Replies

1. 
   QCInspector | Oct 05, 2007 11:19pm | #1

   http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=57641&cat=1,250,43298

   Lee Valley has started to sell the supplies and has a book on the subject too. Perhaps it will help.

2. 
   oldusty | Oct 06, 2007 12:14am | #2

   Hiya shiker ,

                   I have been doing cane work for ,,,, hundreds of seats long .

             Basically you need to submerge / soak the cane in water . Most instructions say several hours ,  what I have learned is the narrower the groove the longer to soak . I soak mine overnight usually and have never had a failure .

      The risk in not soaking long enough is breaking strands while pushing it down into the groove .

      I use some wedges cut of Pine or Alder or something rather soft , and push don't force or smack with a mallet or hammer .

      I cut the cane just below the outside edge with a new and sharp razor knife after it is in . Then make sure your spline fits and walk glue in and up the sides of the groove , then lightly press and tap the spline in.Miter the corners where they come together.

     If the shape is curved or the seat has rounded corners , soak the spline for a 1/2 hour or so to get it to bend without breaking . The cane and spline are brittle when dry .

         Wipe off any glue with a wet rag and let it dry a day or so before finishing.

                let me know if you have any other questions

                     regards        dusty

1. 
   9619 | Oct 07, 2007 02:41am | #3

   Dusty,
   Great post.
   I also have two chairs to cane.
   How do I determine how widw (thick) the spline needs to be. How much narrower should the spline be than the groove it goes into? Thanks,
   Mel
   PS if you are coming anywhere near Washington DC, would you come over and give me a lesson? :-)Measure your output in smiles per board foot. 

1. 
   oldusty | Oct 07, 2007 03:31am | #4

   Hiya Mel ,

            The exact width of the groove is cross referenced on the spline charts in the catalogs . Most grooves are 3/16 - 1/4" but can range from an 1/8" to 3/8" .

      For instance a 1/4" groove may use a #8 1/2 spline .My chart is down in the shop but any catalog you order from will have a complete reference chart and all the cane sizes as well .

     Take a regular pencil and if it just fits exactly in each hole of the existing cane pattern (the most common) it is probably what is called 1/2" open mesh .

        The spline has a crowned or rounded surface in the top side and the curve should start at the wood surface and be a tad higher in the center of the crown .

      Also the spline is wedged shaped , it is widest at the top , still allowing room for the cane on each side of the groove the spline may not really be much narrower than the groove .

       Also the cane webbing as does strand cane has a top and a bottom side , slightly crowned and smooth on the top , flat and dull on the bottom .

     I've been doing business with a place called Cane and Basket Supply co, Los Angeles , calif .  for over 30 years and I know there are some closer to you but you will never find a nicer company to deal with , Google the name for the contact . some other suppliers as well have on line catalogs .

          head out West and we will have them done before morning coffee break then we'll make some dust

                            regards            dusty

1. 
   9619 | Oct 07, 2007 04:03am | #5

   Dusty,
   Your instructions are straightforward. I will get the width of the groove, and look up the needed size of the spline. Thank you for the info on Cane and Basket Supply.
   It will be a few months before I get to those two chairs. If I come up with any problems, I know who to call.
   Thanks,
   MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot. 

1. 
   oldusty | Oct 07, 2007 05:29am | #6

   Modern Master  # 9619 , (sorry)

                   All that said , imo the most important and often not spoken of much and most difficult part is the cleaning out of the old cane and groove .This usually takes longer then putting the new cane in .

   Being careful not to destroy the integrity and crispness of the outside edge of the groove is paramount .An 1/8" chisel with some back bone is good along with a sharp razor and a sharp chisel .Use the razor to break the bond on the edges if needed .

                                             dusty

                         

2. 
   9619 | Oct 07, 2007 03:17pm | #7

   Modern Master Dusty,
   You are a classic.
   Thank you very much.
   Thanks to you, those two chairs will be in showroom condition.
   Modern Master MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.