10 Steps to Repair Damaged or damaged Wicker Furniture Reed
Introduction
It is likely that you will be pleasantly surprised when you have to repair furniture made of wicker which has its wicker reeds damaged or missing. Finding someone who is competent and willing to assist you isn’t easy to find to say the least and the cost will most likely be prohibitive if you have significant damage. Sometimes, the expense of repairing furniture may exceed its value. If that is the case, you might look into fixing it yourself. You will want to repair the furniture piece if it’s not part the set. The best option in this situation is to repair it by your self and save your damaged piece from the scrap pile. It’s not easy, but certainly feasible.
This article shows the repairs needed to a wicker love chair that was damaged when an animal chewed through the Reed. It was difficult to match the reed’s hue or size. We chose the most similar reed that we could find. The client was extremely pleased as we were able save her furniture which was part of a set that was no longer available.
Tools you may need:
- Conventional Pliers
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Wire Cutters
- You can use the same way like a Paper Clip
- Replacing broken or missing wicker furniture reed
It sounds difficult to repair wicker furniture, and it can be. This course focuses on the replacement of damaged or missing reeds that are woven in one direction. It’s not designed for intricate woven sections. It’s very easy to fix small issues and it can be very satisfying to do it yourself. It’s not difficult once you get the hang of it. But it does take some time and patience.
Ten Steps to Replace Lost Or Damaged Reeds
1. How to Identify Damaged Reeds
The first thing to do is evaluate the damage you want to repair , and then determine whether re-weaving is enough to do a satisfactory job. If the damaged wicker reed is easily visible then determine how large the damaged or missing reed. It is essential to know the repairs required.
2. Determine the Reed Material: Size, Shape, and Color (Resin or Natural)
To prepare for replacement you must determine what type of material you need along with the diameter and color of the reed. You can make wicker from natural or synthetic resins. The design and the size of the reed and the shades can differ based on the type of resin you’re using. synthetic or natural resins.
3. If possible, take a sample of Reed
To locate the correct replacement reed, you’ll have to either collect a small sample of the damaged reed under your furniture or collect one from an area that is open. If you have an item that you can present to the seller, you stand a an increased chance of receiving the correct replacement or one close enough you can live with.
4. Choose the amount of Reed required
It is important to determine the length of each piece of reed that you’ll need to fix the damage. Be sure to estimate it and then add a bit more. Keep in mind that having leftovers is a good thing when you make an order. When you place your order, you should think about having some spare reed on hand for the future. It’s a low-cost insurance policy in case you need to repair the damage.
5. Contact Wicker Dealer and Acquire New Reed
The first stop to get replacement reed is from the place you purchased the furniture in an attempts to get the exact reed. If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to talk to a wicker dealer that can find repair parts. Resin reed can be difficult to locate due to the many vendors offering different sizes, colors and varieties. Natural wicker is straightforward to locate. Some reeds are not able to be replaced with an exact match and you may need to choose a different size or color. Our experience is that the war wounds add a little character to your furniture.
6. Be aware of the weave Pattern
Before beginning it is necessary to look over the pattern of weaving. Once you remove the damaged reed, you may not be able to recognize the pattern you have to replicate when you insert the new reed. Therefore, take a closer look and understand how you must weave your new reed back into. It is helpful to consider the opposite aspect of your furniture (Example left arm v.s. right arm.) And then see what it appears similar to in an area which isn’t damaged or missing the reed. Taking a clear picture might aid in this.
7. Clean up damaged Reed
Utilize a pair of pliers or a similar tool to cut or remove the damaged wire. The end of the remaining wire should be pulled out in a direction that is pointed away from the surface. Keep at least 1-2 inches of the original reed underneath the surface. The more weaves you do in the reed piece, the better it will be able to hold. So, if you can, try to remove enough original reed so that you are able to weave it back into a picture over and under the cross members at least four to seven times. You can go further when you want. There may be no alternatives other than weaving an unintentional weave over 3 cross members within small areas. You might have to accept that the piece is somewhat loose when you weave it in. However, it’s perfectly fine so you ensure that the woven piece does not fall out.
8. Use a wire tool to assist in pulling the Reed back up
A tool will be required to assist you in weaving the new reed. The reed is to be weaved across and under the crossmember. You won’t be able to drag the reed up to the surface without using a wire tool to connect and pull the reed up. Make a wire tool out of a paperclip, or another similar-sized wire. If you put the cane on an unibody, grasp the wire using your fingers and pull it up from beneath the cross member. You must bend one end of the wire to form a hook sufficient to grasp the reed, then bring it back to the surface. It might take some trial and error to make the hook function as you’d like. The hook should be straight when it pulls the cane in between the laterals. Bend the other end until your finger is able to pull the tool up.
9. Make a new reed and put it in place (tuck in ends if necessary).
There are usually new reels that are longer than 36 inches. They are usually longer than the length that you need to replace a single piece of reed. Use the entire length of the reed while weaving, then trim the excess when you’re finished. This will make sure that you do not waste the money you have spent. If there is no waste issue or the length is difficult to work with, it may be simpler to cut lengths that are easier to work Just don’t cut them short otherwise you’ll waste reed. The wire tool that you made will be helpful in making sure that the reed is secured. The tool has an end hook that allows you to grasp the end of the reed, which is below the surface so you are able to pull it upwards to complete the pattern.
Note: Natural wicker reed will require soaking in water for at minimum 15 minutes in order for it to become elastic enough to bend before weaving.
10. Stain and Seal Natural Wicker
If you’re repairing the natural wicker material it is necessary to stain or paint it in order to match the finishing. After staining, but not painting, you can seal the stained reed using clear acrylic paint. There is no need to seal or paint when your wicker is natural and untreated. You can visit your local hardware store and purchase the most minimal amount of stain is available. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for staining. Buy a can of clear coat with acrylic spray and then paint the region to seal it. If you want to, you can use the can to seal the entire area.
Paint only the affected area or the entire area to complete the job. For more information, see our Tips to Painting Wicker Furniture and Painting Wicker Furniture Articles.
Its important to remember two things:
Since weaving occupies more space than you might expect, your weave will require longer length.
You should leave at minimum 2 inches on each side of your new reed in order to stop it from pulling out.