Expert: Eileen Cronk - 4/11/2005

Question
I am presently re-finishing the chairs that match
my dining room table, which was my grandmothers.
There is a tin square in the centre of/as the seat.
I want to put foam on this tin and cover it with
leather/leatherette.  Would I be able to do this
putting tacks all around the covered portion with-
out damaging the wood on the seat as the tacks
would have to be pounded into the wood area,
surrounding the tin square. These chairs are approximately 100+ years old; I'm afraid the wood
would split. ?

Answer
Hi Lou
Nice to hear from you.
Gosh this is a tough question Lou.
Its sounds like you dislike the seats as they are now.
Its just one of those "your damned if you do and damned if you don't" type of things.
So I am going to look at this from your point, because mine would be to leave the seats as is.
Your in the process of refinishing now, so I think you want this set of chairs to look good and also be comfy too.
You are worried about the wood splitting. Yes it could if you put the tacks too close together or if they go in too close to the edge.
Great care must be taken that neither of these things happen.
I would take chalk, and measure out 1/2 inch all around the existing seats. This chalk line is where the new seats should be tacked.
I would also leave 1 inch between the tacks.
This should prevent the wood splitting.
Be aware, that if you ever take the seats back to original, you will have the tack holes to deal with.
Hope this helps Lou and please write me any time.
Regards
Eileen