How to Recane Antique Ladder Back Chairs

If you have an old ladder-back chair with a cane seat that needs repair, you don't have to throw it away. You can recane the seat and restain the chair instead. Prewoven cane is an ideal option as it is the simplest for a do-it-yourself project. You can give the chair a fresh, new look while preserving the history of your antique.

Cane
Pliers
Rag
Wooden wedges
Cane spline
Furniture glue
Utility knife

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the old seat cane by carefully prying the seat from the chair frame. Use pliers to remove the cane spline from the original chair seat.
- 2
  Clean the old seat of any excess glue, nails or tacks with warm soapy water and a soft rag, using pliers if necessary.
- 3
  Measure and cut the prewoven cane material 2 inches longer than the seat opening.
- 4
  Soak the cane in warm water for 30 to 45 minutes, preferably in a bathtub. Shake off excess water from the cane and lay it on a towel for five minutes.
- 5
  Lay the cane loosely over the seat allowing the 2-inch excess to hang over the edge. Insert the cane into the seat groove by gently placing a wooden wedge in the groove and inserting the cane. Add wedges around the entire seat and install the cane as you go.
- 6
  Dampen the cane spline in warm water for 30 to 45 minutes, preferably in a bathtub. Shake off excess water from the spline and lay it on a towel for five minutes. Once the spline is dampened, place it around the edges of the seat, inside the groove, and glue it in place with furniture glue. As you place the spline in the groove, remove the wooden wedges.
- 7
  Trim excess cane away from the edges of the seat with a utility knife. Insert a piece of cardboard between the cane and the chair frame to avoid cutting the wood chair frame.

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