Hi,
Slowly but surely I'm upgrading my little set-up as I get more and more into this Glass Thang (OK total obsession ;D )
Anyway next on the list is something to sit on that doesn't cause me to seize up after half an hour.I'm currently using a dining room chair but my new bench is higher than the workmate I was using so I'm finding myself reaching up at an uncomfortable angle which gets really tiring after a bit and isn't the greatest view of the flame either.
So what do you guys use?
At the mo I'm looking at either a bar stool (no arm or back rest) or an office chair that can be adjusted to a decent height.
So any examples or recommendations would be very happily received.
Thanks,
Rob.
Stool ;D Easily kicked away if need be.
I have an "office" chair that's on wheels so I can scoot over to the kiln! My kiln isn't far away but I got fed up having to keep getting up and down!
I was wondering that myself, I got an office chair recently as I thought it would be more comfortable, but am getting backache more now.
Does anyone know if there is an optimal height to be seated at?
I sit a little lower on mine - but I'm the same at work. I think it's because I'm tall and don't like to be slouching over my desk.
At the torch I do tend to lean forward a lot, but when I have encasing to melt in I do tend to sit back against the backrest!
I had my bench setup before I started lampworking, and at a height it is comfortable to stand to work at. I inherited a drum stool from DH, which suits me fine, as I tend to stand for much of the time (also suffers a bit from weak back). I tend to sit down only when doing detailed stuff and need to steady my arms.
crikey - so for most of your torching you stand!!!
I have adjustable office chair with wheels. If I am having a longer session, I change the height of the chair a little (1-2 cm up or down), so my position changes a little too and the back is not so stressed. I drink a lot (of water...) when making beads, so I have to make a short walk (to loo) now and then. I also changed the place of the torch and kiln, so it is not so easy just put the beads to the kiln, I have to turn around and change the position.
space is tight in my workshop so I have an office chair so I can spin to get in and out of the space and because it is hight adjustable it does for myself and Emma and Rachael because we are all different hights but I need a bigger work shop as 3 can't fit in very well and every time I go out they follow now (one got hooked on the lamp at a resent open workshop and the other has been asking for ages for a lesson).
The chair will also be ace when I finally get my work bench built and save up for the kiln which will sit behind me, so I will not have to stand but just turn round in the chair to put beads in the kiln, its all planned except for finance?
I use an office chair too. Even at the full height it is a bit low so I sit on a thick foam cushion squab. As others have said it is handy, especially in a small space, to be able to wheel it about. If you do go for a chair try Freecycle or the local tip. I got mine in the bit where they recycle furniture for a fiver - perfect condition too ;D The blokes there reckon gthey get a lot of office chairs.
Quote from: Dendrobium on September 15, 2009, 02:48:08 PM
Does anyone know if there is an optimal height to be seated at?
You should be seated with everything at right angles and your feet flat of the floor. So no slouching!!
I have an office chair with adjustable height and arms and back. (and I still slouch)
The best thing I found for sitting more upright was point the torch more up right, stops me from bending over it to see what I'm doing.
I stand... bought myself a high stool because my bench is high .. but I don't use it except as a frit storage area ;D
The important thing is to take regular breaks. Even just sitting back and rolling your shoulders between beads helps, but you should be getting up at least once ever half hour.
(Has had to study ergonomics in the past - can you tell? ::))
QuoteQuote from: Dendrobium on September 15, 2009, 02:48:08 PM
Does anyone know if there is an optimal height to be seated at?
You should be seated with everything at right angles and your feet flat of the floor. So no slouching!!
I have an office chair with adjustable height and arms and back. (and I still slouch)
ah, that explains it! I am planning a little re-organisation of my workspaces as I try and get rid of all the junk and stuff I am surrounded with. At the moment I have hardly any foot space when I sit
Quoteyou should be getting up at least once ever half hour.
::) humm, I think it's quite a bit longer between some of my breaks ::) I shall have to stop more!
I have just bought a draughtsmans chair from a second hand shop. It goes higher than a normal office chair but it doesn't have castors, which I thought might be a problem.
But no.
Because it swivels I can get off it easily to reach my kiln, and because it goes up and down I can change the height according to what I am doing and how near I need to be to see what I am doing!
It does it for me.
J.
Quote from: nettyP on September 16, 2009, 09:42:50 AM
I have just bought a draughtsmans chair from a second hand shop. It goes higher than a normal office chair but it doesn't have castors, which I thought might be a problem.
But no.
Because it swivels I can get off it easily to reach my kiln, and because it goes up and down I can change the height according to what I am doing and how near I need to be to see what I am doing!
It does it for me.
J.
Hadn't thought of one of those,seems like it could be the best of both worlds.
Thanks everyone for your input,it's been really helpful,
Rob.
Because I often had stiff neck and back from working over a desk for making jewellery or torching I treated myself to a saddle stool which is shaped like a horse riding saddle, but you can tilt the angle of the seat and adjust the height to suit. it also has castors so you can zoom around. Ergonomically this means that you always sit with straight back (or thats the idea). Check out Beautelle where I ordered mine from for info. not cheap, but my back has never been sore since and I justified the cost by saying my daughter can use it for her piano practice!
Maggie ;)
They look really cool!! Your right though - pricey.
Maybe I should dig out my old H&S manual with the spiderman diagrams in and scan them in. (Also the invaluable advice not to drive with your laptop on your knee and attempt to surf the net...)
You know it;s interesting, I bought Passing the Flame last week and Corina talks about the height of her torch in relation and the difference it made when she made it higher. It's give me good reason to re think my torch position
Quote from: Maggie on September 25, 2009, 11:43:04 PM
Because I often had stiff neck and back from working over a desk for making jewellery or torching I treated myself to a saddle stool which is shaped like a horse riding saddle, but you can tilt the angle of
Maggie ;)
I am a Dental Nurse and we use Saddle seats, before we got them both Dentist's had back niggles but now all gone. These ones you have found seem a good price as the ones we use start at £500 each. I am in the middle of designing a shed, so I think I will now be looking at these as £500 was outside my budget.
I have been tot their web site and some of them are 140.
Prices at the bottom
http://www.beautelle.co.uk/water/ergonomic%20posture%20saddle%20stools.htm
'fraid I stand up all the time - I have an office chair I put a drawer of glass on it ;D ;D