Manufacture of artificial rattan furniture. Business idea: artificial rattan wicker garden furniture

Artificial rattan can be classified as modern materials, which not only entered the daily life of a person, but also made it more comfortable, practical and aesthetically beautiful. Due to its individuality and high quality, rattan furniture is only becoming more popular day by day, never ceasing to delight a wide range of consumers with such quality characteristics as a long service life, ample opportunities for use in different styles and design, affordable price categories. Due to this demand, the business of producing artificial rattan furniture can be classified as one of the most profitable and promising areas of entrepreneurial activity.

Wicker furniture made of technical rattan, among other types of materials, is distinguished by such qualities as:

the use of exclusively manual labor in production;
practical application;
performance reliability.

Wicker furniture can be used not only for the interior, but also it will perfectly cope with the role of outdoor garden furniture. In various catering establishments, rattan furniture can be used on open terraces, regardless of the season. The same goes for summer cottages and pavilions. Modern design high-tech rattan furniture is perfect for any home or office interior.

What is artificial rattan?

Artificial rattan is a thread made of polymer material, which was obtained by extrusion. The plastic is heated to a special melting point, after which it is passed through a special hole. This hole can be of various shapes (crescent moon, wood bark, twig, etc.). Depending on this, a wide variety of thread shapes are obtained.

Artificial rattan is completely safe for human health, it is environmentally friendly, odorless, quite pleasant to the touch.

Advantages of Technorattan furniture

Artificial rattan furniture has whole line qualitative advantages thanks to which it enjoys such great popularity among consumers:

very easy in daily use and does not require special care or additional cleaning agents. During operation, it is enough to remove dust and dirt from the furniture using an ordinary damp cloth;
use is not limited only indoor spaces, such furniture is resistant to cold, sunlight, getting wet and other climatic factors, so it can be used without damage in the exterior (on summer terraces, cafe areas, in the garden and other places);
the germination of the vine cannot happen, since the furniture is not made of natural wood;
thanks to modern technologies such furniture can take on a wide variety of colors, shades and the shape of rods, it is also good to imitate a natural rattan stem, so that even a specialist is quite difficult to determine artificial material with the naked eye;
the high strength of the products allows them to withstand even heavy loads, without any deformations.

But most of all, buyers appreciate the affordability of artificial rattan furniture. The cost of products from technorattan is an order of magnitude lower than that of natural material, thanks to which it is affordable for many categories of the population.

For the manufacturer, artificial rattan is also more attractive:

it is easier and faster to work with it;
it has excellent flexibility, so you can give finished products a wide variety of shapes and designs;
the large length (up to 200 meters) allows you not to worry about the connection of rods and the occurrence of butt loops, which significantly impair the quality of the finished furniture.

Of course, natural wood is undeniably beautiful, but it has disadvantages that can be avoided by using artificial analogs. For example, natural rattan furniture cannot be used outdoors or outdoors, because it is very sensitive to negative factors. environment... Yes, and daily care natural wood must be special, it is imperative to take care of the purchase of special products.

Artificial rattan production

In order to organize a business for the production of artificial rattan furniture, it is necessary to purchase the appropriate equipment with which it will be possible to make polymer threads. You can, of course, buy ready-made material, but in this case the business will be less profitable.

The equipment for the production of technorattan includes:

extruder;
cooling system;
thread winding machine;
granule stirrer;
crusher;
pipe lip;
welding machine;
inventory (scissors, keys).

It will also be necessary to purchase raw materials from which, in fact, rattan will be made: plastic granules, dyes, pipes, accessories, and other components.

The use of the equipment makes it possible to produce the most varied shapes of rods, various diameters and textures of the material, so the finished product can be the most diverse and unique in nature.

Important. To organize a business at home in a limited space to accommodate all the necessary equipment, you can abandon the manufacture of rattan itself, and buy its ready-made material in windings. This will greatly facilitate the entire production process and reduce the amount of investment in starting a business.

Stages of the technological process of furniture production

Technorattan furniture production process includes the following stages:

Work on the creation of a product design.
Manufacture or purchase of polymer threads.
Making an aluminum frame using a pipe lip and a welding machine.
Frame painting.
Weaving.

To make the process of manufacturing rattan furniture more hassle-free and of high quality, experts advise using the following tips:

to attach the rattan to the frame, use special upholstery staples;
to give the furniture maximum elasticity, multilayer weaving technology is used;
weaving should start from the seat frame, especially if the shape of the product is non-standard;
so that it is convenient to work with the material, it is wiped with a cloth dipped in vegetable oil;
there are more than enough patterns for weaving, they can be found in special literature or on sites on the Internet, but in the process of work, the master often has his own ideas that give the products a unique and inimitable look;
work should be started with structures that are easier to implement.

