Thanks a million for the video, it was extremely helpful! I followed your tutorial precisely and was able to resurrect some 50 year-old dining chairs for a friend. The chairs are sturdy once again; I was very surprised at how sturdy.
That's awesome! Congratulations. I love to hear when our videos help people complete their projects. Thanks for taking the time to post your comment Greg. I appreciate that! Scott
I never understood why the fasteners are not mechanical with metal, until now! Your description of the materials "working against each other" is the crux. Subscribed and a contributor. Methodical and informative, and the beauty of wood!
I'm happy to hear you found that useful. Thanks for subscribing and helping to support our community by contributing via Patreon. Your contribution level will ensure your name shows on our future video Patreon Thank You screens. Welcome to our furniture repair community! Scott
I just saved a set of old chairs from the burning pile, beautiful heavy solid timber but falling apart at the joins. Now I know how to fix them and give them a few more decades of life. thank you
I am pleasantly surprised by how few tools this job needs! Our 20-year-old chairs need to be tightened up, and before watching this video I flipped one over and noticed all of the screws. I thought for sure I'd be hiring this out, but now I'm confident that it's a job I can do on my own. Thank you!
Earlier today I was ask to look at some wobbly wooden chairs. Your video just taught me how to fix them. Properly. (I noticed screws holding the legs to the chair!) Thank you!
Thanks for this tutorial, very interesting. I'm now in the middle of restoring eight chairs, I have check a few videos, and this one is the most helpful. I'm right now from Melbourne, Australia, watching the Queen Elizabeth II Funeral ceremony.
@@FixingFurniture After looking at my chair it has little nails in the legs and I can't even wiggle them out. Any suggestions? Wish I could send a video. Also the bottom of the chair split. I glued it together and on the bottom I used what I had at home which was small hinges and screws. I put in two and it worked like a charm. Who looks at the buttom anyway. Lol
Thank you so much. I have received many comments about my calm voice. People often say I remind them of Bob Ross. Glad to hear you are a new subscriber.
Just smart enough to seek professional advice on how to achieve the exact job I discovered on your video! After watching your excellent tutorial I now feel very confident that I can DIY our wobbly dinning table chairs.. THANKS SO MUCH!
@@FixingFurniture I don't know if I was properly sending you a follow-up note.. my repair came to a screeching halt when the second screw I was removing broke in half.. leaving just enough still in the leg and chair seat that I couldn't remove it.. I searched for another of your tutorials on that subject but couldn't find one.. please help.
For the algorithm! Thank you for the video and information. I'll be repairing my friend's chairs, and they are remarkably similar to the one you have in this video. You made me feel confident that I could actually do this project well.
Omg as soon as I'm done leaving this comment I'm going fix my chairs, I've been wanting to fix them for so long but I thought it was complicated THANK YOU 😊
I have watched two of your videos and find your tutorial style very watchable as you take your time and show very clearly each stage of a repair. I am viewing from my home in England UK Sizzler
Great job, much more complete than some of the other online videos. You touched on why metal and wood don't mix well in such applications---I had seen two videos that call for "a slightly larger screw" to fix a loosened joint---a problem waiting to happen, again! Thanks a million--
Thanks so much for this video. My kitchen chair now feels like it isn't going to break every time I sit on it. Now I know to look for screws and get them out of there. That surely can't be a cost effective method in production.
You're welcome. I recommend not using that chair until you re-glue it as a very loose chair can become a broken chair, which is much more difficult and costly to repair, not to mention causing a potential injury. Good luck with your project! Scott
I really like your well-organized video series with leveled skills. I’m an experienced paint finisher, but have recently taken up woodworking. I’m hoping to use some of your tips to sturdy-up some “big-box” stools that were partial-assembly-required. There are oval-shaped mortise & tenon spreaders & rails, with the hols longer than the pegs. They also used pocket holes through these, but the screws barely reach into the legs, since the pocket holes go through the pegs. The frame under the seat uses diagonals, pulled tight with bolts using an Allen wrench. They keep getting wobbly & falling apart, & I’ve tried unsuccessfully to fix them. I may try removing the finish from the joinery parts and just regluing everything, without the pointless screws. Another thought I’d had was to cut off the pegs (tenons? - still learning the vocabulary), move the spreaders up higher, and making proper pocket holes joining perpendicular pieces with glue & pocket screws. But based on your advice on metal vs. wood, I’m thinking that’s not the best idea. I know I could just toss or sell them, but I like them, & now consider it a challenge I want to accomplish! Thoughts?
Yes, I would stay away from screws. I don't suggest cutting off the tenons as they're a strong component to woodworking construction. Wood glue applied to tight fitting, clean joints will go a long way. If the joints are loose, epoxy would be a better glue choice. Happy to chat via a video advices session if you like woodenitbenice.ca/collections/woodworking-advice-sessions
Good videos and instruction. I noticed in one video that you had a simple jig for holding wedge pieces in order to plane the wedge shape. Can you please tell me the video title so that I can check it out again. I need to make this type of jig.
I started to repair cane seats on chairs a couple of years ago. I have found almost every chair that needs re-caning also needs repairs to firm up loose joints or repair cracked wood. The caning sometimes feels like it's secondary. Thanks for this video. The procedures it shows will help me a lot.
I found a Paul Cobb Planner Group captain's chair thrown out on the street today. It's still very beautiful, but wobbly - so your guide here will be incredibly useful in helping me restore it without making a hash of it. My eyes nearly fell out of my head when I saw how much they sell for, although I already like it too much to let it go. Really looking forward to this project.
This was so helpful. May I ask two more questions? What should be done if there is still "wiggle room" between the chair seat and the leg socket? Additionally, I have a leg that is broke off under the leg socket (so part is still in the socket and the rest is attached to the leg. How would I get that piece out and where do I go from here? Thank you very kindly.
