You can bundle them around a pipe to weight them, when soaking, and straighten them.

I started at the end. Soak the cane you have as it is. It will loosen up and you will be able to clip the lengths you want. Then line them up around the pipe or bundle them together and start binding them together. Start in the middle and work your way out towards the ends.

Check on their progress by checking on one end. If when you untie it the ends do not lay straight they need to be soaked a bit more. When you think they are as straight as they will get let them dry a bit. The Rattaan will keep the moisture from a good soaking for quite awhile. A decently soaked cane should be able bend into a complete circle and back out.

Resoaking your rattaan is fine, if they get too dry but that usually takes many months.

There ya go...hope that helps.

Cut out any pieces that may have a split or that may be weak (like radically bent pieces) Let it soak in the bathtub in hot water over night. Straighten by hand, and lay out on any flat surface. Restraighten two or three times a day until the cane is pretty dry (about four or five days.)

Domina

An old friend taught us years ago to dampen them down, then place each cane between the center of 3 - 1 inch plastic pipes used for plumbing. Once the cane is place between the pipes, you can use tape or even rubber bands to maintain pressure on it until it dries strait. Trim any splitting ends with a coping saw, cutting through taped ends. Once all the work is done, lightly sand the cane and coat it with polyurethane to keep moisture out and assist in cleanup.

The PVC pipes can be smaller depending on the diameter of your canes. The system works well. Some of our friends have used other finishes as well, with mixed results. Good luck.

Master LatexHer