Business profitability

In order to find out whether such a business will be profitable for implementation, it is necessary at the planning stage to draw up a business plan and make detailed calculations of activities.

Purchase of equipment - 800 thousand rubles.
Monthly expenses (raw materials, dyes, premises rent, utilities, workers' salaries) - 150 thousand rubles.
The cost of finished products: an armchair - 30 thousand rubles, a sofa - 85 thousand rubles, dining room furniture for 4 persons (armchairs and a table) - 49 thousand rubles.

Artificial rattan furniture is in demand at any time of the year, so its production can be organized in two directions:

Sell ready-made furniture to individuals.
Make custom-made furniture.

In order for the money invested in the business to pay off in the first year of operation, it is necessary to produce 7 armchairs, 3 sofas and 5 sets of furniture for the dining room every month. If we manage to gain such momentum and find buyers for the products, then next year it will be possible to think about hiring additional labor.

People are interested not only in decorating and arranging their homes, but also in decorating suburban areas. And rattan furniture is at the peak of popularity here. But not everyone can afford a set of furniture made of natural material, and in this case, interior items made from its artificial analogue become the best alternative. The problem is that not every city can buy or order a wicker chaise longue, armchair or sofa. And given this fact, it would be logical to launch your own business in this area. Consider how to open your own production of artificial rattan furniture. Artificial rattan is an analogue of natural material, which is a strip (in the form of twigs, braid or tree bark) of synthetic material of a certain thickness and width. And in combination with an excellent appearance, artificial rattan also has excellent quality characteristics - strength and durability.

Our business valuation:

Initial investment - from 450,000 rubles.

The market saturation is low.

The complexity of starting a business is 5/10.

The production of furniture from artificial rattan as a business has recently begun to gain momentum in the market - only as the popularity of these interior items among the population grows. But it is already clear now that this niche will only develop in the future, bringing the entrepreneur a consistently high profit.
The prerequisites for launching your own workshop can be the following advantages:

Artificial wicker furniture has better quality indicators than natural furniture - and this at a lower price. This means that the demand for it will only grow every year.
A small investment in a business allows even home production to be launched.
Having independently studied and mastered the weaving technology, a business can be organized without hiring personnel.

The prospects are clear, which means that you can safely start implementing your plans. What needs to be thought out here?

Description of the manufacturing process of artificial rattan furniture

You can organize your own workshop for the manufacture of rattan furniture either by mastering the weaving technology on your own, or by hiring craftsmen. And it is on their professionalism that the quality and originality of the finished products will depend.

When organizing a business, we focus on the qualifications of the hired personnel. Ultimately, the profit of the workshop will depend on their skill. Ideally, production requires hiring not only weaving craftsmen, but also designers to develop sketches.

In general, the technology for the production of artificial rattan furniture looks like this:

Sketch development.
Manufacturing according to a sketch of a metal base.
Weaving the product.
Adjustment of the finished product - cutting off excess plastic tapes, coating the product with varnish or protective compound.

The weaving process is carried out manually, and the following options are possible here:

rope weaving,
ordinary weaving,
weaving with 3-4 rods,
openwork weaving.

As for raw materials, do-it-yourself weaving of artificial rattan furniture can be done using either purchased material or what is made within the walls of the workshop. The second option is more preferable, since it will require lower costs for providing a raw material base. And despite the fact that certain investments are to be made in the technical equipment of the enterprise, all investments will soon pay off, because the resulting rattan can not only be used in your workshop, but also sold to third-party firms. But all that is required to obtain rattan is to load the raw material into the machine according to the PVC recipe.

Secondary raw materials, the delivery of which to the workshop will need to be adjusted - metal rods for the base of furniture and pigments for coloring rattan.

If there is money to buy special equipment still no, you can buy artificial rattan from many manufacturers. A common practice is when entrepreneurs buy raw materials in China - here it is somewhat cheaper (despite the cost of delivery). Artificial rattan is supplied in bays, which are then unwound.

When the workshop starts up and starts to bring consistently high profits, you should seriously think about buying a special machine that produces artificial rattan. This will simplify the manufacture of products and reduce the cost of them.

Rattan Furniture Making Equipment

Furniture Weaving Extruder

The production of wicker furniture made of artificial rattan to order is carried out using an extruder. It converts PVC raw materials into finished ribbons, which are later used for weaving.

