Pressed (Spline) Cane

Holes or a groove

Seats and backs with a groove around the opening, rather than holes, take prewoven cane webbing, bought by the sheet and held by a spline glued into the groove ¹. Machine-woven webbing appeared in the 19th century and covers many factory chairs, from bentwood cafe chairs to mid-century pieces. No weaving: a few hours with simple tools ^{1 2}.

Buy webbing matching the original weave pattern and mesh size, and a spline sized to the groove’s width.

Removing the old seat

1. Cut the old webbing out near the groove.
2. If the spline is glued solid, cut a V into it with a V-chisel or knife.
3. Fill the groove with equal parts warm water and white vinegar to soften the glue, and leave it for several hours, reapplying so the spline stays wet ¹.
4. Pry out the spline with a small chisel or screwdriver, and clean every bit of glue and cane from the groove ¹.
5. Cut new spline lengths and miter the ends at 45 degrees for square corners ¹; a continuous spline goes around rounded seats.

Installing the new sheet

1. Soak the webbing in warm water for 2-4 hours ¹; soak the spline briefly too.
2. Blot it, lay it over the opening smooth side up, with the weave square to the front rail, and an inch or so of overhang beyond the groove.
3. With a dampened hardwood wedge, press the cane into the center of the back groove; leave the wedge. With a second wedge, press it into the center of the front groove, then the sides ¹.
4. Work outward from the four wedges, pressing the cane into the grooves in the same order: back, front, side, side - quickly, before it dries ¹.
5. Trim the excess just below the outer edge of the groove with a sharp chisel ¹.
6. Run wood glue into the groove, then tap the spline in with a mallet and block until it’s flush. Wipe off squeeze-out.

As the cane dries over the next day it shrinks taut. Don’t sit on it until it’s fully dry.

What to take from this

A groove means pressed cane. Soften the old spline with warm water and vinegar for hours, clean the groove, soak the new webbing 2-4 hours, wedge it into the groove back, front, side, side, trim below the outer edge, glue and tap in a mitered spline, and let the seat dry taut before use.