chair webbing

I have built a shaker(1850 american design) rocking chair and require the webbing to go on the seat.Although you can buy this webbing in america the postage is a bit steep.The webbing in question is 25mm wide.Could any one tell me where i can buy this in australia .I have looked on several web sites without luck. I have also rang suppliers in perth as i live in mandurah only 80 ks away but still with no luck. I ahve only just found this site and find it facinating. I am retired and make furniture scale models and woodturning.
Regards TOM:U

Aye tom, why don't you try a local upholsterer or antique trader? They might sell a bit off the roll or have some suggestions. I have a few rolls here but i think it's 50mm. I used to get most of my supplies from Stimsons in Balmain. Not even sure if they are still there? Anyone? cheers

The Shakers traditionally used strips of bark for their seats. Perhaps there's an equivalent Australian bark that would work.

The very first entry under 'webbing' in Google produced this.

Spotlights do they sell it?

Tom; you might like to talk to your local upholsterer, or two. Basically, upholsterers only keep display samples of textiles and then calculate lengths and buy in for each job order. They buy from upholstery suppliers who basically only deal with the trade. Your upholsterer would buy webbing by the reel (its a generic product) but he may not have 25mm. 50mm is more common. If he cannot help ask him for a referral to his supplier and go talk.

I have just bought Rieman and Burkes book "The Shaker Furniture Handbook." Absolutely fascinating - such purity of line.

Cheers

Graeme

I've done it once with blue gum, as odd as it sounds. I thicknessed scrap down to 1mm, just to see if it would work.........soaked these strips in water to soften it a bit....then just bent it around a rung to see if it crack up....surprised that it didn't.

One of my brothers is an upholsterer, I know he has 25mm webbing as I have used it for tying some stuff together on a motorcycle rack once. The 50mm webbing was too hard to twist and tie up into lockable knots.

Webbing is something all upholsterers will have reels of, but I will admit that 25mm webbing is relatively rare for more modern furniture that is being re-upholstered.

How much do you need, is there a particular type/style?

Mick.