was quite widespread for the high-end segment in the 1980s, before the waterbeds and the mattress construction with foam layers took over the bed market.

[@olliefoxx7165]

When you say "bed base" what do you mean? Is that what the mattress sits on?

[@robertallen4378]

The pivot point of the slats should be above the slats, so that when you push down on them the naturally rotate to the optimal position. They are kinda "over-center" as is. Love the idea!

[@faawks]

Was just about to say the same thing, they need to be underslung somehow

[@f87115]

Nice backseat driving

[@f_USAF-Lt.G]

That and put the slats on springs... 🤔

[@paulbouchard9521]

You could rebate the very ends of the slats by at least half.

[@sinjai6188]

​@@f87115 backseat driving or contribution to a discussion? 😉

[@travishays5277]

“The greatest vasectomy chair ever designed” - The cool tools you find are what first brought me to your channel but it’s bits of comedy gold like this that have kept me coming back for so long. Thanks for doing what you do!

[@Turk380]

i literally choked on my morning tea at that.

[@bulins]

You, sir, are my kind of nerd. I started watching you with the restorations, and I love the arcane patent builds. Thank you for being you, and please keep it up.

[@brycee123]

I really enjoy your patent recreation projects. Awesome.

[@alden1132]

You should attached a layer of leather over the slats. You wouldn't be able to see your fancy cherry wood, but it would help the slats move as a cohesive whole, as one continuous surface, while still allowing the seat to conform, while simultaneously preventing pinching.

[@hazza2247]

when u sit on the chair and it conforms, the surface area of the leather would need to increase so it would tear or stretch a lot

[@jankoodziej877]

​@@hazza2247 yeah, it needs to be done modern material, not leather. Basically a cushion.

[@McSlobo]

Those wood pieces could be taller and also wider, so that they would always be aligned upright with a help of few rubber bands going through. The holes for these bands should be long lines so that the band could move (not necessarily in the outermost panels). I also think one more layer of "fractality" and even narrower thin slices of wood would be better.

[@JMGilberto]

@@jankoodziej877 stretch denim? (it can be black, and will look like canvas)

[@tmmtmm]

I think the main problem is that the surface of the slats that you sit on is too offset from the axis of rotation of the last stage, and they are too narrow. This makes them want to flop over when force is placed on them, rather than pivot to be normal to the body. Also if they attached 'inside'/between the pivoting metal parts instead of 'on top' of them if would also allow them to be wide without obstructing the metal parts - may need an eccentric shaft to connect the two sides and allow the wood to still be on axis, or just use the wood as the shaft. I agree that in addition to this, some kind of flexible strap between the boards to encourage them to follow a continuous curve and be less independent would also help. Perhaps a couple of elastic straps stapled to the underside of the boards. An elastic strap may also help reset the chair to a neutral position when you get up.

[@BradleyRhea]

That is a most Streampunk looking seat frame. Fantastic work. The extra 4 unused holes could be used to mount a custom sensual Hand Tool Rescue logo. CNC cut out of brass, of course.

[@SonOfTheDawn515]

Arm rests maybe?

[@danielduncan6806]

Alternatively, they could be used to fasten arms to the chair.

[@ThaJay]

@@SonOfTheDawn515 Would the arm rests also need to have a fractal vice design?

[@oldfarthacks]

@@ThaJay The only problem with fractal arm rests is the potential for arm fractures.

[@ThaJay]

@@oldfarthacks Fractal arm fractures? xD

[@russofamerica]

This is a thing of beauty and it deserves to be in a museum one day.

[@quantumleap8888]

What a treat to see Cornholio since he disappeared in the late '90s. He must of been spending all this time developing his creative talents.

[@evgenysavelev837]

I am wondering if you can make the wooden planks to have their top surface to be almost where the center of rotation is for the smallest fractal pieces. Right now when you sit on the chair, the planks experience a big rotating torque, because the surface is far away from the center of rotation. So instead of conforming to the shape of one's bottom, they seem to want to rotate away. You might achieve this by either drilling a long hole in the planks to put the steel beam inside, or machine a groove from the bottom (which would likely be easier than drilling a long hole).

