DIY: Recaning Chairs

Remove the existing cane using pliers, a narrow putty knife and a binder cleaning tool. Pull out the old cane. Lightly scrape off the cane and glue. Pry up the spline or binding cord using the binder cleaning tool. Be careful not to gouge the surrounding wood.

Position your chair upright with the seat back away from you. Soak cane fabric in a bucket of water for 20 to 30 minutes to soften the cane. Place the cane over the opening. Cut the cane 1-inch longer than the installation channel on all sides.

Hammer a caning wedge into the cane to push the cane into the channel. A cane wedge is a small piece of wood that is tapered on one end. The cane channel is a groove in the wood part of the chair 1/2 inch from the open hole that you are covering with cane. The cane channels are always on the top part of the seat or front face of the wood. The cane sheet will have a pattern that you will need to keep straight with the channels, otherwise it will look crooked.

Add wedges in order. Hammer the first wedge centered in the channel closest to the seat back. Make sure the pattern of the cane is horizontally straight and even with the channel. Stretch the cane to the front edge channel. The front edge is closest to you. Align the pattern and hammer a wedge to hold the center of the cane in place.

Align the cane over the left side channel. Hammer a wedge in the center of the left side channel that is vertically straight with the channel. Stretch the cane to the right side channel. Hammer a wedge in the center of the right side channel that is vertically straight with the channel.

Add wedges every 3 inches apart from the center toward the corners. All of the wedges are used in the channel on the top surface of the chair. Apply white glue between the wedges and press the cane into the glue using a punch. Insert binding or spline at the center back channel or bottom channel. The glue should still be moist. Press the binding into the glue and hammer it tight using a punch and hammer. Continue until you reach a wedge. Pull out the wedge, add glue to the channel. Press the binding into the glue and hammer it tight. Continue until you reach your beginning point.

Cut your spline so that the edges butt tight. Cut along the outside of the spline to remove the excess cane using a sharp utility knife. Wipe off extra glue. Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours before using the chair.