fixing old bentwood chairs

[astrid]

Has anyone got any tips on fixing these lovely old beasts.
Their main old age probs seem to be the bentwood "springing" on the bent bits and the legs getting the wobbles.(sounds like me)
Ive had a few of these to fix and never with much success
It seems that the legs twist out of true and wont go back where there suposed to.
Ive tried wetting up the steamed wood and clamping it back but it wont stay put.
Any sugestions?

Astrid

[flynnsart]

Probably have to make a mold and resteam them. clamp in the mold for a few days and then use.

Donna

[astrid]

Thanks Donna,

How do you go about steaming timber without special equiptment.

Astrid

[wheelinround]

do search this forum for steam bending

[Calm]

Thanks Donna,

How do you go about steaming timber without special equiptment.

Astrid

Put them in the bathroom while a teenage daughter has a shower (normally 1/2 hour) should do the trick

Just had a thought With 4 daughters i could go into business

[astrid]

Thanks, calm

I'll try that.
Should i suspend the chair over the showerers head for max effect?

Astrid

[Calm]

Thanks, calm

I'll try that.
Should i suspend the chair over the showerers head for max effect?

Astrid

Shouldnt matter you cant see in there for at least another 1/2 hour anyway

[astrid]

astrid

[astrid]

cant find anything on the forum about how to steam bend in the comfort and safty of your own home.
I'll ask on the gen ww forum

thanks
Astrid

[billrule]

I'm no help... the only ones I've worked on were genuinely old, and the shape was as good as the day they were made, only the (massive) screw holding each leg on required tightening both under the seat, and on the stay-ring a couple of inches below. Sorry.
Bill

[STAR]

My daughter bought six of them. All rickety, seats needed replacing, and the bentwood had sprung.

I di not know how bad yours are, but I used some boatbuilders polurethane Glule (Vise) I used a small brush and put the glue between the leaves and put about four small clamps on the curve of the chair.

The beauty, and the beast of Vise compared to the Selly's one is that it foams twice as much and forces itself into all the small grooves, holes, spaces, which is why the boaties like it, because it waterproofs a lamination or joint.

After it dried, I had to scrape it off, and slightly reshape the round form of the bentwood.

To finish it off where some of the lamination at the end was damaged and could not be reshapen I just used some woodmate filler in the small arear that needed it. the sposor of this site may have something better because I fixed these chairs about six months ago and I did not kinow of this forum then or the U-beaut finishers.

I have seen some of the results received by some members so they can tell you about that.

But i think you have two issues. I gave you an idea for the first, addressing the laminations, the finishing is another story, the experts here may be able to help.


PS> The clamps I used were the Galvanised worm driven hose clamps. The gal ones are the best because they are cheaper then the Stainless ones, more malleable and can be roughly bent into the shape of the bend in the chair.

I used the same principle years ago to mend hockey sticks that had given way in the shaft and this was the way we re glued the round handle so it was glued evenly all round.

[astrid]

Thank you Star,
I'll try your method for the sprung timber,
Anyone tell me how to reshape steamed wood at home?

Astrid

[BernieP]

G'Day Astrid

DIY steaming mentioned in this site http://www.ehow.com/how_2081425_repa...ood-chair.html also a lot of other interesting reading in the main.

Cheers
Bernie

[astrid]

Thanks BernieP,
That is exactly what I was after,
Have bookmarked

Astrid

[STAR]

Buggar me. I just read that post and Part of the suggestion was to use Automotive hose clamps and brush the the splines with a small artist brush.


For me a newbie I am feeling ok that I contributed something to a post that I used to do forty years ago to repair hockey sticks that cost me a week's pay, if I had to buy a new one.

The fact that I used that knowledge to repair all my daughter's chairs gave me immense satisfaction but to see somebody has pirated my only source of fame and had the audacity to put it to print under their name has me very dissapointed.