[@mickwolf1077]

i can see it, yes.

[@alexeikolokolcev3232]

In this case easier will be to make it in packs of 2 wooden rods fixed to a rotating sector. Looks like a shittification of original idea.

[@knightning3521]

yes exactly

[@Rumo82]

I had the same thought.

[@infinitetradecraft1837]

​@@alexeikolokolcev3232 Sektors win

[@AustinWF1988]

Cool stuff! You could try replaing the slats with rollers, and cover those with a "thin" sheet of rubber (which should extend slightly over the sides, helping prevent pinching), then cover that with an upholstered cushion.

[@flavourruling2162]

That sounds like a Walmart conveyor belt. Not as comfy as it sounds

[@kirbyis4ever]

The cushion itself would defeat the purpose of it's very design since its a deformative surface that your butt makes its own mold.

[@northernsnow6982]

​@@flavourruling2162Walmart conveyors aren't fractal devices. They are not the same.

[@northernsnow6982]

​@@kirbyis4evera cushion isn't rigid enough to make a difference. While it may lesson the effects, because it creates a single surface; it wouldn't be near enough to stop the device from working. It would be like putting a cushion over a hole. The cushion isn't going to hold up to human weight being ontop of it. Rather a human would fall passed the cushions position, into the hole.

[@kirbyis4ever]

@@northernsnow6982 it would render the device moot since a cushion does what the fractal chair does: deforms. And without extra steps.

[@curtisfugitt3970]

I have no idea why this video was recommended to me. I don’t make things, nor do I watch videos about things being made (usually). But it was hilarious and interesting and I watched the whole thing.

[@WildmanTech]

One of the first things I learned on mine was that the first layer of fractalness needed to have the pivot point above the butt-contact area. Having the butt-contact area above the pivot, as you did with the wooden slats, lends to a pinchy situation. Mine is actually quite comfortable, though not as beautiful as yours. Good job Eric!

[@maraz666]

Nice job! Sitting on it could be more comfortable if the wooden slats were on an L bracket so that their center of mass would be below the axis of rotation.

[@theskepticalnegativist1004]

Yes! They are a bit top heavy and wants to tillt over.

[@valdisvi]

And also that would have better self adjustment and weight distribution.

[@bzqp2]

This bothered me as well. It's not about the center of mass though, but the height of the plane where the forces are distributed (should on the bottom of a slope to self-center, not on top of it)

[@ShadeTheif]

Yes! The slats should just be combined with / replace the connector rod for the outermost semicircles.

[@jaredlancaster4137]

Center of mass matters less than the surface height. It would work best if the top face of the slats was level with the center of rotation.

[@phillipsmith2443]

I love that the first tool used in building the fractal chair is a fractal vice. 😊

[@jimmygriswold9258]

Amazing concept! I think the wood shouldn’t be on top of the semi circle. I imagine the ballast of a boat, it sits high and wants to tip over. Drill the length of the wood and slide the rod through it and then attach the semi circle portion. Or make another subdivision and instead of wood, brass rod. It rolls and no pinchy-pinch.

[@martin-vv9lf]

I was thinking the same. also, the chair differs from the fractal vice in that the large semi circles don't need to be nested within each other, each can , using a ball race for smoothness be arranged with the largest semi circles to the smallest from outside to inside of the chair. so long as the wooden laths are longer than the width of the posterior, then the height of the metal semi circles will not be an issue.Also, i would like to see a version of this made for a bed, because i have a bad back. we can build it, we have the technology.

[@MrThemetricsystem]

Easily my favorite part of these videos that I think most people miss out on are the closed captions during the machine work. Truly spectacular attention to detail.

[@RayTheViking]

"thank you [music]"

[@Klaproossje]

The sound of drilling:"Applause!"

[@operator8014]

I normally don't put up with that FOREIGN music.