Due to the fact that the direction for the manufacture of rattan furniture on Russian market new, there are not so many domestic equipment presented here. Basically, aspiring entrepreneurs equip workshops with Chinese machines - they are relatively inexpensive and of fairly high quality. But the purchase of an extruder is not the only expenditure on equipping the enterprise. Street and country furniture made of artificial rattan will see the light if the following set of equipment is in the workshop:

Extruder - from 250,000 rubles.
Pipe bender - from 50,000 rubles.
Compressor for painting - from 50,000 rubles.
Welding machine - from 30,000 rubles.

The final cost of the equipment is not limited to the indicated prices. Depending on the scale of production, investments in the technical equipment of the workshop can reach up to 1,500,000 rubles. But as practice shows, a high-power extruder and other professional machines are useless in a young workshop just starting its work.

Modern equipment does not take up much space and is easily reconfigured to produce rattan belts of a different size and type.

Sales of finished products

Artificial rattan furniture set

Do-it-yourself wicker furniture made of artificial rattan is quite in demand on the market today. But nevertheless, it is better for an entrepreneur to spend a certain amount on advertising his enterprise. This can help to establish channels for the sale of finished products, and most importantly, it can help to find those customers who will place an order for original pieces of furniture. Of course, you don't need to launch a large-scale marketing campaign, but you still need to somehow “notify” consumers that the shop is up and running. What kind budget options are possible here?

advertisements in the newspaper and the Internet,
own site.

As for the channels for the sale of wicker products, garden furniture from artificial rattan can be of interest to furniture stores and private buyers. It will be difficult for a young workshop to conclude lucrative contracts with large retail outlets, since well-known chain stores are reluctant to cooperate with little-known firms. Therefore, at first, most likely, you will have to fulfill orders from private clients. And it’s not so bad. After all, in order to supply large batches of products to stores, impressive production capacities will be required, which home production simply may not have.

Rattan Furniture Business Profitability

Since a set of artificial rattan furniture can cost quite a lot, you can recoup all the costs of organizing the work of a workshop in just six months. And here, of course, everything will depend on how many clients turn to the entrepreneur.

The very specificity of production allows you to organize work even within the walls of an empty garage. To start making furniture, you may need no more than 450,000 rubles. But we are talking about the cheapest equipment and renting a small space. In addition, in this case, it is unlikely that you will be able to hire real professionals - you will have to work on your own.

And even if you use purchased raw materials, the price of artificial rattan with established distribution channels can pay off quickly enough. And it's all about the individual approach and originality of the products. But a more impressive profit can be expected only with an extruder, because additional income will also come from the sale of the rattan itself. Practice shows that a medium-sized enterprise already known on the market brings an entrepreneur up to 150,000 rubles. net profit monthly.

Wicker furniture has always been in demand and testified to the wealth and refined taste of the owners. Its cost is quite high, since the products are made by hand and are original in their performance. The most popular material for its manufacture is natural rattan, but it is quite expensive and not everyone can afford it. To make rattan furniture more affordable, its artificial counterpart was invented, which turned out to be much cheaper and stronger than natural.

Wicker furniture has always been in demand and testified to the wealth and refined taste of the owners.

Amazing designs are also made of artificial rattan: houses for cats and indoor dogs, flower stands and other products.

After its invention, specialists began to quickly master it, and in a short time, artificial rattan products appeared on the furniture market, distinguished by their elegance, convenience and durability.

To make rattan furniture more affordable, its artificial counterpart was invented, which turned out to be much cheaper and stronger than natural.

Home craftsmen immediately appreciated the advantages of the new material, and those who did not yet have the skills of weaving looked with envy at the amazingly noble and beautiful products. But there is nothing in our life that cannot be mastered. Therefore, more and more often among novice home craftsmen there are those who want to learn how to weave furniture on their own. Practice shows that the science of weaving is within the power of everyone, especially since such a durable and convenient material as artificial rattan, which is most often used in weaving furniture, today can be purchased relatively inexpensively.

Home craftsmen immediately appreciated the advantages of the new material, and those who did not yet have the skills of weaving.

To make furniture from artificial rattan with your own hands, you need the material itself to work.

Making wicker furniture from artificial rattan at home has its advantages:

significantly saves the family budget;
has a long service life;
insignificant weight of products;
with external lightness and delicacy, it retains strength and reliability with careful handling;
not subject to temperature extremes and exposure to sunlight;
does not have harmful or toxic components in its composition;
hypoallergenic;
easy care.

But there is nothing in our life that cannot be mastered.

Important! The material itself is lightweight, easy to transport, attractive from an aesthetic point of view, has high strength, and is not subject to deformation from moisture.

Therefore, more and more often among novice home craftsmen there are those who want to learn how to weave furniture on their own.

