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Inspector Gadget Chair, Mark IV

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Wind Chair Mark I incorporated only the high rise wind block back extension. The extension fabric was made from a defunct camp chair, with pole extension sleeves and grommets already in place. The back extension works well in the wind, either for or against; back to the wind for chill protection, or facing into the wind to funnel a scant breeze swirling around my head.

Mark II winter version uses a piece of Ridgerest pad to keep my arse warm. The effectiveness of which is best noted when the day warms up and my butt gets sweaty.

Mark III desert and beach version incorporated a golf umbrella, to keep me shaded, wherever I choose to sit, even in treeless environs.

Those are all well and good improvements, but with only a single pole sleeve for hi-back extensions or umbrella shade on each side I had to make a choice; either sunbrella overhead or high rise back extension, which also provides significant shade protection.

The naked umbrella shafts and hi-back extensions using Eureka tent poles are essentially the same diameter, 9 / 16 inch. The interior diameter of a piece of 3 / 4 inch PVC pipe is just over 9 /16. Perfectly sized for either tent pole extensions or umbrella shaft. I had an idea to accommodate both the back extension and sunbrellas at the same time.

I dithered about how to best attach a pipe sleeve to the chair frame; machine screws and nuts, maybe cut out a reveal in the pipe for seating the head of a pop rivet tool. And, in eureka moment, realized that a couple of self tapping screws, through the PVC pipe and self-threaded into the metal backrest frame would be easiest thing to try first.

Starting experimentally with an oversized camp chair that is on its last worn out legs, just in case this eureka idea proves a failure.

A 5 inch piece of PVC pipe and two 1.25 inch self-tapping screws. Drill a couple holes in the plastic pipe, a little countersink on the plastic so the screw heads sit flush and screwed self threading into the backrest frame.

P7201013 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

Dang, that took only minutes and is rock solid as a sleeve for either the backrest poles or the umbrella shaft. Or, more importantly, both at once.

P7201014 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

Oh heck yeah, a length of 3 / 4 inch PVC pipe is less than $3, and I want a two 5 inch aux attachment sleeves on the back of every chair. One on either side, so I can move the umbrella side to side for best shade coverage while still using the high rise back rest in the original pole or fabric sleeves.

I am convinced. The usual production run methodology; cut ten 5 inch pieces of PVC pipe, bevel off the top and bottom pipe edges with a 1 inch tabletop sander, drill and countersink holes for the screws, drill pilot holes in the chair frames, seat the self-tapping screws through the PVC pipe and into frames.

Elapsed time to do five chairs, one hour with a beer break. dang that was easy.

P7201019 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

Eh, that is only four chairs. Daddy got a new sunbrella for his birthday.

53 inch canopy. BTW, umbrella specs can be misleading; they commonly list the measurement across the top of the canopy, in this case 68 inches. But the open diameter is actually 53 inches, still plenty big enough for personal shade.

Opaque UVA/UVB reflective material, graphite shaft, double canopy with vents for heat and wind escape.

Handle cut off (and, yeah, saved for who knows what, maybe the next time a porcupine eats a fishing rod handle).

P7201021 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

Pad eye pop riveted on for bungee tie down attachment.

P7211023 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

A little custom length bungee ball work.

P7211025 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

Schweet! That is a lot of back and overhead sun coverage and, umbrella porn three-poles-in-holes, still takes only seconds to set up.

P7211027 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

P7211028 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

Yeah, yeah, it is the freaking Inspector Gadget Chair. Now get your sunburned neck and thighs outa my seat.
 
If Inspector Gadget and Mary Poppins hooked up and started a family it would be this. Congratulations.
 
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Go Mike Go! I can't wait to see its hidden capabilities. Perhaps, a Go Go McCrea Camp Chair extendable fire bellows or the Go Go McCrea hookah pipe.
 
Perhaps, a Go Go McCrea Camp Chair extendable fire bellows or the Go Go McCrea hookah pipe.

I already have the extendable fire bellows, courtesy of the Pocket Bellows suggestion someone posted here. This wee thing:

http://www.pocketbellows.com/

That little thing really works. I bought a couple; they make great gifts.

I was thinking the next mod to the chair would be attaching one of those blue 2 hole yoga cup holders.

I just take the yoga block cup holder from the canoe and set it beside my chair. Actually under my chair a little, so no one kicks it when squeezing past the campfire circle.

BTW, I even received the rare stamp of wifely approval on the PVC pipe & umbrella chair mods. She asked me to install umbrella receivers on the shortie beach chair she uses on trips to the ocean.

Funny thing was when I was cutting and sanding the 10 pieces of PVC pipe I lost count and cut 12 of them. Mods to her beach chair took minutes.
 
Ha, you though I was done with the Inspector Gadget Chairs.

Never! I am still working on the solar powered massage chair with attached hookah and Silicone Sally Fujiko.

The Eureka pole ends slipped inside the ALPS chair sleeves quickly poked through the couple of thick poly thread stitches I put in the chair fabric. That is a nope.

P5280828 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

Good idea, poor execution and I freaking hate sewing. With that sewn stopper end already failing I wanted something more mechanical to hold the pole at height, but still simple. Lashing-hook and pop rivet simple.

P7241036 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

Positioned to hold the backrest extension at desired height in either the fabric sleeve or PVC pipe sleeves.

P7241039 by Mike McCrea, on Flickr

Nylon lashing hooks and strap eyes; both worth keeping some around as shop stock

http://topkayaker.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_133&products_id=425

http://topkayaker.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_133&products_id=137

The nylon strap eyes are so handy for so many things that I ordered 10 or 20 to start with, and then ordered a 100 pack. And, some years later, another 100 pack.

http://topkayaker.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_133&products_id=1061

It is awfully easy to use those in outfitting at 25 cents apiece.
 
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