The seating of chairs with machine woven cane is a much simpler process than that of hand caning them. Under similar conditions less time and skill are required on areas of like dimensions. Machine woven cane, as its name implies, is a manufactured product made on power looms or machines. Commercially it is sold under the name of cane webbing. It is obtainable in widths ranging from 8 in., increasing by 2 in., to 18 in., and in rolls of indefinite lengths. It may be procured in meshes of varying fineness, utilizing cane of various sizes. In specifying open woven cane it is necessary that the purchaser indicate his wants in essentially this way: Ten feet medium open woven cane webbing, of No. 1 fine cane, 12 in. wide. A roll of such cane has been referred to in Fig. 18.

Cane webbing may also be purchased in close woven, in both the plain and diagonal weaves. The specifications for purchasing are identical with the open woven except that the term close woven is specified together with the character of weave. Fig. 27 shows cane webbing approximately half size, in open and close woven meshes.

As in hand caning, any boy with proper inclination who has had the necessary experience in the shops, may avail himself of the opportunities for seating chairs in his community. The educational and pecuniary advantages are identical to those mentioned in relation to hand caning. The relative ease with which he may acquire skill in handling the materials precludes satisfactory workmanship for prospective customers.

The cost of jobs is readily determined, for the amount and cost of webbing is easily ascertained, and experience soon determines the length of time required. Cane webbing costs approximately as follows: For 12 in. widths, 21 cents; 14 in. widths, 26 cents; 16 in. widths, 30 cents; and 18 in. widths, 38 cents. This cost applies to open woven and is the charge per running foot. Close woven is sold by the square foot at about 30 cents, regardless of width. It is possible to procure special wide widths, but these are not generally found on the open market.

For example, a chair seat which requires a 12 in. square of open woven webbing, and which has the groove made, may be reseated for 50 cents. The entire job could be finished in about half an hour. This may be made less if several chairs are to be reseated at a time. However, it may be termed the minimum charge consistent with fair money returns. There are instances when the seat frame requires grooving, and inasmuch as running it in by hand is a laborious and tedious process the worker must of necessity carefully estimate time before he determines upon charge.The Process.—The following may be termed the steps in inserting cane webbing. No special difficulty should be encountered in properly seating the frame at the first attempt.

Step 1. Fig. 28 shows a commercial chair seat with groove cut by a router after it has been assembled. There are no angles on the seat. The groove is standard, with dimensions ¼ in. deep and ³/₁₆ in. wide. This groove may be cut by hand with a universal plane and chisel before permanently assembling the parts. In fact this is a necessary procedure in grade schools and other schools where special machine tools are unavailable. The necessary tools for pressing in the webbing lie near the frame, Fig. 28. These are a small mallet, a chisel, and several hard wood wedges. The wedges are made in several widths, to enable them to enter the groove at the abrupt curves, are 4 in. long of ¼ in. stock, tapered to ? in. on the faces.

Step 2. The cane should be boiled in water for a minute or so, or allowed to soak for several minutes in warm water until thoroly pliable. Then lay it on the frame and cut it to the shape of the seat, allowing half an inch excess around the entire piece. A pattern of card or bristol board will prove of material assistance to the amateur as well as the expert. The front line or edge of the pattern must run parallel with the horizontal or vertical strands of cane. Pull out all weavers at the edges of the piece of cane where they run over and parallel with the groove. Then lay the webbing over the frame, and see that the weavers run parallel with the front of the frame. With wedge and mallet as illustrated in Fig. 29 begin at the front and force the webbing into the groove. Insert on the opposite side next, then the other two sides in order. The curves may be done last. Step 3. The edges of the webbing will project up beyond the groove. These are cut off as illustrated in Fig. 30 by means of a mallet and chisel at the outer edge in the bottom of the groove. Run either liquid or hot glue into the groove. An oil-can with large holed nozzle is excellent for this purpose. The liquid glue should be heated if used in this way so it may flow easily. This glue is to be recommended for the amateur in that no great haste is required as in the case with hot glue. A small stiff round brush will serve the purpose very well in absence of the oiler.

Step 4. Fig. 31 shows the method of inserting the spline. Splines may be had either of wood or reed, are curved on the upper edge and wedge shape in cross-section. They are standard in width and thickness and will fit a groove of the size indicated in Step 1. Fig. 32 is a freehand sketch of a spline, showing particularly its shape in cross-section. Wood splines, preferably of hickory, may be purchased in 5 ft. lengths, and reed splines in lengths of 8 or 10 ft. Both hickory and reed are recommended because of their pliability and ease in handling. Steam or soak them in hot water until thoroly pliable; then insert in the groove as illustrated. Note that the joint is made at the rear of the seat. The mallet used is of rawhide and will not mar the spline. A wooden mallet of small size is a satisfactory tool. Cut off the extra length of spline with the chisel, force the spline down nearly flush with the frame with mallet and wedge, sponge off the excess glue from the surface, and allow the webbing to dry. Step 5. The finished seat is shown in Fig. 33. As the cane webbing dries it becomes taut, and irregularities of the surface, if not too pronounced, will disappear entirely. Therefore, the worker need not consider them primarily. Light sanding of the cane when thoroly dry will eliminate the small hairlike projections on the surface. Singeing the surface with a blow torch or gas flame will do the work more effectively, but great care must be exercised to avoid burning the webbing itself. The singeing must be done rapidly and the flame not be permitted to remain at one spot more than an instant. Dampen the surface to minimize the danger of burning.

The chair shown in Fig. 34 was made by an eighth grade boy. The slip seat is upholstered, and a panel of cane webbing utilized on the back. In instances of this character where the area is rectangular, splines are cut, mitered, and fitted previous to inserting the webbing. The splines are used dry. Manufacturers, in instances where the seat area is all curved, generally fit the pliable spline, allow it to dry, and then insert it with the webbing. This assures tight joints. This procedure is not recommended for the ordinary shops for the simple reason that the shrinkage is not appreciable.

The frame illustrated in Fig. 35 is purely supplementary to the steps, but as with the Seven Steps in Caning, it should be used in demonstrating the processes to classes. It materially assists in making the processes clear to the students, previous to allowing work on their projects, and assures a general understanding, at least, of proper procedure. The different panels are lettered for convenience and need no elaborate explanation:

A is the open frame with grooves cut for the webbing.

B is the webbing inserted with ragged edges exposed, ready for cutting.

C is the webbing with edges properly trimmed and a spline inserted.

D is the completed panel.

Inserts of cane webbing may be utilized on pieces of furniture other than seats. These inserts could be used on every article illustrated in Chapters I and II, with similar pleasing effects, and with less labor. However, there is an obvious element in hand caning which naturally and logically gives it precedence over the inserted cane.