This Chair Took Adam Savage Two Years To Make!

Adam Savage grabbed an Emeco 1006 Navy Chair—the iconic WWII-era aluminum seat—and set out to shave off ounces by drilling thousands of holes in its frame. What seemed like a straightforward “lighten it up” experiment morphed into a two-year obsession as he refined hole patterns, tackled tool challenges, and chased a perfect balance of form and function.

Along the way he documented every misstep and breakthrough for Tested’s YouTube channel, linking to the chair’s history on Wikipedia and a deep dive from 99% Invisible. The result? A surprisingly elegant—and astonishingly lightweight—twist on a classic design.

Watch on YouTube