Host Kathi Cardinalli shows how to bring new life to an old tabletop with the addition of a cane top.
Materials:
paint
paintbrush
a roll or two of chair caning (available from specialty shops that do chair re-caning or from craft-supply stores)
staple gun and staples
scissors
craft knife
ruler
bamboo
drill
hand saw
hammer
brass brads
pruning shears
an old or unfinished table to have the top covered with caning
Steps:
- Clean and apply a coat of paint to the tabletop if necessary (especially if you want a color to show through the caning).
- If possible, it might be easier to remove the tabletop before caning.
- Cut sheets of caning to fit over the tabletop, then wrap under the outer edge.
- Use staple gun to attach caning sheets to the underside of the table (figure A). If necessary, place heavy books on top of the caning after it has been cut and positioned over the top to keep it flat while stapling.
- Cut and fold corners over and under if using a square or rectangular tabletop. Staple.
- For an additional touch, cut strips of small bamboo with miter cuts to trim the table. Use decorative nails to attach the bamboo to the table (figure B). A pull saw gives nice clean cuts.
- Predrill the bamboo, then tack the bamboo onto the tabletop with brass brads to create a frame around the border (figure C).
- Repeat the bamboo with accents at the top of the legs if desired.
* Note: There is a "right" side and a "wrong" side for cane. The shinier side is the right side. Be sure that the correct side is showing (figure D).
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