STEP-BY-STEP

STEP 1

Soak the pressed material and the new spline for 20 minutes—no longer. Carefully score along the inner and outer edges of the old spline with a utility knife to break the glue bond. Take care not to gouge the wood. Next, lightly tap a spline chisel with a hammer into the spline to break a piece of it. Working on an angle, go around the seat to remove the old spline. Slide a chisel between the cane seat and the chair to pry it out of the groove. Clean glue and debris from the groove with the awl. With medium-grit sandpaper, gently smooth rough edges.

STEP 2

Position the new cane over the bottom of the chair with 2" of overlap around all edges. Starting at the front, align a row of the woven cane with the front edge of the seat. Check that sides square up with the cane pattern. Use a wedge to press a small section along the front into the groove. (You can tack it in place with

another wedge.) Repeat along back and each side. Check and adjust as needed. Next, work on a front corner. Pull off a few diagonal threads of cane—not too much—outside the groove to make it easier to press it in. Press cane into corners with the wedge and work outwards along the front, then the side. Use a hammer on the wedge, but gently so the cane doesn't break. Finish working around the chair.

Using a utility knife or a sharp chisel and hammer, trim excess cane, cutting slightly below the chair edge along the outer side of groove. Press loose cane again with a wedge. For rounded corners, trim only with nippers, and work on them last.

STEP 3

Apply a thin bead of wood glue along the groove. Start the spline at center back. With nippers, trim the end at a 45° angle.Tap spline into groove with a hammer, all the way around, bending around corners. At the back, leave 2" of spline loose, overlap the first end, and use nippers to cut an angle in the untrimmed end for a finished joint. Wipe excess glue with a damp rag. Allow it to dry for at least 24 hours, then stain the cane as desired.