Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/rush seat repair

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Expert: - 3/30/2011


Question
I have some dining chairs with rush seats. A few years back a furniture repair man repaired the seats by somehow gluing (?) the broken pieces together and perhaps put a new coat of finish on them. Now some are breaking again. The break is in a straight line across  the front of seat where the rush goes over the wood strip at the front of the chair. Some chairs are more broken than others. One is broken on the top and bottom. Unfortunately I can't find the repair man in the area any more. Have you heard of repairing as opposed to re-rushing? Do you have any suggestions as to what material to use. The rest of the seats are still tightly woven. Thank you for any advice.

Answer
Hi Lynn, it is possible to make a temporary repair sometimes, but it sounds to me like the Rush is disintegrating, as it will do when it gets old. If it's broken across the strands, there really is no way to save it....it really needs a new seat. everytime someone sits on it, it puts a lot of stress on the strands, and there's really no way to save it if it gets that bad.Rush is one of those natural materials that ages and starts to disintegrate when it breaks down....like wood that dry rots, it's unfortunately, the nature of the material, and it won't last forever. Wish I had better news, post back if need be- regards- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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