My daughter and I were playing in the living room when she lost her balance and fell onto our Ekornes Vegas Stressless Recliner. Her arm snapped, not my daughter’s but the chair’s. The child was fine, a little sore in the middle, but otherwise fine. The chair not so good, it had a longitudinal crack from the front middle to the back outside. Stressless chairs have a 10 year warranty, but I was honest and told my story to which they said, no claim. I took it up a level with the same results.
I mention a 100 pound 12 year old girl falling onto a few thousand dollar chair, resulting in no injuries to the human but the chair suffers a broken arm seems odd. Soft spots of the child hit the arm. The physics of that tells me something is up with the chair. The impact wasn’t that impressive. The arm is easy enough to replace, being held in with 2 – Torx 30 head screws, replacement cost was right around $600.00. That mind you is for a 20″ piece of wood covered in foam and leather.
This chair squeaked when it was brand spanking new, Ekornes covered a new base under warranty. The local furniture repair team hadn’t worked with Stressless products at that point, I was invited to watch and assist the replacement. The chair is an engineering marvel, the precision and ease of assembly to the base when properly aligned is astounding. But I get off track, here we have a broken arm.
The leather comes off the part rather easily by removing the staples from the channel and pealing it off starting at the pointy end. The crack, held open in the picture, is quite visibly going right up the center of the grain, with a small knot near one end. The wood isn’t nearly the same quality of the visible wood, this is a soft, pine like wood. The machining is excellent, nicely contoured and finished. The wood seems to be a cheaper softwood rather than furniture grade hardwood. The physical softness of the wood can be seen in the staple marks. The weakness of this wood is a part of the reason this chair experienced a failure.
The threaded insert without a screw is not used on this chair, if it were, the failure would not have happened. The impact was near the front on the outside, which is the left bottom in the picture above. The mount for the arm is a steel bar that rides in the channel between the screws. The impact was about as far away from the mount as possible.
The break was clean with little to no splintering making the repair easier. I chose Gorilla Glue for the adhesive, and countersunk 3 deck screws to tie the pieces together. Gorilla glue uses moisture to set, it also expands a crazy amount. The foam is glued to the wood so minimizing squeeze out is critical. One side of the crack gets water, the other a thin bead of Gorilla Glue. That gets spread out to cover the area, without adding more. Then it was drive the screws into predrilled holes, clamp and wait.
Ready to clamp it’s back in one piece.
Here’s one of the deck screws installed and glued
Another clamping screw is part way down the crack from the other side.
Other than my pilot hole on the back side being off by a sixteenth or so, it all glued up well. After setting the glue was visible on the edge with little to no squeeze out. Hopefully the hidden side looked the same.
I’m not a leather worker, nor do I have the correct staple gun. The assembly process was pretty easy, slide the insides into the leather, easy does it, then massage it into place. Staple the middle of the long side first, then the 2 new middles, holding the outside line correct along the way. Lighting makes it look more bent in the picture than it is. The other side is wrinkled by design and simply needs stapled in place.
The repair went well, I’m excited to do what could be a $600 repair in a couple hours. I’m a bit annoyed at Ekornes for not covering this material or design defect under warranty, thus I took the time to post and link this. In my opinion, it was a pretty good hit, the chair should not have broke. Either better material or a 3 point mount would have saved this chair.
In this style of chair Stressless clearly sits at the top.I didn’t want to spend the money on one of these, but loved the feel. At 6’1 and over 240 lbs, I need a stable chair. I examined every similar design I could find. The competition was weak, in some cases the foot stools on thousand dollar chairs were held together with one undersized screw on each side. I couldn’t find any chair that looked like it would last for the long term. Either the base was weak, the mechanism tight in it’s travel, or sometimes fit and finish was just subpar. So I bit the bullet and went Stressless, I’ve have had 2 repairs in 2 years, stress less not really. That being said, it’s a great chair. Crazy comfortable. If you’re looking for this type of a recliner, be sure to look at Stressless.
