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Chair Caning by Chris

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Cortland, NY
Chair Caning by Chris

As a hobby, I cane chairs. Hand-woven, press-in, splint (herringbone and other patterns found in porch rockers), etc. Still, I'm living the dream!

Unfortunately, I've had to give up doing rush except on small projects thanks to wicked carpal tunnel. Chair caning has become very much a lost art. Because of this, quality pieces of furniture which are often family heirlooms are stored away in attics, garages, basements or, even worse, put out to the curb with the trash. When one considers having a sagging or broken seat recaned, the thought is

often dismissed due to the notion that replacing the seat would be too expensive. I learned this craft more than twenty years ago, and it gives me tremendous pleasure to return a customer's chair as a functional, beautiful piece of furniture. When discussing a customer's chair, it's often said that "They just don't make this kind of furniture anymore," and that's true. A new caned seat will add years, even generations, to a cherished piece. Of course, the cost of recaning a seat, as well as the time it takes to do the job, depends on the type and size of the seat. Press-in seats, which present their own challenge of getting the piece in straight while racing against drying cane, glue, and spline, do not take as long as hand-woven seats or rush seats, but the materials are more expensive. Herringbone seats, typically found in porch rockers, take longer to replace. Press-in, herringbone, and rush seats are $5./inch along the longest edge. Hand-woven seats (the kind that have holes drilled through the wood around the opening of the seat where the cane passes down through one hole then back up through the next) are done at the rate of .90/hole. All costs include materials. I use only natural fiber purchased from long-established cane suppliers. If you have a char that you are considering having recaned and the "old" cane is still in the seat, please don't remove it or, if you must, save a good sample of it so that I may match the size and color.

12/28/2025

What better way to spend a cold, quiet afternoon than finishing up a set of chairs... Happy holidays, everyone. I'm certainly blessed.

09/08/2025

Checking in! Yes, yes, yes, I'm still caning and having a great time!! Super busy and equally as grateful. I'm just about finished with two chairs that have had me learn a new technique: "blind" or "French" caning. My anxiety before starting these chairs was through the roof, but I'm loving it!! I'll try to remember to post photos before they go back to their owner. Some press-ins, some herringbone with binder cane, lots of hand-caning coming up!

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01/07/2025

Another pretty child's rocker delivered back to its owners' living room yesterday. These are fun to do and very satisfying.

11/19/2024

Just checking in, getting good work done. Pretty rockers (so comfortable), more hand-caned seats, and check out the before and after photos of the platform rocker which was bought at an auction for exactly one-dollar!! So many fun projects! (and ooops!, looks like I already posted photos of the platform rocker. Ah well.

10/16/2024

Busy, busy, busy, and I've remembered to take a few photos of some of the latest projects I've been blessed to do. Two gorgeous press-in backs and a very interesting, heavy rocker complete with springs and wheels picked up at an auction for one-dollar by a friend who thought of me immediately. 😄 I've included "before" and "after" photos. Six-millimeter binder cane in the seat and back in a herringbone weave.

08/31/2024

Took a brief break to give my hands a rest while putting the binder on this one. Finished yesterday afternoon, this beauty's going home this coming Monday. After I finished this seat, I got right into the next one. I'll try to remember to take photos. Am I still caning? You betcha! Hoping to get a half dozen out next week.

07/06/2024

Six chairs delivered in the last 13 days. I finally remembered to take a couple photos before I delivered this one a little while ago. Busier than ever, but they're getting done. I have a big, "interesting" chair that's going to be going up on the enclosed picnic table early next week. It'll be wonderful to work outside, protected from the elements (and bugs) but able to watch the birds while I work.

01/25/2024

Am I still caning? Of course I am, and busier than ever! Lots of chairs coming in, lots of chairs going out! I'll try to post some photos within the next few days. Wait until you see the sweet child's chair that will get a new natural rush seat. That's tomorrow's project. 💪😊

07/18/2023

Before and after, I am so pleased with how this came out. Half-inch flat reed and so pretty. Stain color/shellac left up to its owner.

07/15/2023

Busy, busy, busy! So busy that I sometimes either forget to take photos of the chairs I've caned before I deliver them or I forget to post. Here are a some from the past few months.

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Cortland, NY
13045

Telephone

+16077453989

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