How to remove back of a HON guest chair so can reupholster?

by Andrea Kane

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The seat is the standard bolted on. The back of the back (????) is metal and held on with bolts into a metal plate. However, I cannot see both sides of the bolts, therefore I do not know how to remove.

5 answers

Leslie on Apr 06, 2016
Andrea I looked up what appears to be the name bran HON and it seems it is an office type chair, that comes in loads of styles. You supplied no pictures so I do not know if anyone can help you.

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- Andrea Kane on Apr 06, 2016
  Here is the exact chair.
  
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- Leslie on Apr 07, 2016
  @Andrea Kane Andrea I cannot see the back. I am just guessing here. if you can see the bolts in the back just unscrew them. if not and the bolts are attached on the inside of the back cushion you may be able to pop the front off. You are going to have to take a chance and pry open that front cushion and see if you can see inside. There might just be 4 plugs like in a car door that you can gently pry apart. If that works I would try and devise an easier way to make the cushion for the back.
  
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- Andrea Kane on Apr 07, 2016
  @Leslie Thanks for the reply. I cannot see both sides of the bolts which is the problem. I am afraid that once I remove the two pieces, they will not go back together again. Your suggestion that I might have to make my own back is a good one. Let's see how long it takes me to gain the courage to do THAT! :) Seriously, it may be the only way to recover this chair. I like the chair as it is sturdy and comfortable but way too institutional looking for my bedroom. Have a good one!
  
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William on Apr 06, 2016
Check this out. Don't know if yours is listed. https://honready.hon.com/pc/Pages/DisassemblyInstructions.aspx

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Edna Langman on Apr 09, 2016
can you contact the manufacturer?

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Alan Anderson on Jul 18, 2016
I don't know if I have the same chair or not but I have been trying to get and answer to your question for some time. My side/guest chair has a molded piece of plastic on the back covering the bolts that holds the chair back to the steel frame. I finally decided to go for broke today. I gently but firmly pulled the plastic off. At the top there are two pegs that go through the wood back. At the bottom there are two clips, on on each side. Warning wear gloves. To avoid breaking the plastic pull as close to those fastners as you can. I now ave a clear vies of the bolts and the upholstery.

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- Andrea Kane on Jul 18, 2016
  Thank You Alan Anderson I will have to get the courage up to try and remove that back. Thanks for the warning about the gloves.
  
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- Heidi Martin on Feb 05, 2022
  
  Here I am almost 6 years later finding your posts - exactly what I needed to remove the back off of my HON chair. One comment - to pop the plastic out of the clips at the bottom, I used a long screwdriver to slightly open the clips. Also, the one plastic peg wasn't coming out - so the same screwdriver gave me a little leverage. Overall, the picture and description were spot on! thanks.
  
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Alan Anderson on Jul 19, 2016
Here are a couple of pixs of my chair. The two pegs on the plastic snap into the two holes at the top of the wood back.

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- Andrea Kane on Jul 19, 2016
  My chair has a fabric covered back. I posted a picture in a reply to Lesie's initial post. You can see it. From what I can see, if I can get that fabric covered piece off without breaking it, my chair would look exactly like your 2nd photo. I can see those lower brackets and a wood (wood grain?) under my fabric covered back. I am so afraid of destroying something but I do need to reupholster it. I appreciate these pixs you posted as it seems to be possible. I looked for manufacturer information and they only show how to disassemble for throwing out the chair. Again, thanks so much!!!!!
  
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