In my opinion, considering what I’ve been through with them, Stressless Recliners are still the way to go for a comfortable long lasting recliner.
Nice article. My suede Mayfair style arm broke after 20 years. Encountered the same issue as this article though, Soft wood hampered by 2 attach points only. Im inspired to attempt your repair. Note, depending on use the screws will come loose over time, I’ve lost two and one of the main joint pin/screws.
I have a stressless chair.
The tray hinge which is attached to the tray broke.
Can you advise me where I can find a hinge?
Thank you
Marvin
Hi Marvin, A little slow on the reply, sorry about that. The only source I know of is the local Stressless reseller. A hinge is a hinge though, someone like Rockler should have something that would work.
Hi. Would it be out of the question to try to reupholster a stressless chair
Mine is quite old but can’t afford a new one. Thank you
Hi Ann, sorry for the slow response. I’ve not been checking this website for a while. I think it would be cost effective to reupholster one. Check around your local area, there are likely a few professional who would be able to do it.
Thanks so much for your response
Nice write up. I’m repairing an ekornes chair I picked up and this was helpful.
Thanks Otoro, they are nice chairs.
We have a Palliser swivel chair that resembles the Ekornes Stressless chair. The plastic swivel ring has broken but looks exactly like the Ekornes swivel ring. Where can I get a replacement part and any idea how to replace it if I do find one?
Terry, the only thing I can think to do is contact your local reseller and ask for Stressless parts. Pick a chair and tell them you want the complete swivel ring for it. Good luck to you. I clearly need to check this website more often.
Where can I get one of those Stressless star-shaped screwdrivers to release the main screw on the sides of the chair? Our seat fell off the rail, and we can’t get the screw out without that tool?
If I remember correctly those are a standard (well standard now days) screw head. I think it’s called a star, you should be able to get a set of them pretty cheap at your local home center. Take a photo of it with you.
Dan I’m from suburban Chicago and finding a person that can repair my 2006 Vegas stressless. I’m receivin aslidethat goes from the top of the chair into an hole with a large screw head…I’ve been looking at the u tube videos but I don’t know enough about the chair ….any insites person I can talk to who repairs them or is familiar with all the parts…I’m retired and I’m heart broken ….any thing will hep thank you Trudy Meister
Trudy, call a local reseller, they will know a repair contact, or just a leather upholstery person.
Hello Folks:
I purchased a pair of Stress-Less chairs and ottomans in August of 2007, the most comfortable ever. I love the chairs!!
However, I am sitting on the frame of the chair, on both chairs. During the years of use, I swapped chairs. Same issue. Now, I am not a large person, weighing in at 150lbs.
Also the backs have have pushed back which makes the experience, rather very uncomfortable to say the least.
Is there a repair kit to re-do the seat and backs if both chairs? I’ve noticed zippers where I could possibly make the repairs myself?
With being on a limited income, I could not possibly buy another pair of chairs!
Is there some resolve to my dilemma?
Thank you for your time in advance.
Regards,
Lou Hamel
Hendersonville, NC
eight two eight seven 75-two 23 three
Hi Lou, I don’t know of any, check with your local Stressless reseller, they usually have a connection to a repair person. Good luck to you, oh and I edited your phone number so internet robots won’t beat down your phone.
Further down I posted on another comment that my second hand consul chair’s seat core was broken (the foam) and when sitting in the chair I could feel the metal frame.
I took the seat off the chair (can be tricky!!!) Then removed the seat cover and I used “Gorilla Tape) to wrap the seat core in both directions. The seat will probably not be as soft as before but you will not feel. The frame when you sit.
Given that I only paid $45 for my EKORNES chair I’m happy with my repair.
Can anyone tell me if the cushion inside ever needs replacing. Is it a difficult process to change it out if needed?
Yes the seat core (foam)can break.i bought a second hand consul and the seat core was broken. I took the seat apart then using “Gorilla Tape” wrapped the core back into its proper position. Mind you,the seat may not be quite as soft, but it will definitely hold together much better, you wont feel the frame anymore.
