I actually do stuff the easiest way I can. But work CLEAN... For e.g I hand polished the wheel rims with a cloth and some metal polish. I polished the stainless bolts on an old grinder/polisher.
This is an old £15 polisher/bench grinder. And a bolt held in a drill. I woldnt dream of fitting a NON polished bolt! And greased too. Since stainless "grabs" otherwise. Then assemble stuff with attension to detail that chairs like toms, or production line stuff just dont have/or do.
Its just a case of doing stuff properly rather than the assembled on a farm look. To me that matters. Because I know its put together right. I dismantle new standard chairs like the Salsa. So I can rebuild it with the correct "fit" and correct bolts, greased where required, loctite where needed, and polished and fine tuned where needed. With better bearings, better more accurately fitted (machined) spacers, etc.
Its just time. And care. Using the simplest tools. And external welding at the college (I add a few tokens to the tea fund) if needed since welding when paralised and sat isnt wise. I do enough damage with burns just using grinders, soldering etc.
I would like a tig. But without legs to operate trigger, or feeling to know when I am on fire its unwise!
Polishing stainless bolts.
Drill, and old grinder with polishing mop.