Drilling Holes for Caned Seats

Response to caning question: 10/07
Hi Bob! ( Columbus, Ohio)

As a woodworker, you are the expert on wood repairs. So many glues &
wood fillers out there, I'm sure you are making good choices.

As for the drilled holes, I have done a few. Look in the Peerless
Rattan catalog for the diam. & distance between each hole when choosing
the size of strand cane. Then you need to consider the style of the
chair & dimensions of the frame. How much cane support is needed? Most
rockers use Med & Common, the largest two sizes. Round seats, with
many holes usually take Fine-Fine & smaller sizes. That leaves rose
back chairs( best example) where the seat is usually four holes wider
on the front rail than the back. They are woven with Fine & Nar. Med
strand.

On round seats you find the center point on each of the 4 rails, mark
for a drilled hole, then mark as evenly as possible in between,
according to the requirements of the strand you want to use. Still
trying to match left to right & top to bottom with each hole drilled.
Have you seen the work in progress photos on my new web site? That may
help you visualize what needs to be to have a good looking, well strand
supported seat. Of course you keep the same distance from the inner
frame all the way around for your drilled row of holes.

Casual chairs average 68 to 74 holes. They must have 4 corner holes, in
line with each drilled side. Round seats can be in the 80's-90's.
ALWAYS in pairs of 2. Hope this helps. Do give it a try.

Thanks for checking in. I always enjoy talking about caning & seat
weaving.

Helen, Chairscaned.com

Peerless Rattan now in Michigan 10/24/07

After three exceptionally nice days of above average temperatures, to pack Peerless Rattan for it's move to Michigan, the final drive, halfway meeting point, Findlay, Ohio, was a trip in the rain. But the transfer was finalized as planned & P R LLC is now open for business in MI. Ed brought his friend Bill to share the driving. Cindy was with their daughter, having her second baby. Congratulations on grandchild #4-- Malachi !!

Peerlessrattan.com website is online & about to be up and running completely very soon. Took a 3 way phone call to make it happen the night before, but, we did make it happen.

I'm now busy paintng & rearranging my studio open spaces with chairs in progress & compeleted ones both for customers & some I've picked up myself & re done--for sale. I favor rockers & children's sized items to have available for interested customers.

My current project is a rattan bentwood rocker seat. Couple had new baby this week. Must get it done for them for delivery tomorrow morning. Rattan groove is very deep & wide. Good for the support of the pressed cane replacement, but time comsuming to remove.

Interesting( to me) that I first went into business on Oct. 24, 1991. Also my oldest son's birthday. Happy Birthday Charlie!!

Day of the Big Move

Tomorrrow 10/20/07 will be the last day I sell caning supplies under the name Peerless Rattan. At 12 noon I will begin the final count of inventory, disassemble the spline rack, fibre rush metal frame & pressed cane storage unit. Other capital goods & some supplies have already been stored in a grouping ready for the Penske rental on Monday. Chuck Rowland, son-in-law of a weaving friend, has agreed to help me pack the Penske and then on Tues. hubby & I will drive it to Findlay, (meeting the new owners Ed & Cindy Hammond, half way) where we will exchange final paperwork & Ed will then drive the Penske on to Walled Lake ,MI its new home, ready to continue on Wed. Peerless Rattan is known for it's quick customer mail order response. Order today--shipped out today.

It's been an exciting year, in the making of this transiiton. New catalog & on line website for Ed & Cindy----sales@peerlessrattan.com. and New website for me--- chairscaned.com ,where I have offered seat weaving patterns, with photos, that are downloadable at no cost. But the biggest change for me is having no set hours. Customers wanting their caned seats replaced can call ahead or take a chance that I'm home.

I do plan to continue to make seat weaving the biggest part of my weekdays as well as leading classes at Elderly United in Springfield, OH. Beginning Friday, Nov. 9th-- 9 AM to noon --- a weekly, continuous seat weaving class. Bring your own project or I might have a chair or rocker you'd like to have for a project.Call me to help you decide the correct materials & tools for your project at 937-882-9389. Cost is $3.00 to the center each Friday you participate. Call Elderly United,Penny or Randy, at 937-323-4948 if interested.

On with my day and the final count down to-do list. And thanks for checking in.