Cane Finishing

Finishing the Seat

By this stage I have a piece of furniture with loads of pegs retaining the cane in holes and cane dangling from holes "tails" so this is where I need to decide on how to finish the piece, as it does not look very neat. There are two ways to secure these tails, pegging or tying, I have only used pegging, for me it is tidier and professional looking. Next before I peg any tails I have to decide on whether I am having a border? I have to date finished seats with and without borders.

Without Border

A piece finished without a border is simply finished by just pegging all holes and cutting of tails below. I decide on an appropriate sized dowel dependent on the hole and cane occupying that hole. Slightly shaved dowel to ease knocking into hole and cut to a length smaller than hole depth. Knocked in with a hammer and a punch to complete without hitting the cane. Once all holes' pegged tails are cut off, job done.

With Border

The border cane is a look that can enhance a finished chair and uses a wider cane (1 size larger) to cover the holes in the chair. This wider cane is couched by a thinner cane.

There are a number of methods of doing corners; pegging, rounded or couched. Pegging is used for chairs with square corners. Rounded is used for chairs with rounded corners, some chairs have square corners in the back & rounded in the front, just to make it difficult. Couched is the more  professional approach and looks a little more pleasing.

Square Corner

The border cane is started in the back rail by inserting a length of border into each corner hole. I begin looping the regular cane at the next hole. Take the cane over the border, back down the same hole, up the next hole, over the border cane and back down, keeping the cane strait. I weave the cane through a number of holes before beginning to tighten the cane. Weave with one hand on top and one below. It is important to get the border and the cane as tight as possible for the best look. When completing a rail, feed the extra border down the corner hole. Skip the corner hole with the regular cane and continue looping  around the border for the side rail. I continue inserting border cane into corners and looping with the regular cane until all sides are completed. The finish step for the corners is to drive a whittled peg into the corner hole with a hammer and punch to ensure the peg does not protrude above the rail.

Rounded Corner

The border cane is started on the back rail, covering a hole. Begin with regular cane about 3 holes farther on the back rail and loop over the border. Take the  cane over the border, back down the same hole, up the next hole, over the border  cane and back down. Weave the cane through a number of  holes before beginning to tighten the cane. Weave with one hand on top and one below. It is important to get the border and the cane as tight as possible for the best look. Tie off the cane as you come to its end. Ensure the border flat as you go along.

Couching

This technique is for the professional, as yet i have not tried this technique.