RECALLed: fix harbor freight stool

Relieved notice of recall on our Harbor Freight floor stool.
Link to cpsc.gov recall RECALL page

Apparently almost 100 out of 500,000 units have broken. Under the seat there is a small metal disk welded to larger disk that seat bottom attaches to. Flexing can cause the 4 small welds holding disks to crack, ( Here hold my beer and watch this" Hey good one buba- take it back to the store and they'll get ya 'nother jus like it....). Seriously crap happens and usually at the worst time. If you have one of these you should at least look at it. Harbor Freight will refund or replace.

Well that's good when a company offers but taking back or contacting for ship label for a $25 dollar stool to me seems silly. Unless you couldn't fix or dont want to. Looking at the stool and seeing what the issue is realized I could fix it a lot easier with less hassle than returning.

Mine isn't broke (yet) so effort will be just preventative. If it were not for the powder coating fully welding disks would be simplest, but dragging out welder and grinder seemed like work. If going that far making some gussets would work. But not. Decided to simply add 1/4" bolts thru the disks.

Removed cushion 4 screws. Drilled 4 17/64" holes thru both disks. Screwdriver tip near one of the welds that crack and added holes.

Though I counter-bored the back side a bit, bolt heads protrude a little so removed about 1/8" from wood seat base with butterfly bit to ensure it sets flat.

Disks bolted

20 minuets later, Stool fixed. Well should stop welds from cracking or if they do shouldn't go tumbling onto cement.

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