[@JakobSchafferDrums]

HOLY EFF I JUST WENT AND SAW THEM

[@suzil7687]

Thank you for reminding me! HTR - put a clever reminder on the intro…make your cc work worth it! Oh, and you didn’t have an intro this time! I love your intro!

[@jamesbuildwise9141]

Congrats on making the heaviest chair of all time. This is one of the most entertaining builds I've seen yet.

[@The6426]

I enjoyed your sarcasm and silly jokes as well as the briefing and construction process. It was very fun to watch!

[@mccu0185]

I’m three min in and you‘ve already made me laugh so many times. You make quality videos my man, keep up the great work.

[@StephenRansom47]

Bravo 👏 Had a thought on stabilizing the planks of the seat. A guide cable. Drilled through each plank, counter sunk at each end. This will orient the plank into a curves.

[@kentslocum]

That's actually a good idea! It would reduce pinching, since the slats couldn't rotate too far.

[@woodworkerroyer8497]

"The laser cutter warped the pieces" *Proceeds to drop every piece, multiple times....

[@smokeebeefpv]

Amazing idea and execution. Well done, sir.

[@olliefoxx7165]

I admire your skill and ingenuity. Hopefully you are also inspiring the young craftsman of the future. Imagine what wonders they will create!!! Thanks for posting this video!

[@Arkios64]

I think having the wooden parts be 'hanging' below their respective sections' center of rotation instead of 'balancing' above them would help a lot with comfort. Also, I feel you; I'm currently waiting for the operation of my own hernia, which I got doing something possibly even stupider than creating this chair: doing another persons' job, because I thought it would be a good idea to get it done while there's time.

[@Turk380]

man, i was trying so hard to think of a way to overcome that rotation and I think you nailed it!

[@BCRVG87]

It needs to be in between the metal half moons

[@henryptung]

Either hanging slightly below, or be at the center of rotation (maybe just use wood planks instead of metal bars for the final layer?) with wider planks that "fill" most of the gap between adjacent sections.

[@tomtruesdale6901]

That thing is insane, overly complicated, heavy but oh so cool. Great job on building it.

[@Micro-Moo]

I agree that is it very cool and the job is great. There is another problem: this item is usless, apparantly incovenient to sit. This is a big and primitive misconseption that things should take the shape of a human body. Why? To minimize pressure on body? Again, why? Some elementary thinking should reveal that it is not helpful.

[@paulalvarez7602]

Man… you’re the best! I love the videos you make on the work you do!!

[@theMooly]

You are a true actor sir, I really do enjoy listening and watching to how you present things, well done on the work it's as great and amazing as your actorship! Love it!

[@mehere8299]

This is as if the fractal vice had a baby with the belt lacer.

[@mehere8299]

Also, 16:27: Good job protecting your forehead from metal shavings 😂

[@liger04]

I don't think I could've comprehended making something "dangerously comfortable" before, but now I can. Truly a marvel of engineering.

[@dakilangt.v.2180]

Hello Hand Tool Rescue! 🪑 Your recreation of the "fractal" chair based on a patent from 1913 is absolutely fascinating! The concept of using pivoting sections to adapt to the shape of someone sitting down is both innovative and practical. The fact that you used the original patent as a reference to design the function of the chair is impressive, and your attention to detail shines through in the final product. The use of stacked tongue and groove steel plates and ball bearings to provide movement adds a touch of engineering brilliance to the design.

[@jishan6992]

Amazing idea and execution

[@htownblue11]

This man is a gem. Just a treasure of past mechanical wonderment.

[@iamwubby]

This belongs in a gosh darn museum, dagnabbit! This is art. This is not furniture, this is art. And furniture. Furniture museum? Do they have those? Make one just to put this thing in it!

[@TehlItER]

The musée d’Orsay got something like that.

[@TheHoosierredneck]

I am so jealous……you are such an incredible craftsman…….great job !

[@quantumtripper]

You sir are a skilled craftsman and a weirdo at heart. We are of the same ilk. This video is hilarious and very well done. Keep it crispy!

