Expert: Anderson's Restorations-Rob Anderson - 11/29/2010

Question
I have a nice little Victorian chair which has lost its center caning, and I cannot afford a leather replacement seat -- or re-caning.  I have found (on the web) a fiber seat design I like very much, but its dimensions -- including the cane holes -- seem dangerously close to the outside dimensions of the fiber replacement seat.  (I.e., counting the old caning holes, it is 14" across the front, and the outside dimensions of the square replacement sheet are only 15".  This looks as though it might not be enough allowance for secure nailing outside of the cane holes on a chair that will get steady usage.  What would you suggest?

Thanks so much, in advance, for your help.

Is there a solution (that does not involve paying the cost of a leather seat (which might anyway present the same problem)?


Answer
Thanks for your question.
 Most of those "replacement" seats are not much bigger then the area they need to cover. You don't need many nails to secure them.I've seen as few as 4 nails in a seat and some that are held by a box full of nails. A 1/2" of nailing space is narrow but very possible, just center it to the seat and make some light marks on the seat so you can get it spaced even.
 Another option you might think about is to use a piece of 1/4" birch plywood from HD or Lowes and cut out your own seat.These were also sold at one time with different patterns of holes drilled into them. Then you could stain to match your chair. Another option with the plywood would be to cover it with a little padding and material folded over and stapled to the bottom of the ply.Then just center it up on the chair and using the caning holes, put a few screws up from the bottom being sure the screws are not long enough to come through the top.
 Good Luck,
   Rob