Bruce Hamilton writes:

 

We just finished a set of six cane back contemporary chairs. The cane was broken in numerous places exposing the uncolored cane below. Besides the cane replacement the chairs needed re-gluing of the seat rail joints, color touch up and recoating. The lacquer on the wood finished areas was beginning to crack. These chair were pecan wood and heavily colored. The first two photos show the set before work began and a close-up of the damaged cane. We removed the old cane (what a job!) and re-glued the chairs rail joints. Next we cleaned them and while doing so we discovered there was a heavy coat of past wax on the finished surfaces. The best cleaner was Mohawk's Laco Solvent. After installing the new cane I sanded all surfaces with 320 and applied a 2 lb cut of SealCoat to insure any remaining contamination was sealed. I also wanted to seal the back of the cane and I felt that the shellac would give the best adhesion for top coating with lacquer. After the cane was in I blue taped the areas adjacent to the caning in preparation to toning the cane with the proper color. The color was a dye and a pigment concoction with shellac as a binder. The color of the chairs under the shop florescent lights was very green but once out in the sun their true color was evident.With Gordon and I working together we toned the back and fronts of the cane. Finally, Gordon got his first lessen in splatter using black pigment in shellac. Once everything dried for a day I top coated with regular lacquer, sanded lightly, did any necessary touch up and applied two final coats the last one in semi-glass.

 

These chairs are part of a complete matching Drexel dining room set with a console and an end table. The end table I saved the finish on but top on the console table had to have its top stripped. The finishing schedule will require paste wood filling, toning, selective glazing, splattering, top coating and a high polish rub out.

 

Bruce