It must be borne in mind that the material has different lengths and differs in material thickness and width.

It is convenient to work with artificial rattan, since it is flexible and comes in the form of long threads, which does not require permanent gluing or other methods of joining small parts of the material.

Making wicker furniture from artificial rattan at home has its advantages.

Deciding on the design and construction

The material provides ample opportunities for the implementation of design ideas. It can be used to make products of varying complexity, including sets for relaxation, consisting of wicker chairs, a sofa, a table of an original shape. Whatnots, bedside tables, chests, ottomans are interesting. Amazing designs are also made of artificial rattan: houses for cats and indoor dogs, flower stands and other products.

Saves the family budget significantly.

It is available with a smooth and ribbed surface and is available in a variety of colors and texture.

Attention! With all the breadth of choice, a novice craftsman should start with the simplest products that allow them to master the skills of weaving. The easiest way is to start with making a ottoman: an elementary design, the ability to master the skills of weaving, and in case of failure, it is easy to remake the marriage, which turns out to be preferable at the first stages of mastering the skills of weaving from artificial rattan.

With external lightness and delicacy, it retains strength and reliability with careful handling.

In addition, you cannot overdo it so as not to drag one of the sides, otherwise the result will not please.

Necessary materials

To make furniture from artificial rattan with your own hands, you need the material itself to work. In this case, you can choose the desired configuration, taking into account the fact that it is produced in the form

long stripes
webbing
twigs
imitation of tree bark.

Not subject to temperature extremes and sunlight.

At the initial stage of work, when a simple product is selected for manufacturing, a minimum of devices will be required for weaving.

It should be borne in mind that the material has different lengths and differs in material thickness and width. It is available with a smooth and ribbed surface and is available in a variety of colors and textures.

The material itself is lightweight, easy to transport, and attractive from an aesthetic point of view.

But if you want to make it even more elegant, you can use bright soft blankets and pillows as a decor.

Required tools

At the initial stage of work, when a simple product is selected for manufacturing, a minimum of devices will be required for weaving. To get started, you will need:

stapler - for attaching the rattan to the base if a wooden base is used;
small pliers;
small hammer;
convenient sharp knife or cutter;
soldering iron for soldering the connecting elements of the material or glue.

It is convenient to work with artificial rattan, as it is flexible and comes in the form of long threads.

In order for the manufacturing process to take place without unexpected interruptions, it is necessary to take into account the recommendations experienced craftsmen.

Manufacturing process: step by step instructions

In order for the manufacturing process to take place without unforeseen interruptions, it is necessary to take into account the recommendations of experienced craftsmen, who suggest organizing it in a specific order:

Prepare the structure chosen as a base, wood or metal. It can be made by hand, but you can also use a ready-made one.
To make it convenient to work, install the guides on the base and fix them with self-tapping screws, a stapler or bolts.
Level the surface of the frame by cutting off the protruding rods with scissors.
The next step is weaving on the frame. Its type is chosen according to your taste and depending on the selected raw material.

Weaving type	Peculiarities
Simple	Differs in ease of implementation. Perfect for those who are just learning how to work with rattan.
Rope	Produces a tight weave with a twisted rope pattern. You can start working with this type after mastering a simple one.
Three rods	A more complex type of work that requires skill and allows you to ensure the strength and stability of the product.
Four rods	It is done in two ways. At the first, the drawing looks the same with the outside and inside... The second is a string; with its help, weak strips of other types of weaving are fixed or separated.
Openwork (simple and complex)	A variety of thin weaving with open cells. Intricate openwork is similar to lace patterns. Simple openwork includes rhombuses, posts, rosettes, spirals, rings, as well as a checkerboard pattern.

Excess material is removed after completion of the work, the ends are “masked” on the finished product.

The material provides ample opportunities for the implementation of design ideas.

To make the product even, durable and neat, when weaving, it is necessary to constantly check how the rows of rattan "fit".

Attention! To make the product even, durable and neat, when weaving, it is necessary to constantly check how the rows of rattan "fit". In addition, you cannot overdo it so as not to overtighten one of the sides, otherwise the result will not please: the product will turn out to be oblique, it will be impossible to use it.

Whatnots, bedside tables, chests, ottomans are interesting.

Faux rattan wicker furniture looks rich, elegant and graceful.

The final stage is decoration

Faux rattan wicker furniture looks rich, elegant and graceful. But if you want to make it even more elegant, you can use bright soft blankets and pillows as a decor.

With all the breadth of choice, a novice craftsman should start with the simplest products that allow them to master the skills of weaving.

The product will turn out to be oblique, it will be impossible to use it.

