Santa For Events lightweight portable Santa bench
To better support the clients for Christmas season 2009, Santa Walter designed and made a portable Santa bench that easily assembles and rolls into the venue. We do events and parties, and having our own bench or chair makes it bearable. It sure beats sitting in a stack banquet chair! Since there has been lots of interest, Santa Walter will be displaying the prototype chair at the Annual Santa Luncheon at Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel for the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas. Soon, there will be a full spread of photos of the chair itself in its travel configuration as well as being wheeled in, and then put on site.
The back of the chair is foam-core rigid box frame construction, which keeps the strength up and the weight down. The entire chair, with back and hinged leg supports, the Santa bench and cushion, weighs in at less than 40 pounds. It has a handle on the back near the top for holding it while the casters are in use.
As the best compromise between fitting in the station wagon or SUV, the back measures 30 inches wide by 62 inches high. It is made from 1×2′s ripped to 7/8 inch width to match the construction foam panels. Both the front and back are 1/8 inch plywood as skins glued to the wooden frame and the foam core. The ledger support for holding the bench weight with Santa and guests, is glued and attached to the rigid frame of the back. The two leg flange assemblies are hinged to each side. Once they open out, the Santa bench or Santa chair (the bench with arms) rests on the two flange legs and the ledger.
We tested it at several venues and made minor adaptations to the design to improve and simplify; however, there was never any issue with being able to hold Santa and as many guests and he could fit! The idea for adding the arm assembly came too late to actually build it to use. There will be two different seat options on display at the Luncheon: 1) Santa Bench (18″ x 32″ with a 3″ foam cushion), and 2) Santa Chair (18″ x 32″ seat with foam cushion with the addition of 3″ x 16″ arms). With the arms, it should be possible for two parents to perch on the arms with 2 or 3 kids in Santa’s lap for a family photo.
One important point: “It is a prop chair,” says Santa Walter. It is not an ‘easy chair’ for whiling away the afternoon, but rather, it is a good-looking Santa chair for posing with photos. The back is straight up and down for ease of construction and transportation, very like a Victorian chair. There is no problem sitting up straight! The 3 inch foam cushion makes a 2 or 3 hour straight-through session go well.
As soon as the glue and paint dries (the series of weather fronts has been chilly and damp), we will take some pictures to post. Since figuring out the dimensions and construction details is fresh in his mind, Santa Walter is planning on drawing the plans for anyone who wants to purchase the plans to make their own. Of course, if a good wood worker reads our description and sees the picture, it is possible to make your own without the plans, and you have our blessing and permission. The rigid-frame foam core is light in weight, strong, and can be made from materials easily obtained at a local building supply such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.
Santa Charles and Mrs. Mary Jo Claus and the Santa Bench
