Fiber Rush 10 lb Reel, 7/32 in, Kraft Brown

When you are seating more than one chair, a reel beats a pile of small coils. This is 10 lb of 7/32 in kraft brown fiber rush, kraft paper twisted tight into a cord that looks like natural cattail rush, wound on one reel for chair shops, restorers and anyone weaving a set.

7/32 in is the coarsest size we stock. Each wrap covers more of the rail, so a seat fills quickly, and the bold, rope-like texture suits larger chairs, rockers, porch and farmhouse chairs, and benches. On a small or delicate chair it can look heavy; there, a finer size from our 2 lb coils is the better match.

Working from the reel:

• Set the reel on a dowel or broom handle so it turns as you pull. The cord comes off without twisting or kinking.
• Cut lengths you can handle comfortably, and join them with a square knot hidden inside the seat between the layers.
• Weave it dry, pull every wrap tight and pad the pockets with offcuts or cardboard as the seat fills.
• Seal each finished seat with shellac or a water-based finish to help it resist wear.

With 10 lb on hand, every chair in a set gets rush from the same reel, so the seats match. Store what is left dry, covered and out of direct sun between jobs.

Pick the reel when 7/32 in is right for your chairs and you have more than one to seat. To check the size, count the strands across 2 in of the rail on an old seat and divide by two. About 4 1/2 per inch means 7/32 in, and this reel is the match. About 5 per inch is 6/32 in and about 6 is 5/32 in; for those, use our 2 lb coils.

An average seat takes about one 2 lb coil's worth of rush and larger seats take more, so a 10 lb reel seats roughly three to five chairs, depending on their size.