[@brucewright5061]

I love the problem solving and humour. The only problem with the chair is that the slats are fractal in 2 dimensions only. To get real comfort (and extra pinching opportunities, obviously) each slat would need to be made from 4 (or more) fractal pieces. This would make the seat truly 3-dimensional (like peoples butts). The weight would only need to double or quadruple as would the complexity. :)

[@talesdemidioful]

tridimensional tiny structures that are affordable and reliable enough for a chair ? humm, i dunno, there is this tecnology called FOAM, it can be salvaged from sofas using a hunter knife or you can buy it like a regular person

[@josephwheeler1]

Please what the op suggests is ridiculous. What it really needs is four dimensional fractals. That would be a comfortable chair.

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

But people did have 2 dimensional butts in 1913....

[@brucewright5061]

@@talesdemidioful Well that's the soft way out.

[@brucewright5061]

@@josephwheeler1 I find it easier to approach this piecemeal. First figure out how to engineer the 3 dimensions before you break out the expense of a 4 dimensional chair (be that in $, complexity, weight, etc.)

[@juliebaker6969]

Flatter slats would roll less and tend to keep the flatter more comfortable side against you instead of rolling so you're sitting on an edge instead of a flat surface. If you're concerned about structural integrity, try making metal slats. The finished chair has a steampunk vibe to it.....kinda cool!

[@ShadeTheif]

There are chunky metal rods hovering directly underneath the wooden slats already, there is perhaps a little bit of structural redundancy…

[@juliebaker6969]

@@ShadeTheif Perhaps, but not EVERYONE weighs 150 pounds. That extra beefy construction may come in HANDY if someone over 250 pounds decides to sit in it.

[@joedingo7022]

@@juliebaker6969 if you used thin metal slats then they would bend under the weight of a heavy person down to those beefy rods, potentially further increasing comfort.

[@juliebaker6969]

@@joedingo7022 Thin compared to those 2 inch square wooden slats he used, not thin like made out of tin foil. About ½ inch thick should do it. Steel, or better yet spring steel slats 2 inches wide, ½ inch thick and 19 inches long would hold a grizzly bear without bending.

[@arronphilchavez]

0:54 *pauses* "Am I a real boy?" Instantly subscribed lmfao! 😂

[@alphagaming7812]

One thing I LOVE about your channel is the lack of music (excluding your awesome intro.) It makes your videos in my opinion the best restoration videos on KZbin!

[@a.p.2356]

I wonder what would happen if you tacked a piece of stiff leather or rubber to the top of the slats. It wouldn't move nearly as much, but it wouldn't kinda collapse in the middle either.

[@kennenandersen]

I was thinking one of those lounge chair cushions.

[@weeveferrelaine6973]

I was thinking a special-made cushion where the bottom of it has a ton of extra fabric between each button-point (to the max extent of each joint), and the cushion snapped down with the big metal button snaps, two to a slat. Then you could have a cushion that wouldn't get pinched, and could kinda "accordian" to the shape the chair took- I'd recommend to go heavy on the infill though, since the infill is going to get stretched and crushed a bunch, and you want it staying firm. Think on the cushion height, so that you could still feel the mechanism operating well.

[@tattoosteveneo]

Yes use leather with the addition of slots so that the chair could move inside the slots without folding down into it. Well it made sense to me 🤷‍♂️😂

[@tmmtmm]

Nice work. I think the main improvement would be to make it so the surface of the slats (the surface you sit on) pivots on the center axis of the last stage. If they attached 'inside' of the pivoting metal parts instead of 'on top' of them if would also allow them to be a lot wider. Currently the slats being offset from the axis and very narrow makes them want to flop over.

[@Rudmin]

What you are describing is a bed of hydraulic cylinders all connected to the same reservoir. The cylinders can all move freely, but the average has to stay the same.

[@Himechinachae]

@@Rudmin I think what he is describing is fixing the wood beams on the smallest fractal:s pivot so it isn't top heavy, and have it be wider since it doesn't have the same space constraint anymore. Idk though since I haven't watched the video.

