Many people wonder why Acapulco chairs command such a hefty price tag. The truth is, these chairs are hand-made and require an incredible amount of man-hours to create just one. Each piece is individually made starting with a frame and a single piece of cord. Attention to detail is just one of the aspects that set Acapulco chairs apart from generic machine-made furnishings.
This is the second installment of our Acapulco Chair Series. If you recall, Part I covered the emergence of the Acapulco chair with a history behind the origins, inspirations, and advent. It’s filled with relevant information that will help you appreciate this traditional piece and its place in world history.
The Iconic History of the Acapulco Chair – Part I
© METROCSCheck out the new Acapulco Collection!
How to Make Acapulco Chairs
Acapulco Frames
The frames lay the skeleton of the actual chair. Typically, Acapulco frames are made from either steel or aluminum. Aluminum patio furniture is a great option for outdoor seating for various reasons. Their lightweight construction makes them easy to store during the winter months. The downside of this is that they can be more inclined to bend when large amounts of pressure are applied or when frames are required to be thin as in the case with the Acapulco chair.
For this reason, steel frames work better on Acapulco chairs. By no means am I saying that aluminum is an inadequate material. If you’ll notice, the Acapulco chair stands on 3 supporting legs. These legs are thin. To keep the original slim look, sturdy steel frames are used to provide ample support and then powder-coated with rust-resistant materials for all-weather capabilities. The original Acapulco chairs were made using heavier frames that tended to rust in these coastal climates.
Every Acapulco Chair begins its life as a bare frame like this. Images courtesy © METROCS.Hand-Woven Design
Here you can see a gentleman weaving an Acapulco chair by hand. © METROCSBelieve it or not, each Acapulco chair is hand-woven by an individual artisan who has mastered the craft. In this way, each chair is truly unique and personalized to the touch. Any item that is hand-painted or hand-crafted will require a steeper price but the artistic distinctiveness is well worth it. Machines are great but there’s something about human art-work that cannot be duplicated or even replicated.
Working with a base frame, an artist wraps the chair row by row using a single piece of cord. Techniques used to weave the cords vary but generally, the artist will tie the starting piece to the frame and stretch the cord to the exterior egg-shaped perimeter.
From there, the artist will wrap the cord around the exterior frame 3-4 times before bringing the cord back to the center hole of the frame. The number of cycles around the exterior frame will determine the spacing between each cord. Smaller spacing will create a more supportive seat while larger spacing is more flexible and more inclined to dipping.
This video, shot by Israel Esteban Banuelos, demonstrates a man weaving an Acapulco chair in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca. To view more of his work, you can visit his Facebook Page here!
The video is incredible to watch and really helps you appreciate all the work that goes into making these chairs. I’ve heard some people remark that they could “make it themselves” when glancing at the price point. Once you see this video, you may want to reconsider as it is a tedious and skillful task.
Understanding how Acapulco chairs are made makes it easy to understand all the work and effort that goes into making these beautiful chairs.
Materials Used for Cord
Generally speaking, there are 3 types of materials used in Acapulco cording; nylon, PVC, and HDPE. Nylon is a well-known material for its durable qualities. However, it is also conducive to water and moisture. For this reason, they have trouble in outdoor conditions, especially in coastal/tropical regions.
PVC is a very popular material used in wicker furniture. The downside to PVC is that it is harmful to the environment and it’s a weaker material. High-Density Polyethylene, or HDPE for short, is an upgrade from lower-quality PVC materials. Instead of a flattened string, HDPE is spun into rounded cords to make Acapulco chairs. Unlike PVC, HDPE is recyclable, fade resistant, and scratch resistant. It might cost an extra $20 for this type of chair but it’s well worth your investment.
© METROCSAcapulco chairs have been adapted to other styles of furnishings, including rockers, baby Acapulco’s, dining tables, chat sets, & more! Click here to Shop for Acapulco Furniture.
Continue Reading the Acapulco Series:
- The Iconic History of the Acapulco Chair – Part I
- How It’s Made: Acapulco Chairs – Part II
- Add Zest to Any Space with Acapulco Chairs – Part III
- Spin Offs of the Acapulco Chair – Part IV
- The Debate Between Original & Replica Acapulco Chairs – Part V
About the Author
Cheryl Khan is a social butterfly, design geek, and weekend tanner. She enjoys lounging outdoors on a chaise with al little shade and a good breeze. She can’t wait to get her hands on an Acapulco rocking chair!
OMG you used my video, i ‘m very happy to see this, great article.
saludos desde Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, México!!!
Hi Israel, it’s a really great video that shows how much time and effort are taken to build just one of these Acapulco Chairs. As soon as people realize that each of these chairs is hand woven, they immediately begin to appreciate the quality of the chair. Is this actually you in the video or are you video taping a friend?
I have an old Acapulco chair, but need to re-string it. I found the cording, and am pretty handy, but Im wondering about the initial knot used, and how it is finished /tied off at the end? any thoughts
Hi there – where did you find the cord? I am in the same boat and looking for material to restring it.
nice article, I have an old Acapulco chair and have bought the cord to re-wrap it-any advice on how to knot it off to begin the wrap and how to knot off to finish it?
THANKS!
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I too have an old Acapulco chair I want to restring but I’m having trouble finding cord suppliers/stockists for Europe. Anyone know where to get PVC cord in Europe, ideally the UK? I know Innit supply cord but they are Canadian and want to charge me $75 just for delivery!
Unfortunately the pricing for vinyl cord can be quite high simply because of shipping costs. In some cases it might be cheaper just to buy a new one instead of trying to restring an old chair. But if your heart is set on doing it yourself, be prepared to pay a little extra if necessary.
Hi,
I want to build some Acapulco chairs, but I don’t know the name of the material when I go to shop. Can you tell me for PVC and HDPE?
Thanks
Some manufacturers use PVC, others use HDPE. It all depends on what you’re looking to get out of the material. PVC is less dense than HDPE and is prone to drying and cracking after a year or two of sun exposure. HDPE on the other hand, given the high density, will last much longer and maintain color better over time. HDPE is definitely the better choice if you’re looking for a material that will last for 5+ years. If you just want something that you can use now and replace in a year or two, PVC could be all you really need.
Where can I find a frame to buy to make my own Acapulco chair? I’ve scoured the internet and can’t seem to find any company that sells just the frame.
Thank you for your comment. That is a very good question.
I think your best bet would be to look for used frames at yard sales and such. The frames themselves, if made out of wrought iron or stainless steel, can still hold up for many more years after the strapping wears out.
As far as getting a brand new frame only, that is going to be difficult because most manufacturers have their frames made AND woven overseas. The weaving process is a handmade process and there simply isn’t many people in the US willing to do that job. The only people that know how to weave Acapulco chairs tend to specialize in antique furniture restoration.
Another option is to call local patio furniture stores and ask if they have any old frames they want to get rid of.
Good luck!