The material used for making rattan furniture is a special type of cane obtained from certain species of palms. These palm trees are commonly grown in tropical countries of Asia, Africa and Australia. The uniqueness of rattan is that it is very strong yet flexible. The canes can be easily woven to prepare a wide range of stylish, colorful home furniture starting from sofas, chairs, tables, bar stools and so on. There are several advantages of having rattan furniture at home. The texture of rattan furniture has a natural supple feel to it. Its luster improve its visual appeal and make it more attractive. Like wood, it can be painted or stained. They are light and can be moved from one place to another quite easily. It has high durability and can be used for several years. When you use them for years, some wear and tear problems are bound to arise but they can be fixed with some minor rattan furniture repair work at home.
How to Repair Rattan Furniture
One of the major rattan furniture problems is that it gets bleached when it comes in direct contact with sunlight. Moreover, cold weather condition tend to make it brittle. As a result, cracks and dents develop on them. Before you fix one or more such defects on rattan furniture, you have to gather some supplies. The most commonly needed materials are: glue, glue injection needle, screws and nails, hammer, putty knife, sandpaper, spray paint, spray primer and boiled linseed oil. When you are ready with these materials, you can proceed with the following repair job:
Problem #1
To begin with, check out the joints of the furniture carefully because these joints tend to loosen up. When screws are used for attaching the joints with each other, then you have to tighten up the screw properly. However, take care that you do not over tighten the screws. In case nails have been used for this purpose, then replace the old nails with new ones. Remove each and every single nail from the joints first and then hammer down new nails in those areas. To ensure that the joints are tightly held and add more stability to the furniture apply some glue on the repaired joints. To reach out to the narrow joints of the rattan furniture, use either a glue injection needle or a sharpened dowel rod. During the drying time of the glue, use a rope or clamp to hold the glued rattan furniture parts together.
Problem #2
Check out for those spots where the material has chipped off. Scrape off those areas with the help of a putty knife first. Then take a medium grit sandpaper to sand the surface. This will remove the rough patches from that spot. Then sand the entire furniture using sandpaper to get a smooth surface. After sanding, rub your fingers on it to check if it is smooth or not. You should sand the furniture as long as you do not get a smooth feel on the entire surface. This sanding will ensure better adherence when you apply paint and primer on it after the repair.
Problem #3
When the weaving of the rattan is damaged, then you have to weave the rattan on your own. To create the existing pattern is not going to be easy unless and until you practice it. Observe the weaving pattern very carefully. Draw the diagram on a piece of paper. Then try to make the same pattern with the help of scrap rattan. Practice it a number of times. This will make the job easier for you. When you are confident, prepare the actual pattern which is there in furniture.
Problem #4
Minor dents or cracks on rattan furniture can be easily covered up by painting the furniture. When the outdoor furniture is faded due to sunlight, then also furniture painting is the best solution available to restore its shine. Wipe off the furniture with a clean piece of cloth to get rid of all dust and debris. Furniture cleaning should be followed by priming of the furniture. Spray primer and paint is best suited for rattan furniture as it has so many curves and designs. Spray the primer coat on the furniture surface in such a way that it forms an even layer. Let the primer dry thoroughly then apply the spray paint and allow the paint to dry.
Another excellent way of repairing dents and damages on the rattan furniture is application of boiled linseed oil. This will facilitate expansion of the rattan which in turn will fill up the cracks. Dip a paintbrush into boiled linseed oil and rub it on the surface of the furniture. Let the oil get soaked for half an hour or so. Then rub the surfaces with a soft piece of cloth. Thus you will increase the longevity of the furniture for many more years.
When you do all these repair works yourself, you can save yourself a lot of money. While doing rattan furniture repair, you must protect yourself with suitable protective gear that includes safety glasses, gloves and dust mask. Dust released while sanding and fumes released from the paint can be harmful for your health.
