How badly would I mess this up?

[lauradi7dw]

I have a chair exactly like this caned folding rocking chair



except the cane part of the seat is kind of falling apart. If I bought the pre-caned stuff that comes by the foot and only had to follow the youtube instructions about installing it, would I be able to do it? It has been sitting around for years because I couldn't make up my mind what to do, but suddenly I want to use the chair. Arthur suggests trying to find someone local who will do it for me. There used to be a place in North Cambridge, but I don't know about now.

Comments

[sovay]

If I bought the pre-caned stuff that comes by the foot and only had to follow the youtube instructions about installing it, would I be able to do it?

Does it require skills out of your established range of home repair? That's a lovely object.

[lauradi7dw]

There are kits available online, and there are youtube videos. I have no personal experience, but using the kit instead of trying to learn the intricate work from scratch might make it plausible.

[sorcyress]

The concern I would most have is "what's the worst possible outcome".

If the alternative is just getting rid of the broken chair anyways, then I'd absolutely try re-caning myself, because worst that happens is you've spent (a hopefully not unreasonable?) amount of money on caning and gotten to try something new.

If the alternative is to definitely hire out the labour, then I would maybe try it myself first anyways, mostly just to see if I could do it, and assuming that I can't mess it up worse than it already is (so the labour could repair my mistakes)

~Sor

[lauradi7dw]

I'm not great at being a get rid of person.
After some searching around online, the place that I remembered has now combined with other folks at Albion Studios in Somerville. Their caning is by appointment only, but the location looks easy to find. I will order a kit and then if/when I totally botch it, I could have these people as backup.

[matildalucet]

Good luck! I've done it once or twice years ago from a kit. It might not have looked perfect to me; nobody else ever mentioned any imperfections. I remember patience being key.