3mm reed caning goove depth and width

[JDarvall]

Hi,

I'd like to know how wide a groove you'd allow to fit 3mm reeding for all that binding of sheet cane.

I'm restoring 4 old chairs that have sheet cane seats. (and I'm not a restorer by trade. For those who are looking for something to have a go at). Its acomplete rebuild unfortunately, as it would have been easier to make new ones and could have made them stronger too. But am stuck with the old design.

Anycase, after dressing seats, the old grooves need to be recut to fit the reed and sheet cane and there is little clue other than a guesstimate as to what the depth and width of cut should be for 3mm reed cane.

The existing grooves are off and all the grooves are different between the chairs, so its going to be a bit of fiddle anyway.

I'll make it work, but still am curious of what allowances people make for the sheet cane. uno, say cut a 6mm groove for a 3mm reed ???...

Hoping there's an old restorer here who remembers what worked perfect for them once.

thanks kindly
Jake

[chowcini]

all the cane seats i have fixed up have been around a 5mm bead with a 5mm groove (height and width)

once the weave has been soaked in water its quite supple and the the bead should wedge in to the groove and compress the weave into place

( also a bead of glue will hold it tight)

i made a wedge out of a peice of scrap like a very wide salad tosser and used this to force the bead in place i fope this helps!!

perhaps try a few different groove sizes on a test peice??
Good luck

Chowcini

[JDarvall]

5mm. thanks.

some of the old ones are already as wide as 7mm and some vary within the same seat.

thanks for your thoughts mate

Jake

[JDarvall]

helpful thankyou. found the 4.8mm bit gave a nice snug fit.