If you are not sure as to what your chair might need, we suggest you use the buttons below. They will show you examples of caning, rushing, splinting, and shaker tape and, hopefully, give you a better idea of what you need.
Our pricing is determined according to the work that needs to be done:
- BASIC HAND CANING is priced according to the number of holes drilled in the frame.
- BLIND or "FRENCH" CANING is charged on a per piece basis as we need to see the item before giving an estimate.
- PRESS CANE is priced according to the length of the longest single edge of the area to be done. This is usually across the front of a seat or from top to bottom on a back. There is an additional charge for curved backs.
- RUSH is priced according to the length of the longest edge of the area to be done, usually across the front of the seat. Windsor chairs and Hitchcock chairs will cost extra.
- SPLINT is priced according to the length of the longest edge of the area to be done, usually across the front of the seat.
- SHAKER TAPE is priced according to the length of the longest edge of the area to be done, usually across the front of the seat or from top to bottom for a back.
As always, the best way to get an accurate estimate of both the work and cost involved is to bring your piece to our shop. That way, we all are on the same page as to what need to be done.
We can replace the existing rush seat on your antique, or, if the chair is designed for it, put a rush seat on a chair that previously had a different seat. We use a fiber rush, which is made of paper that has been tightly twisted into a cord or rope-like material. The finished seat is then has shellac applied. The shellac serves to both give a more finished look and to protect the seat from spills.
In general, the seat should consist of four dowels that run from between the legs. The rush is woven around the dowels, creating the pattern you see. The first picture below shows a chair frame without the seat, the second a coil of rush, and the third the frame with a rush seat.
If you have this type of frame, it may have had a rush, splint, or shaker tape seat. These three seats all use the same frame style as a support. For examples of what shaker tape or splint look like, please review the
RESTORATIONS section.
