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Restring a bentwood rocker?
https://www.waguns.org/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=81766
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Author:  Guntrader [ Fri Jun 02, 2017 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Restring a bentwood rocker?

I have an old bentwood rocker that needs the seat restrung.
It belonged to my ex wife's great grandmother so has absolutely no sentimental value to me.
About 100 years old.

Are they worth anything?
I suppose an upholsterer does this?
Is it expensive to do?

Thanks,

Author:  survivor [ Sat Jun 03, 2017 6:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Restring a bentwood rocker?

Can you post a photo?

Author:  Guntrader [ Sat Jun 03, 2017 6:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Restring a bentwood rocker?

Went to but.........
Camera battery low, charging it.
Should have them up tomorrow.

Thanks!

Author:  deadshot2 [ Sun Jun 04, 2017 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Restring a bentwood rocker?

Is it one with "cane" back and seat. Does it look like this:
Image


If so, it's a neat DIY project. I did one about 35 years ago and it just takes some patience. The "weaving" process is done in steps but not hard at all.

If this is the type of seat material you can learn how to do it yourself here:https://www.wickerwoman.com/articles/chair-caning-instructions

If you decide to do it yourself some things I learned from my project. First take all the old material off. If it has a bead of wood at the end of the caning that covers the holes the cane is strung through take that out first. A flat faced pin punch from the bottom and lots of patience so you don't break it if you can avoid it. If you do you can use doweling soaked in water (or steamed) as a replacement.

Send the frame out to one of those furniture stripper joints. The kind where they just hang it in a chamber and the vapor strips the paint. Will save you hours of cleaning. Then re-glue all the joints. I found that drilling a real small hole and using a syringe filled with "Elmers", fill the joint with glue. Drill a hole on the blind end of the joint and use a meat injection syringe. I've taken some apart in the past but old wood workers often slit the end of the "tenon" and inserted a wedge. When the parts were assembled they smeared glue on the tenon and then pounded everything together with a big cowhide mallet. This forced the wedge into the end and expanded it. Over the years the glue powdered but the wedge held pretty well resulting in an hour-glass shape. Makes it a bitch to take apart easily so I now just inject glue. Make sure the hole is small enough that when you insert the needle you actually have a seal so the glue is forced into the joint and all gaps rather than just flowing back our alongside the needle.

As to it's value? If it's in good shape and truly about 100 years old, it could be worth some real $$. Really nice ones sell today for over $1,000. "Antiques" can sell for even more if from a well known company. At the least you'll have a neat looking rocker that will be comfy to sit in on the porch while enjoying a Brandy and Cigar. :thumbsup2:

Author:  Guntrader [ Thu Jun 08, 2017 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Restring a bentwood rocker?

Thanks a lot Deadshot.

Now this is bizarre!
The one in my garage isn't the one I was thinking of.
I'm guessing the ex wife pulled a switcheroo and left me a broken POS chair.

Is this one even worth fixing, or should I just take it to the dump?

Image
Image

Author:  RENCORP [ Thu Jun 08, 2017 12:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Restring a bentwood rocker?

It is a cheap fix - just try not to fart in the chair as much once it is re-caned.

It will last longer that way.

Author:  survivor [ Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Restring a bentwood rocker?

Ok , I think you can buy the woven seat already done.
Then you install it yourself with no weaving required by you.

Edit : google "woven cane seat repair ". This link has what your looking for.

https://www.onlinefabricstore.net/1-2-i ... fgodR-MM4g

Author:  deadshot2 [ Fri Jun 09, 2017 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Restring a bentwood rocker?

It appears this chair is using a pre-woven material. It's put in place and then held there by the wooden "rim" that's most likely pressed down around it. I did one similar but just cut the cane flush against the retainer and then drilled holes so I could re-weave.

This chair is definitely worth repair, either way. Use a modern material like Varathane instead of varnish when sealing the cane. Older stuff kind of rotted when varnished.

And I too suggest one cut back on the bean burrito's. :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

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