Expert: Mark H. Miller - 11/17/2007

Question
QUESTION: Dear Mark,

I have dining chairs with cane inserts.  I would like to totally cover the front and backs of the chairs hiding the cane. The padded seat back would stop above the chair cushion. I hope you will share your expertise with me. I need direction.  Thanks, I appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Sandy

ANSWER: The job is not difficult.  

You can remove the cane or leave it,  if the cane is woven with round holes it is hand cane and you should leave it in place.  Removing it will lessen the value of the chairs.  If the cane is not attached with round holes it is machine cane and less value.

Make an exact template using 1/4 inch thick plywood that covers the area that has cane but 1/8 inch smaller all around.  

Place 1 inch foam or cotton batting on the front side of the wood.  Now pull you upholstery material over that beginning in the center of the top and bottom,  then the center of the two sides and work the fabric toward the corners.  It should all be very smooth.  You can staple or use small tacks.

Then place a piece of material on the back side of the panel and staple or tack around the perimeter of the whole thing,  trim all excess material away.  

Put the panel against the front of the chair and using very thin brads, about 1 1/4 inch long spaced about 4 or 5 inches apart put the brads straight down along the very edge, when the brad is in use a needle and pop the fabric over the head of the brad so that it doesn't show.

That's it.  If you leave the cane in place and someday you want to go back to the cane it is still there.  If you don't want to see the cane on the back of the chair use poultry scissors to cut it away.

I hope this helps.  Have fun.  Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of further help.

Mark Miller.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Mark,

Thanks for your prompt reply. A question,in the paragraph which begins "Put the panel against the front" when you say put the brads straight down...do you mean put the brad in from the front of the chair toward the back or from the back of the chair toward the front. OR, is the brad angled in another direction?

Answer
Hi,

Nail from the front of the panel toward the back of the chair.  The brads will go through the panel starting with the side that has the padding, which is the side you sit against.

It is best to wiggle the brad around a little to create a small opening in the fabric.  Then nail straight down.  The tendency is to nail at a slight angle, however, if you do that then the nail will come out through the inside of the back opening.  Therefore you have to nail straight down.  Then take a pin and pop the fabric over the head of the nail.

It is also a good idea to look at the back of the chair every time you drive a nail in to be certain that it doesn't come out on the side of the inside cavity where the decorative wood is.  

I hope this explanation is a little clearer,  please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of further help.  :-)

Mark Miller.