Chair Caning Lock Step Method TM
Squaring up Rush Bottom Chairs

           *THE SEAT WEAVERS BUSINESS GUIDE!!!        
                                   By Ronnie P. Goff
                         Copyright October 26, 2008

     It is extremely easy to say, "GO FOR IT" to anyone whom desires
to start a "SEATWEAVING BUSINESS!!!" 
     In cold hard reality you really need top notch business advice from
a Chair Caner, or Seat Weaver whom has not only "BEEN THERE, DONE
THAT;" but has a long term proven profitable "SEAT WEAVING BUSINESS"
with solid references from clients both commercial, & residential!!!
     Immediately after I received my One  Continuing Edcation Unit for
Chair Caning along with my certificate I started my "Chair Caning Business!!!"
     That was sooooo long, long ago in 1975!!!  And I'm still in business today
passing my "Master Seat Weaving" knowledge on to the next generation!!!

     Fortunately for me my learning curve was very, very short thanks to the
kindness of an antique dealer, in a upscale neighbor of Richmond, Va., by
the name of Helen Callahan whom was kind enough to allow me to hang my
"Chair Caning" shingle out at her shop, & get business from her customer
base!!!
     Of course this was financially reciprocal for Helen & her antique shop, as
well as myself, & my Country Seat Weavers chair caning business!!!  Further
more it benefited Helen's regular antique customers as well, & brought in
new customers as a direct result of the chair caning services etc. offered!!!
     This was a real genuine blessing both businesswise, & financially because
it gave me the best of both worlds by a genuinely caring, & honest business
lady!!!
     It gave me an instant cash flow, & she was kind enough to share some of
her business wisdom with me!!!
     One lesson I remember to this day!!!
     I was quoting a lot of refinishing jobs, & not getting very many of them,
and made a remark to Helen one day about it!!! 
 And her reply I remember to
this day!!!   She remarked, "You"re to cheap, & they think you do cheap work
also" or something to that effect!!!
     Then I raised my prices to be competitive with the rest of the professional
furniture refinishers, & I immediately began to get all of the work I could
handle, & wanted!!!
     *NOTE:  FURNITURE REFINISHING!!!  This is a business where you 
absolutely need to do absolutely everything pertaining to that hand caning
chair you are doing, or that rush bottom, or splint bottom you are replacing,
or that wicker repair or restoration you are doing to earn a living!!!
     If you do not have any FURNITURE REFINISHING KNOWLEDGE take
a class in FURNITURE REFINISHING at your local high school, or community
college for adult continuing education!!!  You will forever be financially thankful
you did!!!!
       If you charge cheap prices in the beginning to get "Chair Caning" work
your current clients may pass that cheap business label on to future clients 
then you may have stuck yourself with that cheap business label, & find
it may be extremely difficult to lose that cheap business labor label!!!
     If you deceide to make your business "A HOME BASED BUSINESS"
get the proper "LICENSES, & PERMITS" that are required to start that
"HOME BASED BUSINESS!!!"
     INSURANCE!!!  Have the correct coverage for a "HOME BASED BUSINESS!!!"
     When you get business cards for your business try to get a business card
that is different, & unique!!!  My personal business cards tell my clients 
"How To Care For Your Chair Cane, & Wicker!!!"  It is not thrown away because
countless clients have put them on their refrigerators so they can take care
of their prized antique furniture!!!
     ADVERTISING!!!  I have a very cute, make you laugh turn of the century
business sign for ANTIQUE POX TM with antique dealer's name, & phone
number at the bottom as well as my business information!!!  Dealer's love
them as well as their customers!!!  It's a make you laugh business sign
which antique dealers & their clients frame for their bussinesses, & homes!!!
It also gives them a turn of the century ANTIQUE POX sign they can
sell advertising their business or advertiising they can give to their
customers!!!  It's win win advertising for everyone involved!!!
     *NOTE:  SEE SEATWEAVING ADVERTISING FOR ANTIQUE POX ADVERTISING!!!
     *HOW DO YOU DETERMINE HOW MUCH TO CHARGE?
     "The rate you set most definitely says everything about how you
personally value yourself!!!"
     "Here's a tried, & proven business formula to use for a small business
with absolutely no employees!!!"
    
*DESIRED ANNUAL SALARY + ANNUAL FIXED COST + DESIRED
ANNUAL PROFIT DIVIDED
BY ANNUAL BILLABLE HOURS = YOUR
HOURLY RATE!!!"

     "DESIRED PROFIT - THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE IN BUSINESS FOR, 
NOT JUST A PAYCHECK!!!  
WHAT ABOUT 40 PERCENT ABOVE
YOUR SALARY AND FIXED COST?
     Determine what the market will bear!!!
     
