FIG. 48. WORKING DRAWING OF A STOOL FOR RUSHING.
[Fig. 48] is a working drawing of a stool or seat. The constructed problem would appear very similar to the one shown in [Fig. 45]. The seat frame is fastened to the base with concealed screws. The upper caps are temporarily fastened until the weaving is completed, [!-- original location of Fig. 48--] when they are removed and the frame fastened to the base as indicated. The caps are then replaced permanently. Generally speaking, for initial work in rush seating it is advisable to weave over a separate frame. Such a frame is conveniently handled, and better work will result.
Finish.—Some agent to preserve a rush seat is necessary. Rush should be coated with equal parts of oil and turpentine, followed by two coats of tough, elastic varnish. The necessary time should elapse between coats. Some manufacturers do not use oil, and apply varnish only. Raffia and husk seats should be treated as rush. Fiber is varnished only. A brittle varnish is to be avoided, for it will chip off with a little use, and a seat is subject to hard wear.
SUGGESTIVE PROJECTS.
CHAPTER VI
Reed and Splint Weaving
Reeds which are used extensively for basket-making and weaving in general are procured from the species of palm described in [Chapter I]. These reeds should not be confused with the term reed applied to several distinct species of large water loving grasses. Such reeds are usually designated under the name of grasses. There are a thousand species of palm distributed over the tropical regions of the entire world, but only a few are native in the United States, and these are of no distinct commercial value. The rattan or cane palms of India and the Malay Islands grow to an unusual height, and are imported into this country in great quantities. These rattans and the trailing palm of the species Calamus have as main export centers Singapore and Calcutta. These palms are stripped of leaves and bark and split into round and flat strips of different diameters and widths. The outer bark, when stripped into proper sizes, is known as chair cane; the entire palm, with leaves removed, is commercially known as rattan; and the flat reeds are frequently sold as flat rattan and pith cane. Inasmuch as these flat and round strips, split from the palm plant and exported under the name of rattan are called reeds, we shall refer to them under that name in all discussions to follow. There are two qualities of reed on the market sold under the names of China reed and German reed. The former is inferior in quality and the latter is superior, being strong, tough and durable. The Philippine Islands give promise of producing a liberal supply of reed of good quality that is claimed to equal the German product. The problem, however, is one of gathering and marketing the product. The government has made a partial survey of the rattan supply, and this justifies the belief that the Islands will eventually compete with the world market.
Primitive Methods.—Briefly the primitive process of converting the rattan, or raw material, into cane and reeds, or the finished product, is this: The rattan stems are thoroly dried or seasoned, and the nodules are pared off with a peculiar native knife. Then the rattan is sorted into sizes and selection made as to grade. The sorting is based upon external color and diameter of the rattan. The rattan is then immersed in water, and the stem is rubbed vigorously with sand and cocoanut husks to remove dirt and foreign substances. It is then bleached by means of sulphur fumes, either in the stem or after the peel and core have been prepared.
The method of preparing the peel and core is this: The peel, or outer covering, is removed with a heavy knife; it is then stripped to selected thicknesses and widths by drawing it by hand thru two knives set at required distances apart. This peel is commercially called cane. The core is then stripped into as many strands as necessary, depending upon the diameter of the cores required. These are rounded by drawing them thru a sheet of tin or iron perforated with holes of different diameters. The rounded cores are called reeds.