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Clean, tighten and refinish cane furniture

A lot of tired cane furniture needs care, not replacement. Cleaning, a little water to tighten the cane, glue in loose joints and a fresh finish on the frame go a long way.

Time
An afternoon
Level
Beginner

What you needCane furniture care

What you need

Untick what you already have. Options shown are the most common; change them on the product page or in the cart.

Materials
Furniture Paste Wax, Beeswax and Carnauba, 3.5 oz or 8 oz TinSolvent-free paste wax made with beeswax and carnauba, for protecting and polishing the wood frames of cane and rush chairs after cleaning or refinishing.
Furniture Touch-Up Markers and Wax Sticks, Light to Dark WoodWood-tone markers for scratches and worn edges, and soft wax sticks for small chips and nail holes, from light to dark, to tidy up a chair frame.
Water-Based Stainable Wood Filler, Natural, Oak or WalnutWater-based wood filler that sands smooth and takes stain, for old tack and staple holes, dents in seat frames and small chips along a spline groove.
Water-Based Wood Stain for Chair Frames and Cane, 8.5 fl ozWater-based wood stain in an 8.5 fl oz bottle, for refinishing chair frames and toning new natural cane to sit with an older frame. Five colors.
Tools
Sandpaper Assortment for Wood, 60 to 400 Grit, Sheets or Detail KitMixed-grit sandpaper for refinishing chair frames: coarse to strip old finish, medium to smooth, fine before stain and wax. Sheets or a detail kit.
Wood Glue for Caning, White PVA, 4 fl oz Bottle with Narrow TipWhite PVA wood glue in a 4 fl oz squeeze bottle with a narrow tip that lays a clean bead into a spline groove. Dries clear; wipes up with a damp cloth.
Spring Clamps for Caning and Weaving, 3.5 in Plastic or 6 in MetalSpring clamps with padded tips hold cane, reed, cord and webbing while you weave, and small glue-ups while they set. 3.5 in plastic or 6 in metal.
Optional
Binder Cane, 500 ft Hank, 4, 5 or 6 mm WideWide, flat natural binder cane in 500 ft hanks, 4, 5 or 6 mm, to finish the edge of hand-caned seats, wrap joints and handles, and lash basket rims.

How it is done

  1. Vacuum the cane and wipe it with a damp cloth and mild soap.
  2. Dampen a slack seat from underneath and let it dry slowly to tighten.
  3. Re-glue loose joints and clamp them overnight.
  4. Touch up scratches, fill dents and sand the frame lightly.
  5. Finish the frame and protect it with wax.

Tip: Never soak a seat that is already glued in; dampen it from below and keep it out of the sun while it dries.

Full guides

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