GET SCORE OR A SIMILAR AGENCY INVOLVED IN YOUR BUSINESS
FROM THE ABSOLUTE VERY BEGINNING!!!  THEY ARE FREE, OR
ATTEND ONE OF THEIR SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS FOR A VERY
SMALL FEE WHICH WILL PAY FOR ITSELF MANY, MANY TIMES OVER!!!
     A complete business plan is absolutely necessary to arrive at the
absolute right price!!!
     *TWO EXCELLENT BUSINESS TOOLS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
          "THE SMALL BUSINESS START UP KIT (NOLO $29.95)   

     TO BE CONTINUED!!!  TO BE CONTINUED!!!  TO BE CONTINUED!!!
     Some of the subjects we will be discussing:
     CONTRACTS FOR SEAT WEAVING SERVICES!!!  NON COMPETITIVE
CONTRACTS FOR SEAT WEAVING MASTERS WHOM TEACH THEIR
SEAT WEAVING MASTERY TO OTHERS!!!


     

    

         Hand Caning Curved/Oval Backs/Bottoms Chairs

                        Having A Museum Quality Chair
                                     By Ronnie P. Goff
                               Copyright April 13, 2006

     Tools necessary for doing your curved/oval backs/bottoms of your
hand caned chair.
     TIP #1: Find the dead center of the top, & bottom of your curved/oval
hand caned chair, & put a piece of common cane in the dead center of
the top, & bottom of the hand caned chair held in place by two hand
caning pegs!!!
     NOTE:  This will give the curved/oval back/bottom of a hand caned
chair a museum quality curve or oval during the hand caning process!!!
Thus a museum quality curved/oval chair back/bottom when completed!!!Smile
     TIP #2:  Find the dead center between the bottom, & the middle, the top,
& put a piece of common cane in each place with four (4) hand caning
pegs before you begin weaving step four (4). 
     This will continue to give your Lincoln Rocker (or any curved/oval
back/bottom hand caned chair) a museum quality curve/oval back/
bottom during the chair caning process!!!Smile


 

  Traditional Chair Caning                  Curved/Oval Backs/Bottoms Method 
   7 Step Method                                    Advanced Chair Caning
  STEP #1:  VERTICAL                        STEP #1:  HORIZONTAL
  From Front 2 Back                             From Side 2 Side
  From Top 2 Bottom
  STEP #2:  HORIZONTAL                   STEP #2:  VERTICAL
  From Side 2 Side                                 Behind Step 1
  STEP #3:  VERTICAL                         STEP #3:  1ST DIAGONAL STEP
  2 Right 1st Vertical                              Begin Right Bottom Corner
  STEP #4:  2ND HORIZONTAL          STEP #4:  2ND VERTICAL STEP
  2 Right of 1st                                         2 Right of lst 
  STEP #5:  1ST DIAGONAL                STEP #5:  2ND HORIZONTAL
  Begin Right Hand Corner                  Woven 
  STEP #6:  2ND DIAGONAL                STEP #6:  2ND DIAGONAL
  Begin Left Hand Corner                     Begin Left Bottom Corner
 
  STEP #7:  BINDER CANE                  STEP #7:  BINDER CANE
  Chair Back/Bottom                              Chair Back/Bottom 

     Happy Chair Caning your Lincoln Rocker (or any curved/oval back/
bottom hand caned chair!!!Smile    

         

COMING SOON!!!Smile
Machine Cane Jig(s) For Doing Breur Chair Frames
Machine Cane Jig For Doing Machine Cane Bottoms

CAN U TELL ME WHAT THIS TOOL IS? I MADE IT 4...
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I USE IT IN MY SHOP OFTEN, & IT'S ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!

ANTIQUE RUSH BOTTOM CHAIR NOTCHED 4 WEAVING RUSH!!
test206.JPG
REASON: 2 HOLD RUSH N PLACE DURING WEAVING!!!!

     The above antique rush bottom chair which was already notched
came into our shop from Governor's Antiques, which is one of the largest
antique dealers in the State of Virginia to have the rush bottom replaced!!!
It was a piece of rush history for us to study showing the width between
the notches, & the depth of the notches which is critical for the rush to
be, & look correct!!!