VIDEO: Making furniture from artificial rattan

Most people who decide to start their own business primarily pay attention to trading. WITH minimal investment you can open a small point in the market. A large store will require high costs. But in order for the business to become truly profitable, the entrepreneur should come up with his own flavor. Otherwise, there will be no difference from competitors.

To make money almost immediately, you need to start a type of business that is not yet so widespread. You can start making furniture out of artificial rattan. It is both exciting, and will bring considerable income.

Artificial rattan

Many people already know rattan furniture. Original wicker tables, chairs and armchairs can decorate any interior. At the same time, natural rattan is a rather expensive material that not everyone can afford. There is a cheap analogue called artificial rattan. This is a special synthetic thread that is obtained by forcing the material through a hole of a certain diameter. As a result, the resulting raw material has almost the same properties as natural vine.

Artificial rattan looks beautiful and natural. In addition, it becomes possible to preserve nature. After all, the natural vine does not have time to grow at the rate with which it is used in the manufacture of furniture.

Advantages

Artificial rattan does not require special handling. It is very easy to maintain, easy to clean and repair. Outdoor furniture should only be periodically wiped with a damp cloth. The synthetic material does not react to weather changes and does not change under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.

Natural vine, from which expensive furniture is made, can sprout. This is not a problem if the garden chair is made of synthetic yarn. At the same time, many artificial products practically do not differ from natural ones.

Artificial rattan furniture reviews

Buyers note that tables and chairs made of artificial vines practically do not differ from furniture made from natural raw materials. Along with this, artificial rattan has a huge number of advantages. it the best way for the street. After all, the material does not deteriorate under the influence of direct sunlight or precipitation. This cannot be said about natural raw materials. Outdoor furniture made of artificial rattan can last for years, while chairs and tables made from natural materials quickly lose their shape. In addition, artificial thread is much cheaper.

Manufacturers also share the benefits of making faux rattan furniture. All you need is a synthetic thread making machine. The rest of the production staff can do manually. In order to open your own business, you do not need to have a large start-up capital.

What can be made from artificial rattan?

Synthetic thread items should be not only beautiful, but also practical. The most popular is artificial rattan garden furniture. Small armchairs, coffee tables, stools, swings are perfect for a small patio. Such furniture is very comfortable. In addition, it will give the garden a zest.

In the house, wicker furniture made of artificial rattan will also look very original. In a special style, you can decorate not only the hall, but also the kitchen or bathroom. After all, artificial rattan is absolutely not afraid of moisture, unlike natural material. You can decorate wicker furniture with small pillows to match.

Equipment for the production of

First of all, you will have to spend money on equipment for the manufacture of artificial thread and its weaving. Of course, you can buy ready-made raw materials. But in this case, the business will not be so profitable. In addition, those with a dedicated artificial rattan making machine can experiment with colors and shapes. You can make a thread that will not differ in color from a natural vine, or add bright colors to the product.

Additionally, wicker furniture made of artificial rattan will require costs for such installations: a cooling system, a winder, a stirrer, a crusher for processing secondary raw materials. Acquiring all this equipment will be quite costly. We'll have to spend at least 1 million rubles. At the initial stage, all these installations can be rented with subsequent purchase.

What else can you earn with your own equipment?

Having your own fake rattan machine can generate a lot of income in and of itself. It is possible to make artificial thread for those who want to be engaged in the production of furniture, but do not have the initial capital to purchase their equipment. That is, the artificial thread can be produced for sale. In addition, artificial rattan is not the only material that can be made. If you purchase additional baits, you can make synthetic reeds, raffia, or other materials that you can use in your own business or sell to partners.

It should be noted that the equipment for making artificial rattan is difficult to maintain. You will have to periodically invite specialists to configure the installation and check its operation. Prevention should not be neglected. High quality artificial rattan can be made only on the appropriate equipment. Synthetic threads should be uniform in structure and strong.

Sales market

Artificial rattan furniture appeared on the domestic market relatively recently. This is due to the fact that natural raw materials are quite expensive. Only few could afford wicker furniture before. And there were no installations for the manufacture of synthetic threads on the territory of Russia. A set of artificial rattan, brought from abroad, also cost a lot of money.

Today the domestic wicker furniture market is developing quite actively. At the same time, the competition in this niche is still low. Not everyone decides on self-production artificial rattan furniture. And those with a special installation can offer quality tables, armchairs and chairs according to affordable price... The low cost of quality products has always attracted the consumer. Therefore, those who decided to engage in this type of business will definitely not have problems with the sales market.

