What Cane Do I Need for a Rocking Chair?

Seat Cane

• Cane for the rocking chair seat include rattan peel and sea grass. Rattan chair cane is a type used for an open weave pattern where you can thread the cane through holes drilled around the exterior of the seat hole. Rattan peel comes from the outside layer of the rattan pole and is a sturdy option for caning. Sea grass is a twine-like material that is similar in texture and appearance to rope. This caning option works well on rocking chairs where you can wrap the fiber around the entire seat frame. Sea grass has a rough feel at first, but softens with use.

Cane Spline

• Cane spline is a wedge-shaped strip of cane that is used to secure pre-woven rattan webbing to a groove around the seat frame. Rattan cane and sea grass that is thread into the frame of the rocking chair do not require cane spline to hold it in place.

Round Core

• Wicker rocking chairs use a reed cane called round core to weaving the seat and back of the chair. Round core is the center core of the rattan stem and available in several diameters, depending on the type desired for the rocking chair. Use round core to weave a new seat or backrest, or to repair broken sections on the wicker rocking chair.

Considerations

• Consider purchasing a chair cane kit to refurbish the seat or back on a rocking chair. Most kits include a pre-woven webbing that is cut to the correct size based on your measurement. The cost for a kit is often cheaper than buying all the individual cane types when you only need to work on one rocking chair seat or backrest.