HOW TO DEAL WITH GAPS/TAPERED RUNGS
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NARROW GAPS/WIDE GAPS 5/32 6/32 RUSH

RUSH FURING PIECE
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CUT OFF TO FINISH OFF GAP/TAPERED RUNGS

                              DEALING WITH IRREGULARITIES IN RUSH BOTTOM CHAIRS

                                                    Having A Museum Quality Chair
                                                                 By Ronnie P. Goff
                                                           Copyright April 13, 2006
     Addressing how to correctly deal with irregularities in your museum quality
rush bottom chair between chair rungs, & the upright turnings to get your
your museum quality woven rush bottom seat even, & uniform.
     The amount of space between the rungs, & upright turnings will determine
which method you will use.  (SEE ILLUSTRATION) 
    

 

test100.jpg

     For a narrow space in a rush bottom chair you will flatten your 5/32
or 6/32 rush, & put it in center sifeways (AS ILLUSTRATED), & cut
it off when you complete your museum quality rush bottom seat
weaving TO SQUARE UP YOUR RUSH BOTTOM SEAT!!!
     For a wide space in a rush bottom chair you simply cut your 5/32
or 6/32 rush, & wrap around the rung top, center, & bottom, & weave
your first (1st) step over filler rush TO SQUARE UP YOUR RUSH BOTTOM
SEAT!!!  DO NOT FLATTEN YOUR RUSH  FOR A WIDE SPACE!!!

       How To Rush A Removable Rush Bottom Chair Frame

                             Having A Museum Quality Chair
                                           By Ronnie P. Goff
                                    Copyright April 13, 2006

     Tools necessary for doing your removable Rush Bottom Chair Frame.
     Rush Seat Bottom Preperation:  Remove the old Rush etc. from the
removable Rush Bottom chair frame.  Repair, & reglue the removable
Rush Seat Bottom chair frame if necessary.
     NOTE FOR PREPERATION:  SEE SEATWEAVING, & TOOTHPASTE
                                                            SEE DENATURED ALCOHOL TEST
     "Feed The Wood."  Rails, & stiles only!!!
     Add removable legs to your Removable Rush Bottom Chair Frame!!!Surprised
Use 4 C Clamps for your legs!!!Smile  Use the height of your choice!!!Smile
     They go beyond where the removable rush bottom chair frame is
"Squared Up!!!"
     Add a double thickness of cardboard to the top, & bottom of each C
Clamp so that you will not damage, or mar the rails, stiles, or the wood!!!
     Remove, & reposition the 4 C Clamps (only necessary once) after yoy
"Square Up" your Removable Rush Bottom Chair
Frame, & weave your
Rush Bottom Chair Frame a few inches on the stiles!!!
     STEP #1:  Layout Lines:  With the front of the Removable Rush Bottom
Chair Frame facing you you begin your Layout Lines 2" from the front
rails, & then 3/4" thereafter to the end of the rails on both sides!!!
     STEP #2:  "Squaring Up" your Removable Rush Bottom Chair Frame!!!Smile
     STEP #3:  ???
     STEP #4:  ???
     STEP #5:  ???
     STEP #6:  ???
     STEP #7:  ???

     HAPPY SEAT WEAVING your REMOVABLE RUSH BOTTOM CHAIR!!!Smile

            How To Do A Splint Bottom Chair With A Herringbone Weave

                                         Having A Museum Quality Chair
                                                      By Ronnie P. Goff
                                                Copyright April 13, 2006

     NOTE:  You will learn how to do a Splint Bottom Chair with THE CORRECT
STEPS IN ORDER which makes it much, much easier, & faster to "SQUARE
UP" the Splint Bottom Chair, & weave the Herringbone Weave!!!Smile

     SPLINT SEAT CHAIR BOTTOM PREPERATION:  Remove the old Splint
etc. from the Splint Seat Bottom of the chair frame.  Repair, "Feed The Wood",
refinish, & reglue ihe Splint Seat Chair Bottom Frame if absolutely necessary!!!
     "FEED THE WOOD!!!"  Rails, & stiles only!!!
     STEP #1:  The "Weft" (Crosswise or Horizontal) STEP is first
     weaving the Splint Chair Bottom from "Rail" to "Rail!!!"
     NOTE:  When you begin "Squaring Up" your Herringbone Splint Bottom
you will immediately understand, & see exactly WHY you do the "Weft" (cross
wise, or horizontal) STEP 1st!!!
     STEP #2:  "Squaring Up," & beginning your Herringbone Splint Bottom 
Weave all in the same step!!!Smile
     Happy Seat Weaving your Herringbone Splint Bottom Chair!!!Smile

                     

                      Seatweaving & TOOTHPASTE!!!

