How to Put Pressed Cane into a Round Back Chair

Soak the cane webbing in water for 4 hours to make it flexible. It will also draw up as it dries and become more taut in your chair back.

Center the webbing on the frame and align its straight lines with those of the frame.

Bend the edge of the webbing into the groove, beginning in the middle of the top of the frame. Hold it in place with a wedge. Work out from the middle to the sides of that edge, keeping the webbing squared to the wooden frame.

Pull the webbing taut across the frame and wedge it into the groove at the center bottom. Work out to the edges, taking care to keep the webbing taut cross-wise; smooth along the groove and square to the frame. Wedge it securely.

Bend the webbing into the grooves at the sides of the frames and wedge it lightly. The main tension on the webbing should be across the direction that's flat; use tension in the horizontal direction only to prevent sagging on the vertical.

Run a thin bead of glue in one side of the groove at the bottom of the frame. Cut the end of the spline at an angle. Press the spline into the groove just until it will hold for now and work on around the frame, gluing just ahead and removing wedges only when you must, especially on the curved horizontals. When you come back to the start, cut the spline to meet and match its beginning.

Firm the spline into the groove by tapping it in all around with the mallet. Allow the glue and webbing to dry for 24 hours before using the chair or applying stain or finish.