How to cane
Plain, step-by-step guides for pressed cane, hand caning, seat weaving and repairs.
How-to
Hand caning a chair seat: the seven-step method and size chart
How to hand cane a chair with holes: pick strand cane and binder by hole size and spacing, gather the tools, weave the seven steps, and plan the hours.
How to cane a cabinet door: shaker, slab and glass-front
Reface cabinet doors with cane: open the center panel, cut the cane 1 in oversize, soak it, glue and staple it to the back, then cover the edge with trim.
How to replace a pressed cane seat, step by step
Remove the old spline and cane, clean the groove, soak, wedge in new cane webbing, glue in new spline and let it dry overnight, plus common mistakes.
How to repair outdoor resin wicker furniture
Fix broken resin (PE) wicker on patio furniture: match strip width and color, cut out broken strands, weave in new strip, glue and hide the ends.
How to weave a fiber rush seat on a ladderback chair
Weave a fiber rush chair seat: fill the front corners, the basic corner wrap, cardboard stuffing, sealing with shellac, and 5/32 vs 6/32 vs 7/32.
Sizing
How much cane webbing do I need? Measure and pick a roll
How to measure chair seats, backs, cabinet doors and headboards for cane webbing, what to add for grooves or stapling, and which roll to buy.
How to measure a spline groove for a cane seat
Measure groove width with a drill bit, calipers or old spline, then the groove length and seat opening, and cut cane webbing to the right size.
Reed spline size chart: which spline fits your groove
Match reed spline sizes #6.5 to #11 to your groove width, test-fit before you glue, and work out how many feet of spline to buy for a seat.
Materials
Cane webbing vs hand caning: which does your chair need?
A groove means cane webbing, a row of holes means hand caning. How to tell, plus the time, skill, tools and materials each method takes.
Choosing a cane webbing weave: open, square, herringbone, more
Open, square, herringbone, diamond, semi-bleached, walnut-tone and PE cane webbing compared: the look, light and privacy, and where each works best.
Outdoor PE cane vs natural cane: which to use where
Synthetic PE cane or natural rattan cane? How they compare in water, sun, look, feel and installation, and which belongs on patios, boats and in bathrooms.
