Chair Rush Caning Procedures

Rush Fiber

• Rush fiber is sold in 150-foot lengths. This is too long for the person weaving the seat. Usually the rush is cut into 30-foot lengths to make it easier to weave. All of the old rush is removed from the chair, leaving a rail on each side. Old tacks are often found along the inside of the rails; these are removed with pliers. Any repairs necessary for the chair should be done before the new seat is woven.

Front Triangles

• Most chairs are wider at the front than they are at the back. Before the chair seat is woven, a line is drawn on the front rail showing where the back post lines up with the front rail. This leaves a triangle on each side of the chair. The triangle portions are the first part of the seat that is woven. Rush is tacked along the inside side rail, close to the front post and woven over the front, left side, right side and front. The rush is tacked to the inside side rail, close to the right front post. This is repeated until the triangles are woven and the rush has reached the rear post.

Main Weaving

• The main seat weaving begins with the rush tacked next to the left back post on the inside of the left side rail. The weave follows the earlier weave except that it continues from the right front rail to the back rail, to the right side rail, to the left side rail and to the back rail. When the strand of rush is too short for a complete weave, it is knotted so that the knot will be found on the underside of the left back area. When the weave is half full, trapezoid cardboard pieces are cut and fitted between the top and bottom weave to add strength to the weave. A wood block and mallet are used to drive rush toward the leg posts to keep the weave tight.

Figure-Eight Weave

• Eventually the weave will close up horizontally, leaving a 1-inch empty section in the center from the back to the front rail. The rush is brought up and over the front and up and over the back rail to form a figure-eight weave. This weave is used until the seat is complete. The ends of the rush are tacked off to the inside back or front rail using upholstery tacks and a mallet. The seat is coated with equal parts boiled linseed oil, polyurethane and paint thinner.