The fashion for light and beautiful pieces of furniture made of vine or rattan is experiencing a new upsurge. Surely you want to diversify your interior with something special. Do-it-yourself wicker chairs, tables or chairs are what you need.

Features of wicker furniture

The history of wicker furniture goes back thousands of years. Archaeologists often find it all over the world. Weaving from vines and others natural materials plant origin was distributed in settlements located near reservoirs. The proximity of suitable raw materials in large quantities contributed to the fact that most of the products used in everyday life were made by people on their own.

Wicker furniture was used more often in the homes of the poor, as the cheapest and most affordable option. But rather quickly wealthy people and representatives of the nobility appreciated its beauty, functionality and the possibility of using it in the interior. Since then, not only single craftsmen have been engaged in weaving, but also whole artels, and later - factories. There are even special schools of weaving from the vine.

Prince Golitsyn brought the fashion for wicker furniture to Russia. Often visiting abroad, he appreciated the properties of vine products and created a whole workshop for their production on his estate.

Wicker furniture can be a real work of art

Nowadays wicker furniture is very popular. Making it becomes a favorite hobby for many, even generating income. In addition, it has many advantages. These include:

low cost, especially in comparison with products from other natural materials;
light weight, so you can easily move furniture anywhere without assistance;
environmental friendliness: wicker interior items not only look beautiful, but are also safe for health, do not have a specific smell;
easy maintenance: most often it is enough to wipe the dust off the furniture with a cloth soaked in water;
durability, subject to high-quality weaving, made in accordance with all the rules.

True, there are also disadvantages that must be taken into account. Furniture woven from vines and similar materials is not resistant to the vagaries of the weather. Under heavy rain, it gets wet, and with prolonged exposure to sunlight and high temperature may dry out. This leads to loss of shape and disruption of the weave. It is very difficult to repair a damaged product. Therefore, it is not recommended to keep such furniture in an open area for a long time.

Now wicker furniture is very popular, and many are starting to make it professionally.

Types of wicker furniture

According to the structure and manufacturing principle, wicker furniture is divided into several types:

Frameless products. In them, the rigidity of the structure is provided by strong stick-ribs.
Frame furniture in which the body is made of a durable material such as steel rods. The metal parts of the frame are braided with vines or other appropriate material.
Wooden furniture, in which the supporting frame is made of wood sticks that impart rigidity and resistance.

Vine or rattan furniture - photo gallery

A summer garden cannot be imagined without comfortable wicker furniture A rocking chair is the dream of anyone who loves comfort Even a bed and a whole bedroom set can be woven from vine or rattan. Cozy basket chair with a low base will appeal to kids and pets In a comfortable hanging chair rattan is good to rest after a hard day An airy openwork set of a sofa, armchairs and a table will adorn any dining room

Video: wicker wicker and rattan furniture in the interior

Weaving materials

In the manufacture of wicker furniture, several types of materials are used. Each of them has its own characteristics:

Willow vine is a rather flexible and resilient material, but short-lived. Traditionally, willow, broom, almond or goat willow (willow) are used. Some varieties are used for coarse weaving, others for finer work.
Willow vine is the most common material for weaving
Rattan is a flexible and durable material from which interior items are most often weaved. This liana-like plant is found in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Due to its high resistance to moisture and wear, furniture made of it is ordered for baths and saunas. There is also artificial rattan, a synthetic material that is a polyurethane tape. It is more malleable and easier to handle than natural vine or rattan, and is much cheaper, so it is absolutely universal for weaving furniture.
Artificial rattan is very durable and flexible, it is practically not afraid of moisture
Banana leaves (abacus) 75–350 cm long were used to make ropes and ropes. Over time, their strength and lightness were appreciated, and the material began to be used for weaving furniture.
Banana leaves are often used in furniture weaving.
Bamboo, due to its rigidity, is not very common as a material for making furniture: it is difficult to weave it. More often you can find decorative items created from bamboo shavings.
Bamboo is very tough and difficult to weave
Water hyacinth is used for its resistance to moisture and sunlight. But the technology for preparing the material is very time consuming: it must be collected, dried, compressed and rolled into rolls. The process will take six months, so for beginners it is better to pay attention to something simpler, for example, artificial rattan.
Products made from water hyacinth are not afraid of moisture and sunlight
Seaweed. Furniture made from this material is not very durable, but it looks impressive. Most often, dried algae in the form of ribbons is used to braid the frame of furniture.

For weaving, you can take what is at hand - bird cherry, hazel, raspberry, alder, or even nettle. The bird cherry vine is more pliable in work: it is plastic, flexible and easily cleared of leaves and shoots.