[@TheMongooseOfDoom]

I think the final stage should be padded cylindrical bars. That would take it away a bit from the original intention, but I think it's a necessary concession because of the imperfection of any such mechanism.

[@reidboggs4344]

I was thinking padded upholstery and elastic bands between the slats to add comfort and avoid punching.

[@ChickentNug]

videos like this are the best part of KZbin

[@TechTalkTobi]

20:27 ... i like this honest and funny face when he answer our question :) - nice work !

[@Madlintelf]

Now that's a chair, love the content, your sense of humor, and your honesty, never stop being you!

[@ejcrashed]

Simply amazing, you are one of the few reasons I keep coming back to youtube, please keep being yourself, never change.

[@michaelbaker8212]

With all seriousness. You made Paulin Kunze proud. Amazing work. You made a dead guys dream a reality. I love your videos and especially your sense of humor. TY

[@burningdiamond]

gorgeous chair! That would be the perfect piece of functional art in an industrial interior design sceme.

[@mateob.g.1849]

17:20 “so this is cherry wood because, it’s a chair 🤌🏽” Can’t NOT like the video after that one, you sir have gained a sub

[@Masterman2020]

My only issue with this (besides the pinching and things which can be reduced by connecting the wood straps together with leather) is that it is only fractal in 1 dimension where as the butt would need it to be fractal in 2 dimensions. I don't know if that is even possible. But it is why soft things and not wood are now mostly used for chairs.

[@Mishn0]

It needs to be something like the mechanism used to align the mirror segments in the James Webb space telescope.

[@Algorhythmz]

I can't stress enough how much I dig your videos. You're a hard worker who does some damn cool stuff and you have exactly the right sense of humor, it fits my own like a fractal vice. I'd buy you a round in a heartbeat, thank you for always bringing us such solid content brother, keep up the great work \m/

[@drewvlong]

100% love this content. Really appreciate it.

[@thomasbitler8798]

I just got back from working at a shop in Nepal which had the worst drill press I've ever used. I never thought I'd be so happy to see a well working drill.

[@mikoro88]

3:02 Man! That vice is something else! Very beautiful!

[@Derek_Kalki]

Fascinating engineering. The most comfortable conforming wooden chair I've sat in used flat wooden blocks interlocked with rope, which I think required tightening on occasion, supported by a solid wood frame. The result was a perfect balance of stability and adaptability.

[@kirbyis4ever]

Like a rope bridge for your butt?

[@jasonford6607]

Like most of your content, this thing is *kind of* ridiculous. And also completely, absolutely, utterly amazing. I love your content. Never stop. Ever. I mean it.😂❤👍

[@The9220]

You're a brave man for just sitting down like that💪👍

[@andreavalentinuzzi8777]

simply brilliant!

[@charleskyler1928]

Fantastic execution. And now we all know that while a fractal clamp is great for holding material, using one to clamp your seat may not be the best idea. Well done sir.

[@DominusFeles]

Can’t wait for the full body version! And I’d also like to see it with round wood slats, dowels if like, with metal rings on the ends to reduce wear. Those could rotate freely and be placed closer to each other 😊

[@donaldduck9493]

Fractal bed to conform to everyone’s unique body shape!

[@Dan113842]

I came to the comments to also suggest dowels instead of square slats

[@garyt3hsna1l82]

beautiful craftsmanship the integration of the brass hardware is *chefs kiss* i think Ray and Charles Eames would have sold millions of these if cnc milling existed in the 40's and 50's.

[@markterrano7659]

What a cool project from patent to chair - and being adaptable; when live gives you grooves use bearings.

[@TheVwgolfmk1]

The brass on scale looks fantastic 😍 and no pinching means no teepee for your cornholio 😁

[@cariboocustomwoodworks6528]

Your content is what KZbin was made for. Fascinating, funny, wonderful.

[@Manifest-Best-in-Me]

This channel is by far the Funniest and well put together self talk/ sarcasm/ shop talk I’ve seen on KZbin. I thoroughly enjoy the humor and the content.

