From the Shop
Work Done at Woody's
From heirloom chair repair to custom-built seating, Woody's Chair Shop brings traditional woodworking craft to every piece that comes through the door.
Each service is carried out with attention to the wood, the joinery, and the character of the original piece.
Loose joints, broken rungs, cracked rails, and wobbly legs are all common problems that can be properly addressed rather than replaced. Woody's disassembles, re-glues, and re-fits chair components using traditional joinery methods suited to the original construction. The goal is a chair that feels solid and looks as it should.
Hand caning and pressed cane seat replacement are among the most requested services at the shop. Whether a seat has a routed groove for spline cane or individual holes for hand-woven patterns, Woody's works with natural cane material to restore the seat to a functional, traditional appearance. This is painstaking work done the right way.
Rush seating — woven from natural or fiber rush in classic patterns — is a traditional technique well suited to ladder-back and country-style chairs. Woody's replaces worn or broken rush seats, matching the weave pattern to the original where possible. The result is a durable, handsome seat that complements the chair's character.
For customers who want a chair built to their specifications, Woody's can work from a description, a sketch, or an existing piece used as a reference. Wood species, dimensions, back style, and seat type can all be discussed. Custom work is built in the shop in Spruce Pine using solid hardwoods appropriate to the design.
Beyond chairs, the shop takes on repair work for other wood furniture — tables, benches, stools, and similar pieces. Structural repairs, broken components, and damaged joinery are the most common requests. If you have a piece worth saving, it's worth a conversation.
Old finishes can be stripped and the wood refinished to bring a piece back to a clean, presentable state. This may involve staining, painting, or applying a clear protective finish depending on the piece and the customer's preference. Refinishing is often done in combination with structural repair work.
Ash splint, flat reed, and wicker weaving are additional seat and back panel options that Woody's can work with on appropriate chair styles. These materials are common on antique and traditional Appalachian chairs and require specific techniques to replace correctly. Contact the shop to discuss whether your piece qualifies.
Bring your piece by or give us a call — Woody's is happy to take a look and talk through what can be done.