Frame materials

For the manufacture of a stable structure that will last a long time, we recommend using ready-made frames of furniture items - a chair, sofa, table, armchair. They can be metal, wood, polyurethane foam. The principle of operation will be to braid the base, and you will have several advantages:

saving basic material;
simplification and acceleration of the weaving process;
additional strength of the product;
increase in the service life of furniture.

How to choose the right material

Before harvesting materials for weaving, check out the recommendations from the professionals of this craft:

Before you cut the willow twig, bend it strongly or even wrap it around your finger. Only those rods that do not break with such manipulations are suitable for cutting. They must be smooth, clean and free of any defects.
Choose the longest rods without branching. The most suitable shoots are those that grow directly from the ground or from the branch located below all. As a rule, these are young annual shoots without twigs and lateral branches, in the place of which creases can form.
Take a closer look at the core on the cut: its diameter should ideally be less than 1/3 of the diameter of the entire cut. If the core is thick, red or Brown color, reject the twig.
Make the cut at an angle with a sharp motion. Use a very sharp knife.
For the frame, choose thick rods that were harvested in late autumn or winter. Make decorating elements from branches collected in spring during sap flow.
Good taper is very important for shoots, that is, the ratio of the diameters of the branches at the base and at the tip along the entire length. Thinning of the branch by 1 mm after 20 cm is considered the norm.

You can prepare the rods yourself. If there are not enough skills, there is no time or desire, then purchase ready-made materials in specialized stores... You can use rods with bark (green) or without it (white). It is easier for beginners to work with the former: they are more flexible. Peeled branches can be given any shade or color using chemical agents:

hydrogen peroxide for a snow-white color;
manganese solution - brown;
iron vitriol - grayish;
aniline dyes for coloring in any selected shade.

The rods peeled from the bark turn white

Tools for the job

Weaving from a vine is a time consuming occupation that requires scrupulousness. Only hands are indispensable here. We'll have to stock up on a whole set of tools:

special knives and garden shears for cutting and trimming twigs;
ladder for sorting raw materials;
a large capacity, a tank for soaking a rod;
boiler for cooking and bleaching blanks;
jaws for cleaning rods from bark;
splitters for dividing rods into parts;
a chauffeur for receiving planed belts;
sniffing for curly processing, excavation;
izer for aligning rows;
jams for straightening frame blanks;
secateurs;
measuring accessories - ruler or tape measure;
pliers;
saw on wood.

Weaving patterns and methods

There are several ways to weave furniture and interior items. Each one combines decorativeness and functionality.

Weaving patterns - table

Weaving name		Peculiarities
Solid thick	Simple	Single rods are woven between the posts. The position of each pond alternates in front or behind the braided rack.
	Rope	Weaving is created from at least two rods. Each rack is bent around by them on both sides.
	Checkers	The working rod (there may be several of them) in a checkerboard pattern braids 2 racks at once to the desired height. This creates the first page. The next rod repeats the same movements, weaving between the rows of the first strip. The third and fourth stripes are woven similarly.
Openwork	Diamond-shaped	Weaving is complex, creating geometric shapes and patterns with open cells.
	In the form of columns
	Chess
	Outlet
	Ring
	Spiral
Pigtail		The method is used for weaving decorative elements and in the design of the edge.
Bending		This type of weaving is used to shape the edges of the product.

Weaving methods - photo gallery

The simple weaving pattern is easy for beginners A pigtail is often braided around the edges of the product. Rope weaving is created from two or more twigs Openwork weaving will give the product lightness, airiness and transparency. Using checkerboard weaving, you will decorate furniture with a voluminous pattern.

Making furniture out of wicker or rattan

To begin with, the vine must be properly processed to give it the necessary flexibility and strength. This process will be needed, no matter what product you choose for weaving:

Place the harvested vine in a large container of boiling water. Allow the material to boil at a moderate boil for at least an hour. Then remove the bark.
Prepared vines need to be barked
Fix the thick rods used for the frame base in special devices to give them the desired shape. For example, a rocking chair will need rounded runners. To achieve this look, lay the wet thick rod along the round object and secure.
Thick rods are given the shape necessary for the manufacture of the frame of the selected product
Split thin vines into 3-4 pieces with a splitter. This is easy to do: make an incision at one end of the rod with a sharp knife, insert a splitter there and hit the back with a hammer. The sharp end of the tool will run along the entire length of the vine.
Thin vines are split into pieces with a splitter
The resulting parts of the rod are called shanks. Pass them through a press to make them look like weaving ribbons. You can also use a special vine planer.
To get braiding tapes, use a special device or press for wood
Place the fixed thick rods and tapes in the drying chamber, leaving there for three days. There they will dry out and take the given shape.
The prepared parts of the future chair need to be dried