[@davewest6788]

Awesome build

[@MrMBSonic]

I only know this concept from scifi books, great work, really impressive. I would say with slightly different materials and additional analysis regarding body measurements, you have built the next generation of high-end seating furniture

[@joshuamaboea1834]

Agreed. I'd like it more if it was silent/quieter.

[@randomd286]

I feel like this concept was perfected in the beanbag chair. Am I wrong?

[@joshuamaboea1834]

​@@randomd286 Nice thing about the chair is that it doesn't have foam that flattens/wears over time. I imagine there's a lot of other maintenance though.

[@xaytana]

This is an interesting concept that could probably be improved upon. My personal first thoughts is to go an additional step deeper for finer variation and to pad the slats, possibly a slightly elastic cover similar to the sheet fabric that lawn chairs use. I'd also be interested in seeing this on the back of a chair, given variation in spines, could a form-fitting generalized spinal curve work using the same basic concept. Also, I'd be curious to see how the various slats follow the body throughout various postures, say going from feet flat on the floor, to a partial lift, to a full lift, and with a flexible back pivot how the slats would follow the body through various reclining angles; between a fully flexible system of the 'fractal' pivots, I want to see how a full chair made of them follows the body's shape from a proper sitting upright to a full lie down, with every leg and hip angle between. Furthermore, it'd also be interesting to see what this could do for neck and head rests, and the various movement the upper spine allows. Though at the same time, I think the variability could also lead to disfigurement over time, so much movement that it becomes a hindrance to having better posture; but I also wonder if something like this could be biased with springs to promote a more natural shape for the body, of course tunable due to variation from person to person. It'd be interesting, as there's more variation to people than just height (and thus things like scale of body curvature, specifically the spine, why adjustable lumbar is a thing) but also how people carry muscle and fat, not to mention individual proportions; personally I've had issues finding things that fit me correctly, as I'm tall, lanky, and scrawny, so I'd need a custom chair first of all, but imagine if a self-adjusting chair existed that not only comfortably fit me but also comfortably fit someone who is short, squat, and well filled out. At the same time, I think a concept like this may work better a 3D surface, as the body isn't flat. Though this wouldn't make this mechanism all that more complicated, just have depth compression along the slat. Similar to other things not fitting me correctly due to my body shape, I also feel like the stick-out of my spine is a bit exaggerated, any time I sit into a hard-surface chair, especially slatted (vertically or horizontally) ones, I'm always very aware of when my spine touches and how much discomfort it causes, I feel like my spinous processes are just abnormally large; which is why a 3D surface would be a better fit, as it relieves pressure from a specific area and rather distributes it along the surface. Though, cushions and padding basically do this anyways, problem is that cushions get hot; especially for someone with heat sensitivity and atypically high body temperature. Gel pads could be a solution, but they're an imperfect one, especially as a lot of them show atypical properties once they're warm, and really aren't as 'breathable' as marketing might tell you; sure, they may be a bit more open, but only along one axis, of which also doesn't see airflow, and even if it did you'd have to push air in to push air out as they're a cube with all but one side blocked, air cannot freely flow. I think the ultimate solution would be to use a compliant form as a 3D sprung surface, yet producing such would require a stupid amount of R&D work, even if the structure and materials are heavily borrowed from other sources. I just want a chair that forms to my body structure, promotes healthy postures throughout the ranges of sitting up and lying down, and has comfort and breathability. This strange little bench could be a stepping stone towards that, but inherently is complex and expensive to tinker with; though I might take a shot at it with other materials and a modified approach, at least before moving onto other ideas.

[@kram7917]

Yes, to all of the above

[@nilsdock]

I would argue that the back could be connected to the seat and basically be a copy, or rather the chair would be just flat when not in use, then you sit on one half and the backrest comes to you, this would allow you to sit in any position between sitting and laying down.

[@nickv1212]

A thin pillow attached by the corners would probably work perfectly.

