 |
Overview:
This project will show you how to fix a wobbly chair or table. Tired of sticking magazines or scraps of paper under that chair, or splashing your morning coffee when you bump your shaky kitchen table? With just a minor repair, your furniture can be rock steady.
Materials:
small block of wood, steel wool or sandpaper, vinegar, wood-glue, wood filler, wood screws, small scraps of wood or wooden golf tee, elastic bungee cord or rope
Tools You'll Need:
7oz. or 16oz. hammer, power-lite cordless drill (and screwdriver)
Before You Begin:
The key to quick repair is to take the time to figure out exactly where the wobble originates. Study how the legs are attached to your chair or table: either by rounded pegs on the ends that fit into round openings on the underside of the piece or by "glue blocks," which are wedges of wood braced diagonally across the corners of the piece and attached to the legs with screws. Once you've determined how your chair or table is made, it's quite simple to make repairs.
Barbara's Tips:
Wooden golf tees are perfect for setting into stripped screw holes in wood. Simply apply glue to the end of the tee and tap it into the hole. Cut off the part of the tee that sticks out past the wood's surface and voila: a solid base in which to drive a new screw!
 |
|
Step 1: A Round Peg in a Round Hole
If the leg of the table or chair has simply become partially dislodged from it's socket, you'll need to re-glue the joint. Using a block of wood to cushion the blows, use your hammer to gently tap the joint free of the socket. Remove the old glue with sandpaper or steel wool. Vinegar will help remove stubborn glue from the socket or peg. Once socket is clean, slide the peg into the hole. There should be a little friction as the two fit together. If the peg slides out too easily, wrap some silk thread around it until you have a snug fit. Use wood glue to reattach the leg and to secure any other loose joints.
Step 2: Keeping it Together
Use clamps or braces for 24 hours to allow the glue to set. Stretching bungee cords around all four legs can help hold the legs in alignment to one another. To hold two legs in place, loop a length of rope around the legs and tie the ends together. Place a dowel or piece of wood between the ropes and twist until snug. Wedge the wood into place to hold the tension on the rope.
Step 3: Blocks and Screws
Tables or chairs with glue block construction usually just need the screws retightened. First tighten all screws and check if that corrects the wobble. If not, check to see if there is physical damage at the joint. Often the wood has deteriorated and the screw hole has become stripped. If this is the case, remove the screw and shore up the hole with wood-filler or small slivers of wood (shims) to create a solid base in which to drive a new screw.
Step 4: Smooth Sailing
Now your guests can enjoy wobble-free seating and dining. You did it yourself!
|
|