                      Having A Museum Quality Chair
                                   By Ronnie P. Goff
                             Copyright April 13, 2006

     We all know that TOOTHPASTE is the only product used for cleaning
our teeth; but we all do not know that  our toothpaste is an excellent product
for finding, & getting an identical match for a furniture stain beneath laquer
or shellac for touch up work on a hand cane, machine cane, or rush bottom
chair!!!Surprised
     Simply locate an inconspicuous spot on a hand cane, machine, or rush
bottom chair chair using a very small amount of ye ole TOOTHPASTE on
on a soft cloth so you will not mar, or scratch the furniture surface, & gently
rub until you completely penetrate through the lacquer, or shellac to get
the exact color match for your furniture stain!!!Smile
     Then you simply stain your hand cane, machine cane, or rush bottom
chair with the CORRECT stain, & replace the lacquer, or shellac, & buff it
out with #0000 steel wool!!!
     A Denatured Alcohol Test is required first!!!

          How To Do A Denatured Alcohol Test

              Having A Museum Quality Chair
                           By Ronnie P. Goff
                    Copyright April 13, 2006


     Items absolutely necessary for doing a Denatured Alcohol Test!!!
     ITEM #1:  Denatured Alcohol
     ITEM #2:  Q Tips
     ITEM #3:  A very soft cloth
     Simply locate an inconspicuous spot on a Hand Cane, Machine, or
Rush Bottom Chair using a very small amount of Denatured Alcohol
on a very soft cloth, or Q Tip to do your Denatured Alcohol Test!!
     The chemical Denatured Alcohol reaction will be as follows:
     *SHELLAC:  Dissilves
     *VARNISH:  Slow reaction to Varnish
     TIP #1:  You can also do an  Acetone Test to get the same results!!!
     Item #1:  Acetone
     Item #2:  Q Tips
     Item #3:  A Soft Cloth
     The chemical Acetone reaction will be as follows:
     *Polyurethane Sheds
     *Lacquer Disolved in 30 Seconds with Rubbing
     *Varnish/Shellac Gets Sticky/Gels
     *NOW YOU CAN PAY YOURSELF (Instead of Somebody Else) by doing all
of your very own Furniture Touch Ups on all of your clients Seatweaving
Chairs with the knowledge you now have, & a little bit of practice!!!
     Happy Furniture Touch Ups on all of your clients Seatweaving Chairs!!!Smile

    

          Wicker Formulas For Correctly Feeding The Wicker
          & Restoring The Wicker


                        Having A Museum Quality Chair
                                      By Ronnie P. Goff
                                Copyright April 13, 2006

     WICKER CARE in the SPRING BEFORE YOU BEGIN USING your WICKER
FURNITURE, & at the END OF FALL BEFORE YOU STOP USING  your WICKER
FURNITURE!!!

     WICKER WRECKERS!!!
          *High Temperatures
          *Direct Sunlight
          *Low Humidity
          *Dry Air
          *Neglect

     Formula For Unpainted Fibre, Reed, & Rush!!!
          Three (3) Parts Denatured Alcohol
          One (1) Part Shellac
     Fibre, Reed, & Rush MUST BE SEALED, & OILED ANUALLY!!!
    
     Formula For Natural Wicker With An Adequate Finish
          Three (3) Parts Turpentine
          One (1) Part Mineral, or Boiled Linseed Oil
    
     Happy Wicker Feeding, & Wicker Restoration!!!Smile

     The absolutely CRAZY, CRAZY IDEA of SPRAYING YOUR FURNITURE
with a WATER SPRAY HOSE may be DAMAGING to your WICKER FURNITURE
because it may be putting STRESS ON YOUR WICKER FURNITURE!!!
     If your WICKER FURNITURE is DRY or EXTREMELY DRY just the very
simple act of SPRAYING YOUR WICKER FURNITURE INCORRECTLY
with a WATER SPRAY HOSE may cause ALL, or PART of the STRUCTURAL
WICKER JOINTS to EXPAND, or CONTRACT, from OVER SPRAYING, &
this may COMPLETELY DESTROY ALL OR PART of the STRUCTURAL
INTEGRITY of your WICKER FURNITURE JOINTS if you SPRAY TO MUCH
WATER on your WICKER FURNITURE JOINTS!!! 
     YOU SHOULD MIST your WICKER FURNITURE WITH a WATER BOTTLE,
& USE CAUTION (PLEASE DON'T OVER DO IT) where the WICKER JOINTS
ARE CONCERNED!!! 

     Happy MISTING your wicker furniture correctly!!!    

     For Chair Caning Instruction(s) (Lock Step Method), Rush Seat
Weaving, Etc., Instructions:
     Please leave uour Full Name, E-Mail Address, & what type of
instruction(s) you desire so we can be of service to you!!!
     We cannot be of service to you withiut this information!!!

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