Man refuses to pay $1,244 for a ‘chair’ so re-creates his own with a 3D Printer
The creator, Morley Kert, takes on an ambitious project to 3D print a designer chair, specifically the Magis Spun Chair, which retails for around $1,000.
The goal is to create a version of the chair for much less, aiming to keep costs way under. Inspired by the chair’s unique design, the creator initially assumes it was 3D printed, but later learns it was made using rotational molding.
Despite this, he remains determined to 3D print his own.
The journey begins by seeking access to a large 3D printer. The first attempt involves collaborating with YouTuber “3D Printing Nerd” (Joel), who has a giant printer.
Unfortunately, technical issues with the machine make it unavailable for the project. Undeterred, Morley continues his search, posting in online 3D printing communities in the hopes of finding a suitable printer.
After weeks of waiting without success, he recalls a previous connection with Gabe from Slant 3D, a company specializing in large-scale 3D printing.
Slant 3D proves to be the right partner for the job. Their print farm allows for the chair to be printed in smaller, separate parts that can be assembled later.
While there are potential copyright issues, Morley emphasizes that this is a personal experiment and not intended for commercial sale. He respects the original design but hopes that his project will encourage more people to purchase the original chair.
Creating the 3D model proves to be a challenge in itself. The creator initially finds a model file on Magis’ website but is unable to use it due to format issues.
Undeterred, he models the chair from scratch using publicly available images and dimensions. He even visits a showroom to measure an actual Magis Spun Chair to ensure accuracy in his design.
Once the model is ready, Slant 3D prints the chair in 64 separate pieces. They use filament for the process, as they didn’t have the raw PLA material needed.
The total printing cost comes to about $568, and with additional expenses for materials and shipping, the final cost of the project is $676—significantly less than the original $1,244 price tag.
Assembling the 3D-printed parts is where things get tricky. Misaligned pieces and challenges with gluing make the process frustrating. Initial attempts to glue the segments together fail, and gaps begin to form between the pieces.
Morley briefly considers abandoning the project but decides to reassemble it using a combination of super glue and epoxy, which eventually holds the structure together.
After filling gaps in the core with spray foam for extra support, the chair is finally assembled. Morley, despite his earlier frustrations, is thrilled with the result. He tests the chair and finds it to be both comfortable and functional, even managing to spin around in it as intended.
In the end, Morley is proud of the finished product, especially since it cost far less than the original chair. Though it wasn’t without its struggles, the project proves to be a satisfying and rewarding personal experiment.
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