DIY Network

Loose Joints and Drawer-Pulls From "Refinishing" episode DIF-102

Loose joints are a common malady in antique chairs.

DIY Refinishing host Bruce Johnson gives tips on fixing the loose joints on an antique chair and repairing damaged drawers.

After you've removed the old finish from an antique, areas that need repairs may become more evident. One of the more common problems with antique chairs is joints that have become loose.

Materials:

screwdriver
sandpaper
rubber mallet
scrap of softwood, such as a paint-stirring stick
wood glue
wood clamp
wooden toothpicks
utility knife

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Repairing Loose Joints

A typical chair has at least 20 joints, and each is a potential stress point that may weaken through age and use. If a single joint becomes loose, those adjacent to it will be stressed as a result and will eventually become loose. Loose joints should be repaired before further wear and stress compound the problem.

Before repairing a joint, remove any upholstery material that may be attached to the wood (figure A). Pry off corner blocks nailed or screwed around the joint (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

Carefully pull apart the two boards forming the joint (figure C). If necessary, tap the boards apart with a rubber mallet, using a flat scrap of softwood (such as a paint-stirring stick) to protect the antique (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

Sand the old glue from the wood with #120 or other medium-grit sandpaper. Wipe off any wood dust, then swab a small amount of woodworker's glue onto both of the surfaces to be rejoined (figure E). Gently push the two pieces together, and secure them with mild pressure from a clamp (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Use scraps of softwood to protect the antique from the jaws of the clamp. Wipe off excess glue with a damp cloth. Apply glue to the corner block before nailing or screwing it back into place (figure G). Allow the glue to dry for about 24 hours with the clamp in place.

Repairing Drawer Pulls

Screw-holes in drawer-pulls are often damaged where the screw has pulled loose, leaving a hole that's too large for the screw. When a screw-hole has been damaged, simply replacing the screw with a larger one may split the wooden pull.

A better method for repairing the loose screw is to clear the hole of any loose splinters, then dip a toothpick into woodworker's glue and insert it into the screw hole (figure H).

Loose drawer-pull with wood damage from screws.

Figure H

A larger hole may require additional toothpicks. Trim off the extra length of toothpick with a utility knife (figure I) and while the glue is still fresh, attach the pull by reinserting the screw (figure J), stopping when the screw becomes snug. Wait 24 hours until the glue dries before putting any pressure on the pull.

Figure I

Figure J

Figure K

Drawer-guides on the backs of drawers can also become loose, often because they're held in place with only nails or staples. Loose guides make a drawer more difficult to open and close, adding to the stress applied to the drawer-pulls. A guide can be made stronger by replacing the nail or staple holding it in place with a wood screw for better stability (figure K).