The most common type of furniture repair we see in our business is chairs, more specifically, loose chairs. Chairs are frequently used pieces of furniture and due to the shifting weight we put on them every day, they eventually will become loose and need to be repaired. If they become too loose, they can become wobbly. I frequently tell customers, that a loose chair will become a broken chair if not repaired - we've seen this over the years. 

The first sign a chair needs some attention is when it squeaks. This is the sound of wood rubbing. If the chair is left longer, it will start to feel loose. If left long enough, it will wobble and eventually break. Here are the steps to repair a chair, along with a video to show how it's done.

1) Take the Chair Apart

While it may be tempting to squeeze some glue into a gap in a joint as an attempt to tighten it up, but it won't work. A loose chair needs to be taken apart to properly clean off the joints and to apply enough glue that it will hold together. The first step before taking it apart is to label the parts using masking tape and a marker so you know how to put it back together again. I then use spreader clamps to disassemble the chair with pressure instead of the blow of a mallet, which can sometimes break parts.

2) Clean off Chair Joints

The joints of the chair need to be free of glue and finish. Wood glue won't stick to wood glue unless it's hide glue (that's a more advanced topic), so the old glue needs to be removed. Using 120 grit sandpaper to gently to remove the glue will work, as long as you don't remove any wood. If you sand too much, the joint will be loose, and won't stay together. Another way to remove the old glue is to use a file, but be careful as a file removes the residue very quickly.

3) Glue and Clamp

The glue (PVA or hide glue) needs to be applied to all surfaces on both sides of the joint. Glue is what holds the chair together, so make sure the touching parts are fully coated with glue. Assemble the chair and stand it up on a level surface. Clamp the chair so all the joints are tight and let it sit for 24 hours before putting any strain on it.

After the glue has dried for 24 hours, remove the clamps. The chair will be solid and ready to use for years to come.

If you're interested in learning how to repair furniture, take a look at our furniture repair courses and our Fixing Furniture Community.

Author: Scott Bennett, Co-owner, Wooden It Be Nice - Furniture Repair