[@awsomebot1]

touch grass

[@tommyhopkins6431]

hey man i've been independently working on designing a chair (and more broadly a healthier more modern workstation) with a lot of these considerations. if i ever actually make it, ill make everything publicly available and update this comment. but yeah, thousands of years of chair design and even herman millers best shit is still worse from a first principles standpoint than this fractal chair imo.

[@ejakobs9881]

Wow that's some neat engineering, and great presentation!

[@corthemurph]

I love how the big scar on the top wood piece is shaped like one of the fractal sections! looks sick

[@wild_lee_coyote]

I think what will make it more comfortable is to make the slats concave. They seem to rock back a forth a lot because the pivot point is so low. If you make the slats concave you can reduce that distance and make it so the slats auto level as opposed to roll to the max one way or the other. I think that will increase the comfort and also reduce the pinch potential.

[@sarchlalaith8836]

That's so cool. I can't tell you how much I wish I had a fractal vice. Because of your channel I bought an inclinometer, a bedrock hand plane, a combination plane and several other assorted old school tools.

[@MrNothinguploaded]

i can see it being mind-blowingly comfortable if the design was miniaturized and more parts moved to accommodate the person sitting, this belongs in one of those massage chairs.

[@lumgs2009]

Love this guy's sarcastic sense of humor. I'd love to have a beer with him one day 🍻

[@_Yep_Yep_]

A couple months ago a non builder friend of mine and I had a conversation about a wood couch, and something not too far from this is what I came up with. Wood slats with some ability to articulate and deform from metal joints and springs. I figured it would be a ten thousand dollar couch, but that someone could pull it off and make it functional, comfortable, and nail the aesthetic. Lo and behold, you're evolving a test mule in your garage:)

[@Steve-uu7yx]

you should upholster the wooden slats such that they cover the gaps, than the pinch factor is reduced. It would also look nice and feel more comfortable.

[@jwhite1016aol]

yes that was gonna be my comment as a high end furniture repair technicians opinion

[@outlawflyer7868]

That now belongs in a museum... very cool

[@pakalolobudz]

Sorry for your injury. Sick build dude!

[@jorgewemyss3994]

Man, I love your work and you being here. I suggest making the wood pieces concave, so they equilibrate in a point and do not diverge to a point where your valued belongings get endangered. Other way, you could have put two wood pieces separated in every last moving piece

[@iamthekoma]

Leather! Put leather strips to limit the movement and remove the pinchiness risk!

[@rubenrodriguezgonzalez3760]

Incredible work! It doesn't look very comfortable but the design is amazing and the result is very beautiful. Congrats!

[@Micro-Moo]

Agree on both parts. It is apparently cannot be comfortable, and this is great work.

[@travislee9396]

The world’s first steampunk chair. Outstanding work man.

[@Chaedron1]

I really do love the steampunk aesthetic! You can never have too many brass fasteners! I think one thing I would change is going from bare wood slats to crushed velvet over the wood slats and maybe some rubber between the middle slat to lessen pinching. I can see why this chair was never made, it wouldn't be very cost effective to mass produce. The best it could be is some sort of luxury custom item. But I think nowadays, you could probably make something like this with modern materials. Cool and fun video, glad I found your channel definitely subscribed.

[@ughmas]

One of your best videos of all time Eric, love the commentary mixed in, you should have your own TV show

[@gavinclark6891]

i laughed so hard constantly

[@tobydurrant4035]

I absolutley love your videos thank you! Favorite chennel on YT.

[@WahooNo2]

This looks really great. You may be able to make it more comfortable if you could limit the pivots with a tension like device like springs or Bungie cords that connect the first or second level half circles

[@jonathanfisher8435]

Absolutely love the old patent videos, have an easy recovery and keep up the awesome content.👌

[@JesusThineBeTheGlory]

Had I not seen you make it then I would have thought it was a 100 year old inventor chair. Brilliant! I think the brass was the perfect choice

[@dougmcfee8351]

It’s more art something any art lover would love to own, congratulations