How to convert a broken canned chair with an upholstered one

This is a forum for intermediate to advanced woodworkers. Show off your projects or share your ideas.

Moderator: admin

Post Reply
bill120
Silver Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 7:45 am

How to convert a broken canned chair with an upholstered one

Post by bill120 »

I am still unable to figure out how to post images. So I will try and describe the situation.

My daughter has six straight backed chairs with fully canned seats (half of them have serious cane damage). The cane weave is wrapped around the full seat's four rounded sides (about an inch in diameter). There is no flat surface.

So an upholstered seat would need to fit within the confines of the previously weaved seat area. I am trying to envision how I could secure a new seat to the frame. The two front legs are rounded and rise above the weave level by about 3/4". I have no interest in trying to recane the chair. I would like to end up with some decent looking chairs.

Your suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

Bill
User avatar
rpd
Platinum Member
Posts: 3045
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:22 am
Location: Victoria, B.C.

Re: How to convert a broken canned chair with an upholstered one

Post by rpd »

bill120 wrote:I am still unable to figure out how to post images. So I will try and describe the situation.

My daughter has six straight backed chairs with fully canned seats (half of them have serious cane damage). The cane weave is wrapped around the full seat's four rounded sides (about an inch in diameter). There is no flat surface.

So an upholstered seat would need to fit within the confines of the previously weaved seat area. I am trying to envision how I could secure a new seat to the frame. The two front legs are rounded and rise above the weave level by about 3/4". I have no interest in trying to recane the chair. I would like to end up with some decent looking chairs.

Your suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

Bill
This thread should help with posting pictures.

https://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/comm ... 19246.html

My thought would be to cut a piece of plywood to fit on top of the frame with 1/4 round cut outs where the legs come through, and upholster that, then screw on from the bottom. The plywood doesn't need to be very thick as it is supported on all sides.

This is a chair I made in high school that is done that way,
chair top.jpg
chair top.jpg (1.34 MiB) Viewed 11530 times
chair bottom.jpg
chair bottom.jpg (1.29 MiB) Viewed 11530 times
Ron Dyck
==================================================================
10ER #23430, 10ER #84609, 10ER #94987,two SS A-34 jigsaws for 10ER.
1959 Mark 5 #356595 Greenie, SS Magna Jointer, SS planer, SS bandsaw, SS scroll saw (gray), DC3300,
User avatar
algale
Platinum Member
Posts: 4828
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:13 am

Re: How to convert a broken canned chair with an upholstered one

Post by algale »

If you want decent looking chairs you can't ignore that these chairs with round seat frames and protruding front legs are only designed to work with a woven seat

I know you don't want to cane (caning is super easy when using artificial single strand), but how about a simply over/under weave with 2" wide polyester (seatbelt) material? Simple, fast, and will work with those round frames.

Here's one done with paracord. Seatbelt webbing is wider and therefore easier/faster.

Image

https://cdn.instructables.com/FLM/QTXS/ ... fit=bounds
Gale's Law: The bigger the woodworking project, the less the mistakes show in any photo taken far enough away to show the entire project!

User avatar
chapmanruss
Platinum Member
Posts: 4233
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 pm
Location: near Portland, Oregon

Re: How to convert a broken canned chair with an upholstered one

Post by chapmanruss »

You can use 1" webbing material instead of 2" wide "Seat Belt" webbing. There are many colors available and it can be found at climbing supply stores. Paracord comes in many colors also and I think algale's chair looks very nice with it.
Russ

Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
User avatar
algale
Platinum Member
Posts: 4828
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:13 am

Re: How to convert a broken canned chair with an upholstered one

Post by algale »

chapmanruss wrote: ***and I think algale's chair looks very nice with it.
To be clear this isn’t my chair. Just a picture off the internet.
Gale's Law: The bigger the woodworking project, the less the mistakes show in any photo taken far enough away to show the entire project!

bill120
Silver Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 7:45 am

Re: How to convert a broken canned chair with an upholstered one

Post by bill120 »

Thanks for the picture. My chairs are pretty much the same chair. My daughter wants more of a fabric top. Yours looks great.

Bill
bill120
Silver Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 7:45 am

Re: How to convert a broken canned chair with an upholstered one

Post by bill120 »

Sorry didn't see your post that the chair was not your project.
Post Reply