You can buy damaged cane-bottom chairs (figure A) very cheaply at yard sales, then fix them up. Materials:
White vinegar
Hammer
Chisel
Flat-head screwdriver
Rubber mallet
Utility knife
Woven cane sheet
Seat spline material
Putty knife
Wood glue
- Dab white vinegar onto the spline (the wedge-shaped piece of wood holding the cane mesh in place) to loosen any adhesives (figure B). Allow the vinegar to soak in for 10 to 20 minutes. Then use a chisel to pry out the spline (figure C). Work from the inside edge of the spline to avoid damaging the finish of the wood. You may need to use a screwdriver to pry the spline from some areas on the chair.
- After you remove the spline, use a screwdriver and utility knife to clean out the channel where the spline had been pressed in.
- Cut a piece of cane-seat material approximately 3" larger than the seat opening, and soak it in warm water for 3 hours. Cut a piece of spline approximately 5" longer than the spline channel in the seat, and soak it in warm water for about 15 minutes before you begin attaching the seat bottom (figure D).
- Set the cane material in place, and press a small piece of spline into the channel at the front and back of the seat to hold the material in position (figure E). Then tap the material into the channel, using a putty knife and rubber mallet.
- Remove the pieces of spline that held the cane sheet in place. Lay a long piece of spline on top of the sheet over the channel in the seat, and tap it into the channel, using a putty knife and rubber mallet. Run a bead of wood glue along the seam where the material folds into the channel (figure F), and tap the spline into place with the mallet (figure G).
- Trim the excess material closely with a utility knife (figure H).
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