Handyman Guide > Furniture Repairs

Never keep a piece of furniture in service after a portion of it has broken or a joint has become loose. Good furniture is made of relatively thin pieces of wood fitted together to provide the necessary over-all strength. When one part is broken, the entire structure will deteriorate very quickly. Trying to repair a piece of furniture which is in pieces is a job that may well require the services of a cabinetmaker.

Loose Joints. Probably the most common repair job on furniture is gluing joints that have worked loose over a period of time. Excessive heat and moisture will weaken most wood glues to the point where they will not hold properly, and this is another reason to keep furniture well away from radiators and registers during the heating season.

When it is necessary to reglue a joint, first remove all traces of the old glue from both surfaces to be joined. This is very important. If any of the old glue remains, the joint will not hold properly. The glue can be sanded away with a lightgrade sandpaper. When both surfaces are clean, put a thin film of glue on each. It is not necessary to use more than a very light coat of glue, as too much will weaken rather than strengthen the joint. Remember, also, to use a glue made for wood. Fit the two glued surfaces together and apply pressure to the joint until the glue is dry. This pressure can be applied with adjustable clamps, but if these are not available, wrap several layers of string around the joint and insert a piece of wood under the string. Twist the wood several times so that the strings are pulled tightly over the joint.

It is a good idea to put a piece of cloth under the strings to prevent damage to the finish on the furniture. On joints where it is impossible to use either strings or clamps, the necessary amount of pressure can be achieved by placing bricks or: books on the joint.

Do not remove any parts of the furniture except those already loose. If one end of a chair rung is loose, it can be reglued without breaking the opposite joint. In this case, remove the glue with a little vinegar and wipe the two surfaces with a damp cloth before applying new: glue.

It is very often found, when regluing chair rungs, that the rung has shrunk so that it fits loosely in the chair leg despite the glue. Do not expect such a joint to hold after it has been glued, for glue cannot possibly function unless the two pieces of wood fit snugly together. The only remedy is to make the end of the rung larger so that it will fit tightly in the hole. There are several ways of doing this. One way is to make a thin cut across the diameter of the rung with a fine saw. This cut should be about 1/2 inch deep, and should be located in the center of the rung.

After the cut has been made, drive a small wood wedge into it so that the sides of the rung are spread slightly. The wedge should be very thin, and great care must be taken when driving it in not to split the wood. Now apply the glue and force the rung into the hole. It may be necessary to tap the rung in by means of a hammer. If so, place a piece of wood between the hammer and the part of the furniture tapped, in order that the hammer will not damage the finish.

Another way of making the rung fit tightly is to give the end a coat of glue and wrap silk thread around it until you have built up the surface to fit tightly in the hole. Apply another coat of glue over the silk and then force the rung in. Hardware and five-and-ten-cent stores sell patented metal fasteners that slip over the end of the rung. These fasteners are cquipped with metal barbs that catch and hold the two pieces of wood together.

Chair legs and rails cannot be expected always to remain firm, and if any looseness in the joint is neglected, the strain is likely to be thrown on the piece as a whole, necessitating major repairs. A great deal can be done with a little glue and with anglepieces, or flat metal plates, in effecting repairs.


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