Simple braiding of the frame with artificial rattan

It will not be easy for a beginner to immediately and without mistakes weave something serious from natural materials. We offer to start learning with simple things - stools, tabletops for coffee table, covers for the ottoman - and use artificial rattan. A simple rectangular shape is braided like this:

First of all, make a frame from sturdy boards. It consists of 4 legs and a frame. You do not have to bother with the processing of its surface: the weaving will cover the entire product completely.
The frame of the future product is made of boards
On the top of the product (seat on a stool, table top or ottoman cover), make reinforcement harnesses. You can make them from rattan by weaving braids or coils, or use a dense tape with minimal tension. Secure the harnesses with a stapler and fix them to the self-tapping screws with a bar for strength.
Strengthening harnesses are pulled over the seat of a chair or ottoman
Now start braiding. Better to use a tight checkerboard weave. Lay the rattan tape in one direction, alternating 2 short pieces with one long piece. In this case, fix the short ones with a stapler on the seat, and the long ones on the crossbar.
Rattan ribbons are laid and fixed on the frame in the required sequence
After laying the first layer of faux rattan, begin to weave the ribbon into it. Alternate 1 long and 2 short segments. Use ribbons for convenience different colors... Each next tape is woven with a shift of 1 tape to the left. Be careful, at this stage it is easy to get confused in the sequence.
Rattan is woven into the base, choosing a simple pattern
Secure the remaining ponytails and trim off any excess tape. The seat is ready.
At the end of the work, fix the remaining tails and remove excess tape
Now let's move on to the sides. Take one long piece of tape and braid the sides around the sides. The length of the tape is difficult to guess, so if it runs out in the middle of a job, attach another piece to it with a soldering iron. The beginning of the tape can be attached at any corner under the vertical strip.
The sides are braided in a circle with one long ribbon
Braid the garment all the way down in a circle. When done, gently fold the remaining ponytails into the product and cut off the excess.
You can braid not only the seat, but also the sides and legs of the chair
You do not need to braid the sidewalls to the very bottom, but leave the legs. Braid them separately according to the same pattern. Add rattan strips to the legs in a vertical direction, slipping it under the braiding of the sidewall and securing it with a stapler. Braid the leg in a circle.
You can weave a rocking chair from a vine
Then they braid it with flexible rods using glue for a more secure attachment. When the main part is done, rounded runners are attached. Make sure the structure is stable: swing the chair and check that it moves easily and does not tip over. The finished product is covered with furniture varnish or painted.
How to make a rocking chair from a vine - video

Vine braiding chair frame
The frame can be bought ready-made or made from sticks 15–20 mm thick. Due to weaving, the frame will not only take on a beautiful appearance, but will also be greatly enhanced. Stages of making a chair:
1. Fix the racks on the frame from rods with a thickness of 15–20 mm.
2. In place of the seat, make a continuous weave from thick rods with a diameter of 10 mm.
- 100 cm and 45 cm 2 pcs. - for the seat frame;
- 40 cm - 3 pieces (front legs);
- 65 cm - 2 pieces (rear side legs);
- 75 cm - 1 pc. (back middle leg);
- from 125 cm - 1 pc. (for the upper arcuate part of the back).
To give additional strength and stability to the frame, ribs are attached between the legs at a distance of about 20 cm from the seat. To do this, you will need 3 sticks of 45 cm each and 2 sticks of 100 cm each. All elements are fastened with self-tapping screws.
Operating procedure:

How to weave a chair from a willow vine - video

Wicker furniture finishing
When a chair, table, sofa or other item is ready, the only thing left to do is to give the item a presentation. Finishing work are carried out in several stages:
1. Inspection for various defects, elimination of them: they correct the uneven density of the weaving by slightly moving the rods, level the legs, cut off the ends of the rods and smooth out the irregularities with fine-grained sandpaper.
2. Whitening and painting. To make the product white, treat it with lime or sulfur dioxide. To give a different color, use ordinary paint. They also use decoctions of onion peels, wolf berries, heather, alder bark or lyre, if you like naturalness and environmental friendliness.
3. Coating with varnish. In order not only to preserve the texture of the material used, but also to make it even stronger, apply 2-3 layers of varnish (each subsequent one after the previous one has completely dried).
Vine and rattan care
Wicker furniture needs special care due to the peculiarities of the material used: vine and rattan can become very fragile if used improperly.

Wicker furniture is a rather complex product in terms of repair. In the event of a breakdown, it is difficult to find a master who will take on the fix. That's why proper care obligatory and necessary for wines and rattan products.

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