Does anyone use an automotive type of creeper seat for getting under their layout. I am looking for some sort of creeper chair/seat to get under the duckunder part of my layout. As I approach the big 60, it’s not as easy as it was in younger years. I have tried a lift up and a drop down bridge in place of the duckunder, but I have never been satisfied with the results. Only the duckunder has solved the issues of keeping the tracks aligned . Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, but I am not going back to any type of bridge, just too frustrating for me. I am just interested in the duckunder portion of the layout and have no need to go under the main portions of the layout, that’s what grandkids are for. Thanks for any help on this matter.
Gidday, A link to a recent similar thread…
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/218319.aspx
Looking closer at your wants how about something like one of these…
http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/creepers-seats/mechanics-roller-seat-3338.html
While not sure about costs purchasing individual wheels, looking at your bio ,perhaps custom building your own to suit Your requirements may be the best in the long run.
Cheers, the Bear.
I have a similar situation with a duckunder across a doorway opening into my train room. The top of the duckunder section is approximately 56" off the floor, the bottom of the duckunder is approximately 48" off the floor and the duckunder is only approximately 8" wide. To facilitate getting under this duckunder, I bought a cheap desk chair with rollers and arm rests from Office Max on sale several years ago for around $30-40. It has adjustable height and the arm rests make it easier to push off the chair with your arms when getting up from the chair. I strongly recommend the arm rests! I also use it as a work chair when doing work under the layout, like wiring. This is when the height adjustment becomes very useful.
You might want to check used office furniture stores in your area for good prices.
I strongly recommend a chair with plastic casters. Black rubber casters will put black marks on your floor if it has a painted surface.
Bob
I have two different chairs made by the same company. Big Red. You can find these at automotive stores like Advanced Auto or Pep Boys. But there are a few things you should consider. The height of the layout for one. You can adjust one of the chairs (someone posted a link for both), but depending on the height of the layout and your height, it might not be a good fit. I can’t use them. I’m 6’3 and my layout is only 40" high. Also weight comes into play. The max weight for most of these chairs are 250. I’m close to that and I have gone through a few of them. LOL I use them for other things around the house. And of course the flooring that you have will come into play. They do have wheels. These might make it hard on your back as well. I take a nice cushion from a chair and sit on that when I;m underneath the layout.
JC
The mechanics roller chairs look pretty good, I wonder how they would work with two of them bolted together back to back. Might be someones answer to their needs and at reasonable price also. Jim.
I use an inexpensive office chair. Pull the back locking pin and you can lean back. My layout it 44" high from the bottom to the floor; letting the chair all the way down is just the perfect height.
I’m adverse to spending more money than necessary. The picture below is indicative of that philosophy.
The creeper was from Harbor Freight ($9), and a mistake. I used some scrap lumber to reinforce the frame, after it broke, and new casters, after they broke. I applied an adjustable back rest. In short I could have built the whole thing out of scrap and a set of casters for not much more than Harbor charged.
The roll around stool is my tour de force. A five gallon bucket, scrap of foam, scrap of cloth (wife sewed) and set of casters, [:-^]
The step stool I whipped up, out of scrap book case material from one of my jobs.
Scrap is good. [swg] Some of my scrap came from the cookie cutter off falls.
Have fun.
Lee