I bought the chairs for $45 so definately worth the chance!
I have an ekorness stressless recliner and the wooden frame base has broken on the wooden Circle and on the right side arm support. Need to find out where to get new base or a repairmen that can fis this unit. I have had 3 over the years and love them and really want to get this one fixed
You should have a Stressless realtor within driving range. I’m pretty sure they all have connections to Stressless service folks. You can order the footrest wooden base part and clip on your top.
Hi… I need new foam installed in the seat part. How long would this take and cost? Thank you
Sorry Steven, I am not a reseller, just a consumer with skills. Visit Stressless Find Dealer to find a local dealer who will have access to parts.
Is there any instructions on how to remove the swivel ring from a stressless recliner? I tried prying the plastic clip but don’t want to break the clip. What does one go from instructions?
Hi Ed,
I don’t know of any instructions on that swivel ring removal. I know the extender snaps on quite firmly, I’ve not attempted removing it. They seem to keep their information closed.
Always a smile,
-Dan
A very heavy-weight cousin of mine sat on my Stressless chair and broke the wooden circle
ring at the bottom. Can get replacement parts for this.
Thank you.
Sorry Geraldine, I really don’t know. They have a website, Stressless that is, there is a reseller locator there. Resellers can get parts.
OUR CHAIR ARM BROKE EXACTLY LIKE YOURS DID EXCEPT THAT OURS JUST CRACKED FOR ORDINARY WEAR AND TEAR. AT A COST SEVERAL TIMES WHAT I COULD HAVE BROUGHT OTHER SIMILAR CHAIRS FOR, THIS CHAIR SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN SO EASILY (HELL, IT SHOULDN’T HAVE BROKEN AT ALL)
Same thing happened to our chair with just regular use by my spouse who is 5’9″ and 165 pounds. For the price, it should not have done this. I was very disappointed. I doubt I can fix it (I am not handy), but am interested in where you were going to send it for repair. $600 is cheaper than $3,000 for a new chair (although I would love to be able to fix it myself). Thanks for the explanation of how to repair.
Our beloved Ekornes Chairs were purchased in the 1980s or 1990s, and over the years the long screws have worked their way out of position in the chairs. The two “footstools” remain tight and well cushioned. My son wants to replace the lost connecters, screws, etc., and I want to replace the interior foams of the seat and back cushions. Is there a site where I could buy those replacements? We have LOVED these beautiful chairs over the years, and quite a few people have purchased their own Ekornes chairs after sitting in ours when they visited. The leather has held up beautifully, and needs no repair or replacement.Both chairs and foot rests have round wood bases that look like new. I can provide color photos and model numbers of that would help. My phone number is xxx xxx xxxx. I am just starting my search for those items after finding my Ekornes pamphlet that came with them. They are beautiful, elegant, and COMFY chairs and we love them.
Hi Ruth,
I’m sorry to say the only place I know of for parts is Ekornes themselves. They have distributers, or retailers across the country. Some of them have service people who visit and can order parts. I’d probably to to a local leather shop for materials. They are nice chairs. Good luck to you!
-Dan
Since you watched the repair on your squeaky Stressless Chair, can you tell me if the connection and tilt box under the chair is removeable? I have turned the chair over and squirted oil in the box, but because you have to turn it back upright, the oil does not seem to travel to the squeak. (Plus, the box is bolted to the frame and I am afraid of damaging something if I apply too much force to free the bolt. Or should I try loosening the bolt using a good socket wrench and an extension for leverage?) Or should I put plastic down, turn the chair over and drench the box with silicone lubricant and allow it to sit for a couple of days before turning it right side up? The squeak is very, very annoying.
Hi Dave,
I’m not real sure. It didn’t make a lot of sense to me, but replacing the base did somehow fix it. He tried lube with no luck. To me it felt more like the disassembly assembly process is probably what fixed it. It was weird and I fix stuff.
Good luck,
-Dan