Caning, the chair type

[john k]

Was off looking at tools in an antique shop, wife called me over.   She had spied a set of six pressed back cane bottomed chairs.  Price was right, even with all of them needing new caning.  Found a good website with walk through instructions for re-caning, but if anyone here has recaned chairs, feel free to offer basic tips.   The chairs don't even need refinishing, and come to find out we knew the lady who's home they came from. 

[scottg]

You won't believe how easy it is John!!
  Order your cane and spline plus extra, and if you don't have a long blade 1/8" chisel, get one of those too while you are at it. Whoever is selling you the cane will have them available.
 
 Put the cane on to soak. Warm water.
 Chisel out the old spline and remains and clean up the channel while you wait.

 Brush wood glue into the channel with a small brush. It does not take much so don't worry if its a perfect bead.
 Lay your piece of cane over the opening and take a small soft wood block and a hammer and pound in the spline.
  It stretches the cane as you work and besides the stuff shrinks as it dries anyway.

  If you screw up even the first one it will be a miracle. (you did get a little extra right??)
But they will go fast and easy from then on.
  yours Scott

[BruceS]

Does the seat have a dado around seat hole or is that perimeter lined with a bunch of holes ?
The difference between installing a prelaced  matt and hand lacing are two totally different jobs.

[john k]

These chairs have the mitred groove, have the pre made caning mat coming.   Not ready to lace in a full seat yet, but think there is one of that type in the barn.  When I get done with the six, have two rocking chairs needing help.  Something about a solid quarter sawn golden oak rocker, especially if the thrift shop ladies are practically giving it away because the seat is ruined.   Never one to not run headlong into new territory, I bought them both!

[scottg]

Oh, I just assumed woven cane.  No way was I even considering hand weaving!
I've had a lot of chances to start hand weaving cane.
 Doesn't look like much fun to me.

  Setting fabric in a groove though? That's almost kind of fun. 
At least parts of it are fun and its not very hard to do so its kind of rewarding.

 About like rolling new screen fabric into the patio door screen, after the dog ripped up the old stuff.
 When you finally get to it, its pretty easy and almost foolproof and reasonably satisfyin.
Chairs are even better than that.

Oh PS you have to make you a little wedge of wood to knock down the spline. Something comfortable you can tap with a hammer to drive it in. 
 It doesn't take much. I never even made a permanent one. Just a scrap.   I expect even softwood would work.   
cheers
  yours Scott