Reweaving seats

Advice
#1

I am getting ready to reweave the seats on my Canadiene. Right now they are cane but I am going to try a flat nylon cord in a snowshoe type pattern. Anyone have any sources for the weave pattern. I want to be able to look at more than one source becuase the source I did find looked confusing as heck. Thanks

#2

I don’t have a pattern
for what you propose to do, but I have redone a number of seats using tubular nylon or polyester webbing in a simple weave. I’m sure your method might look a little better, but the tubular webbing weave is simple, functions well, and looks fine, in my opinion.

#3

thanks pblanc

#4

If you are interested in this
the seat basically looks like this when you are done:

http://www.bellcanoe.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=169



Not quite as traditional looking as a cane seat or what you are contemplating, but quick, easy, relatively inexpensive, and very durable. Perhaps slightly less comfortable than cane but not much.



You can get various widths of nylon tubular webbing at a number of outdoors stores catering to camping, paddling or climbing, or online. Tubular webbing is a bit softer and quite a bit stronger than flat webbing. It comes in various colors. I find that 1 inch or 1 1/2 inch widths usually work best.



For completely symmetrical (top to bottom) seat frames I usually just turn the seat over to conceal the rout and bead that secured the cane. You can cut, sand, or chisel the bead off if you wish. If you can’t invert the seat frame, you can sand the bead flush and stain it to make it less conspicuous. Only a little will show anyway.



This is a good time to sand and varnish the seat frame, if you wish. Just decide how many strips are needed crosswise and lengthwise. Each strip needs to be long enough to wrap around the seat frame and reach to the interior portion of the frame where it will be secured on each end. Count the total number and length of the strips and buy a little extra as a little bit is consumed when you cut the strips and flame the ends to prevent fraying.



I secure the ends of the strips using stainless steel wood screws and stainless steel finish washers. The strips are weaved in a simple alternating over-under pattern and secured so as to make them as taut as is easily possible. You don’t see the screws and finish washers unless you leave large gaps between the strips or turn the seat over.

#5

Those are nice But…
I’m really looking for a more vintage look. I think the snowshoe pattern is what I’m going to stick with. I just need to find an easy to understand method fro doing it. I do thank you for the explanation though and that method would definitely work well it’s just that the material I have won’t work with that method.

#6

Source for polyester cord

– Last Updated: May-06-09 2:08 PM EST –

Here is a source for polyester cordage in varying sizes. It is used as guys for ham radio antennas. I built and laced a seat using 3/32" black polyester cord last year and was pleased at the springiness and the lack of sag when wet. Nylon will stretch appreciably when damp and moreso when soaked.



Jim

http://www.davisrf.com/dacron.php

If the link doesn't work, try

http://www.davisrf.com

Click Amature Products, Dacron line

Edit: Please note that I actually used 3/32" cord.

#7

nylon
Nylon does stretch a bit. Polyester, which seat belts are made of, has little stretch. And it is true that wet nylon sags. But I have found that it does not sag anymore than cane does when wet, and the amount it sags is not uncomfortable, at least for me.

#8

Book: Building Snowshoes…
There’s a book listed on Amazon.com “Building Snowshoes and Snowshoe Furniture” that might help you. The on-line preview includes illustrations of how to do the weaving: http://www.smalllinks.com/9JL


#9

I have that book
I do have that book. It’s pretty cool by the way. And I was reading up on it a bit. Just looking for any advice or another source.