Marvin Garner, known as the Chair Man of Gordon County, can restore all styles of cane seats. He can weave traditional hole-to-hole hand or lace cane, and he can also peg machine-woven or pressed cane.

Before installing a new cane seat, soak the spline and caning it in warm water until they become pliable. Next, blot the cane dry and apply wood glue to its backside.

Cost

The cost of chair caning repair varies, depending on the style of caning and the amount of work involved. Typically, hand-woven cane is more expensive than machine-woven. It also requires more expertise and takes longer to complete. Regardless of the type of caning, hiring an expert will ensure that the repairs are done correctly and won’t be visible once the chair is restored.

A professional chair caning repair specialist will take into account the style and weaving of your specific chairs when repairing them, which can make a big difference in the overall appearance of the finished product. For example, a recaning specialist may use a wider binding cane to cover holes in the chair seat and give it a more finished look.

If your cane chair has a hole in the seat, it is important to repair it as soon as possible. Not only will this prevent the damage from getting worse, but it will also reduce the time and cost of chair caning repair.

To do this, start by purchasing a piece of new spline and pre woven cane that is 1 to 1 1/2 inches larger than the groove in the chair frame. Soak the spline and caning in warm water until they are pliable. After the caning and spline are pliable, apply wood glue to the back of the patch and carefully lay it over the hole in the chair seat. Tuck the edges of the patch under the existing cane to conceal them and allow the glue to dry.

Time

When regaining a chair, the process can take days. It requires patience and skill to complete the task. Moreover, it can be time-consuming to locate the correct materials needed to repair chair caning. Nonetheless, this DIY project is worth it to restore a family heirloom and save money.

• First, the groove in the seat frame needs to be cleaned. This can be done by using a chisel to pry out the old cane and the spline that holds it. 
• After removing the old cane, soak the groove in hot water and wring it dry. This should soften the glue and allow you to remove the spline.
• After the groove is cleaned, it's time to install the new cane. Start with a piece of spline that's 3 inches long and cut it to fit the groove. 
• Press it into place and use a wood block to tap it in place. You can also use a hammer to smooth out the spline and prevent it from being crooked.

If you have a chair that's missing a few rows of caning, you can easily replace them with a woven fabric of your choice. This is a great alternative to upholstery, which is more expensive and can harbor vermin. It's important to select a sturdy fabric that can withstand the weight of the chair.

Experience

I'm a sucker for vintage caned wood chairs. They are surprisingly easy to find at yard sales, antique stores, and online community recycling pages. Usually, they are in great condition except for the cane seat which is either sagging or broken. Rather than kicking them to the curb, I've decided to have them professionally regained.

• Hand Caning

First, a bit of background: Hand caning is the process of weaving strips of rattan or rushing to a chair frame, either while making a new chair or repairing an existing one. It is very time-consuming and requires a lot of patience to complete. I've seen a few videos of this work and it looks much easier than it actually is.

• Pressed Cane

A pressed cane, on the other hand, is held in place by a rounded piece of wood called a spline (some people call it a reed). The spline is installed into a groove on the top side of the chair seat frame perimeter.

• Spline

Once the spline is in, Danny begins drawing horizontal strands across the chair seat. He uses wooden pegs to mark the center holes and keeps the strands perfectly parallel. He also blots the caning and the spline occasionally to keep them moist, which is important since the rattan is tropical and loves moisture. This is the last step before applying a thin bead of glue around the edges of the spline and the caning.

Safety

If you’re repairing a chair with holes in the cane seat, the best way to conceal them is to patch them. But this is a temporary fix and you should consider replacing the whole seat or hiring a professional. Holes in woven cane seats are eyesores and suggest the chair is in disrepair. But if the chair is machine-woven, you may be able to use black tea to help the new cane patch blend in with the rest of the seat.

Start by removing the old cane webbing, spline, and glue from the chair’s groove using a chisel. If the old caning is too brittle to pull up, soak it in water until it’s pliable and a chisel will easily cut through it.

New Pre-woven

Buy new pre-woven sheet caning and spline that is at least a half-inch wider than the seat’s groove. Soak the spline and caning in hot water until they are pliable, then blot them dry with a towel. Place the caning over the seat’s groove, shiny side up, and push it into place with a wood wedge.

When you get to the corners, you can either bend the spline around and use a hammer to tap it into place or apply wood glue to the corner and press in the spline with a wood block. When you’re done, blot the spline dry and trim off any excess. If you want to stain the caning, apply a light coat only to the top surface. Don’t apply a clear finish to the fibrous/rough underside -- it can cause the cane to lose elasticity and break.