Wizdeo Analytics

How to Repair Loose Chairs | Wood Furniture Restoration

Published on Sat, Oct 12th 2019 Howto & Style Rectangular HD

This is part of our chair repair series, where we show you how to fix a loose chair. There are different styles of wooden chairs, and they require different techniques to repair them. In this video, we show you how to fix a loose chair with a removable upholstered seat. Here are links to videos that show other styles of chair repairs:
- Windsor chair repair https://youtu.be/92deV01eWFU
- Chair repair with back attached to the seat https://youtu.be/dKqIVWTpIiA

To property fix a loose chair, the loose parts need to be taken apart so the joints can be coated with glue and put back together. The steps for taking apart this style of chair are:
- Remove upholstered seat by removing the screws underneath 1:21
- Turn the chair upside down on a padded surface 1:42
- Label the parts so you remember how to put them back together 1:58
- Remove screws from corner blocks 2:57
- Remove the corner blocks (in this particular chair, that wasn’t possible) 3:27
- Using spreader clamps, stretch the side joints apart 3:37
- Where needed, use vinegar to soak the joint and loosen up the old glue 5:26
- Once the sides are disconnected from the front and the back, assess if the front or back need to be disassembled. If then joint doesn’t have any movement in it, leave it together 11:48
- Clean off the flat area of the joints so there’s bare wood for the wood glue to bond to 9:19
- Clean off the dowels (also known an tenons) with 120 grit sandpaper 10:18
- Clean out the holes for the dowels (also known as mortices) with a drill going in reverse first, then forward to ensure you don’t change the direction of the hole 11:12
- Reassemble the chair on a flat, level surface
- Apply wood glue to the joints on the front of the chair 11:48
- Apply wood glue to the joints on the side of the chair 13:57
- Apply wood glue to the back and assemble the chair 17:07
- Stand the chair up on a flat, level surface and add weight to the seat 18:10
- Clamp all the joints 18:26
- Once the glue is dry, reattach the upholstered seat 19:48

The key to making strong wood joints is glueing them up properly. For wood glue to bond well, you need:
1. Clean, bare wood on the joints
2. Tight fitting joints
3. Evenly spread glue on all surfaces of the joint (both sides)
4. Clamping pressure
Without all four of the items above, wood glue won’t bond properly. In cases where the joint is slightly loose, epoxy glue may be a good option. For antique repairs, hide glue should be used. For more information about what glue to use, we have an upcoming video on that - subscribe and click on the bell icon to get notified each time we publish a video.

Fixing Furniture is not only a YouTube channel but it's also a membership community. Get access to videos before they're published on YouTube, watch all the videos without ads, get downloadable reference sheets, and participate in Fixing Furniture Live every two weeks. Learn more about membership at https://www.fixingfurniture.com

OUR NEWSLETTER - Sign up at https://www.fixingfurniture.com

See the tools we use in our workshop and the tools we recommend: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeimprovementwoodworking
🇨🇦 Canadian link - https://www.amazon.ca/shop/homeimprovementwoodworking

This video is hosted by Scott Bennett, Owner of Wooden It Be Nice - Furniture Repair in Brooklin, Ontario, Canada. https://WoodenItBeNice.ca

#ChairRepair #LooseChair #chair