How to Fix a Broken Cane Chair

Locate the area on the chair where the woven cane is damaged. Run your hands over the surface of the chair if it is not clearly visible to the naked eye. Turn the chair upside-down and look for a groove in the frame that has wood spline, holding the cane material in place.

Measure the seat or back of the chair, depending on what side is damaged. You will be replacing the entire area if it is damaged at all. Run a tape measure from one side to the other and record the measurement for the length and width of the entire area.

Lay out a new piece of woven cane material that is big enough to cover up the area of the chair where you will be installing it. Cut the piece to size with scissors according to the measurements, leaving 2 inches on each side. Soak the cut piece in warm water for 30 minutes so it is easy to bend upon installation.

Pry up the spline holding the old cane in place with a flat-head screwdriver. Slide the screwdriver underneath the spline and pull it up by hand. Remove the old cane from the chair with a utility knife. Pull it up by hand once it is loose and clean the area where it was located with a rag. Wipe off any remaining glue and other debris.

Remove the woven cane from the water and dry it off with a rag. Set it onto the chair where the other one was removed from and set the new spline over top of it. Apply a bead of wood glue into the groove on the chair and push the spline into the groove with a flat-head screwdriver. Go around the entire chair, pushing the spline into place so the woven cane will attach.

Cut off the excess spline with a utility knife so it is not sticking out of the chair at any point. Scrape off any excess glue that has seeped out with the utility knife after it has dried up. Turn the chair back over and test it out to verify it works.