How to Convert a Floor Scale to a Chair Scale

It's fairly simple to convert a floor scale into a chair scale, which is ideal for someone who is disabled, injured or otherwise unable to stand on a traditional floor scale. Turning a floor scale into a chair scale is an easy and affordable alternative to purchasing a pricey chair scale. A conversion into a chair scale is more easily performed with a traditional mechanical scale, but digital scales can be used as well. The key to converting a floor scale into a good chair scale is using lightweight and durable materials.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lightweight nonfolding chair
• Digital or mechanical bathroom floor scale
• Drill or Dremel tool
• Plywood
• Jigsaw
• Pipe insulator tubes
• Tracing paper
• Liquid Nails glue
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Sandpaper
• Tacks
• User's manual (for digital scales)

1. Measure the distance between the chair legs and add 4 inches to each measurement to determine the size of plywood that will be required for this project. For example, if there's 10 inches between each of the chair legs, you'll need a 14-by-14-inch piece of plywood. The plywood will sit atop the scale surface and below the chair.

2. Use a circular saw, table saw or jigsaw to cut a square piece of plywood using the measurements obtained in Step 1.

3. Use tracing paper and a pencil to draw the outline of the scale display and controls in the case of a digital scale.

4. Use scissors to cut out the paper outline of the scale display and controls. This paper template should then be tacked onto the plywood that will overlay the scale's surface. Position the template in the location where the display and controls would appear once the scale is centered under the piece of plywood.

5. Use a jigsaw to cut around the paper template that was positioned in Step 4. This will create a window in the plywood for the scale display and controls.

6. Sand the outer edges of the plywood board and around the window that was cut in Step 5.

7. Position the chair atop the plywood (centered) and use a pencil to trace around the chair feet.

8. Use a drill or Dremel tool to create indentations for the chair feet. Use the tracings created in Step 7 as a guide. These should be about ¼-inch deep; the chair feet will sit inside these indentations to prevent the chair from sliding around when the chair scale is in use.

9. Apply a generous amount of Liquid Nails glue or similar glue to the scale top and put the plywood into position. Allow this to set overnight. To ensure a good bond, place a heavy object on top of the plywood.

10. Put the chair into position, placing the feet in the indentations. Liquid Nails can be placed inside the indentations to glue the chair in place if desired, though this means the chair will not be removable.

11. Cut sections of foam pipe insulation tube to fit each side of the plywood and be sure to cut the corners at an angle for a good fit. These can slide over the plywood edge to prevent stubbing toes.

12. Zero out the scale. In the case of a simple mechanical scale, there will be a knob on the side of the scale. Twist the knob until the scale pointer is at "0." For a digital scale, the method used to "zero out" a digital scale will vary depending on the model, so you will need to refer to the user's manual for directions on setting your scale to zero. Otherwise, all weights displayed would include the weight of the plywood and chair.

Tips & Warnings

• Use lightweight materials to make the scale easy to move and handle.

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