How to Rush a Chair

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Rushing a chair is one of the traditional methods of creating a seat for a chair with rails around the perimeter. Materials for rushing include twisted cattail leaves or even twisted strands of paper. The strands of rush are stretched across the seat and looped around the rails, moving in a counterclockwise direction, to fill in the seat. Pieces of corrugated cardboard are used for additional padding. Below, you will find information on how to rush a chair in this manner.

Steps

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    Do not to mar the frame of the chair. [1]
    • Remove any tacks with pliers.
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    The rush comes in a coil of 100 feet (30.48 meters) or more.
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    Tack it to the inside left rail near the front leg (or slightly behind the last tack if you followed the tip for filling in a gap on a trapezoid-shaped seat). [2]
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    [3]
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    [4]
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    Loop it around the back rail and then around the right rail so it is tight against the back right leg.
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    Bring it to the front rail and continue the sequence, moving counterclockwise around the seat, until you reach the end of the piece of rush. [5]
    • Knock the rushes tight against each other with a wooden block and hammer.
    • Install temporary tacks through the last rush on all sides to help prevent them from slipping.
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    The knot should be positioned under the seat so it is not visible.
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    • Place a temporary tack holding the end of the last piece of rush.
    • Cut pieces of cardboard into 4 triangles that are nearly as long as the side rails.
    • Cut off the top corner of each triangle.
    • Slip the side corners of each triangle into the woven rush near each leg.
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    Remove the temporary tack, tie on another piece of rush and continue in the same counterclockwise fashion over the cardboard until you completely cover the side rails with rush.
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    • Place a temporary tack on the side rail and then thread the end of the rush up through the center opening of the seat. The temporary tack holds the woven part in place while you finish the seat.
    • Pass the rush over the front rail, up through the center opening, over the back rail and up through the opening again. Repeat this figure-8 pattern until the front and back rails are filled in.
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  • Question
    What can I do with rush that is broken?
    Community Answer
    Throw it away.
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  • Question
    My chair has armrests. I took out the screws, but the arms are loose. Should I thread the rush through the small opening, then put the screw back in the armrest?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but make sure you screw the arm back on properly.
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  • Question
    Where can I buy a rush chair?
    Community Answer
    You can buy a one time chair at Costco!
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      Warnings

      • If the seat of the chair does not have right angles at the front 2 corners, you will have to fill in the gap with short, individual strands. Do this by tacking it on the inside of the left rail, wrapping each one around the front and the left rails, crossing along the front rail and then wrapping it around the right and front rail. Tack it on the inside of the right rail.
        Thanks
        Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
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      Things You'll Need

      • Utility knife
      • Pliers
      • Measuring tape
      • Rush
      • Pail of warm water
      • Hammer
      • Furniture tacks (Number 2 or 3)
      • Block of wood
      • Cardboard

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      References

      1. ↑ https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=YmYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PP103&lpg=PP103&dq=removing+old+rush+seat+with+a+knife&source=bl&ots=710CvvuISj&sig=ACfU3U0qDC4PTmz-9UuYEnVnB3F1BHxktg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijz8rfm5bnAhVReXAKHUaYCVUQ6AEwFnoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=removing%20old%20rush%20seat%20with%20a%20knife&f=false
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQkE05DD9_Y&t=86s
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHu7lc5680w
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViClfS2tBAk
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuE1ujMQZpI

      About This Article

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Ann Alexander

        Jun 22, 2018

        "I am encouraged to try to re-rush my chairs on my own now that I have this excellent guideline to follow."
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