Very good explanation, thanks. One of the four gluing requirements is tight joints. It would seem that after sanding the holes and the legs, the fit would be pretty loose. Is there a fix for joints that are too loose? Thank you.
This was the best how to video i have ever seen. (Being NOT a mr. fix anything, that is saying a lot) Small details (like labeling holes and legs) probably seem anal to people who are good at this stuff, but it helps a lot. Thanks
Definitely subscribed! Thank you so much for this channel. I have my grandmothers antique sewing machine and the table that it is installed in, which is also antique and it is the same table she used to sew her clothing for her entire family, had a loose leg. My husband decided to try to “fix it“ by drilling tons of screws into it! I was horrified when I saw what had happened. He is a welder, and he can do amazing work when it comes to building a boat or a metal building. But whenever it comes to wood, he is no Carpenter. So now my grandmothers machine table is full of holes, and the part that was originally broken is even more broken than it was before ☹️ I do not move the table at all, and it will not be moved until I am able to fix it. I will not be painting it because I want it to be exactly the way it was when she gave it to me when I was a child, and thankfully all of this damage was done on the backside, so I would be fine with just using a wood filler for all of the holes he created. He is a very smart and talented man, but he is not allowed to touch my furniture ever again lol
The video instructions are excellent. It is a pleasure to watch and listen to how you repair furniture. I look forward to more information about repairing furniture. Thank you.
Very nice video. After repairing a large number of these kinds of chairs I have convinced myself that, at the factory, they squirt in a measured amount of adhesive normally right at the bottom of the hole where it does the least good. They then jam the leg assembly in and run a drywall screw into the joints to hold it while the "glue" dries. A horrible system and they all fail the same way. Your repair is the right way to do it and the problem is now solved. Thanks again for posting. Well done.
Thanks, I appreciate that. I can tell from what you describe, you've seen this before. That glob of glue at the bottom of the hole does nothing. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's nice someone else notices these things. Cheers. Scott
Hi Thank you for your video. I made a mistake trying to repair mine. I didn't realize their were nails in the joints i broke part of the mortice and tennon joints. Any tips repairing the tongues? Thanks
I've got a few videos on how to glue split wood back together. They may be helpful for you. It's unfortunate that people put nails in chairs to repair them and create damage in the process. I also offer video coaching sessions if you'd like some advice. See Advice Sessions on our website woodenitbenice.ca
Great video - thanks for sharing! Have you tried/ had luck with instant adhesives, super glue fixes for squeaky wooden chair joints - 'Wonderlok 'Em Tite Chairs Super Strength' is what I'm looking at? Curious if you've had to re-fix joints that's been used on
I purchased a new Titebond 4134 Extend Wood Glue from Amazon as an alternative to the Lee Valley product that does not ship between October to April. I used it on a chair that I am re-glueing . It worked well. I also dug out an old set of wood carving palm chisels that served me well for clearing old glue from the 1/2 inch mortice holes. Thank you for your excellent video. I would like some clarification on when the fit is too loose for a proper glue up. When it is too loose is it better to: 1) Drill the hole oversize, plug with a dowel and redrill to fit the tenon. 2) Glue a shaving to the undersized tenon. 3) Turn a new stretcher with larger tenon.
I would choose #2 or use epoxy glue, depending on the value of the piece. If it's inexpensive or not valuable, epoxy is the easiest solution. I hope that helps. Thank you for posting your comment. Scott
The video was extremely helpful, however the chair manufacturer never made a percise joint in the seat, and after preparation to glue up I have alot of movement, what would you suggest, im thinking of a Grove with a shim inserted to spread the dowel for a tighter fit, any help would be appreciated.
Thank your for your video! I recently purchased some beautiful old wobbly chairs that need love. I will glue all the things, but should I put the screws back in?
If the screws are on the base of the chair, they should not be re-installed. The only place screws are typically used properly is for holding arms on chairs. I hope that helps. Scott
Nice simple video and well explained. I repaired an armchair last year for a friend. There was nails and one leg curved replaced plus a miss spindle. I made new leg and spindle. Should last for a decade or two
Happy Easter. Have a pile of live edge acacia pieces to make for our new beach house. Just finishing off the joinery at the moment. Check it out if you have time
Thank you for this video. We have similar Windsor chairs we were going to return but after watching and some wood glue we will keep and enjoy them. them
There are several types of drill bits you can use; spoon bit, auger bit, etc. Here's a great video by Curtis Buchanan about drilling chair leg mortises in chair seats. Scott th-cam.com/video/wj5jtv0pjS8/w-d-xo.html
Excellent video. You have that calm, assuring voice. I will be fixing a similar type of chair. It has screws in them after I glue the legs back should I put in the screws?
Great video. It didn't answer the question as to what to do if the joints are not tight, as in antique furniture. I have a maple piano stool that has been repaired numerous times and the joints are very loose when dry assembled. What glue, or shim, or what. I've heard epoxy?
Hello Sir, thank you for your great video, I will be able to fix the legs on my recently bought wooden Windsor chair which has, among other problems, wobbly legs, the other problems I have is the back of the chair has a loose central splat and several loose supporting rungs, I have an idea how to repair these splats and rungs, but I reckon I will need to first remove the round outside frame which the rungs and splat are attached to. Do you cover repairing the rungs and splat in your video on Windsor Chairs? I will watch the video and see, because as mu old Dad used to say, if you're going to do a job, do it right the first time rather than bodge it up and have to repair it at a later stage. Thanks once again, I have subscribed and look forward to watching further videos.
Thanks for subscribing Jack. Here's a video showing the restoration for an American Windsor chair. One thing I recommend is using Fish glue so you have a longer working time when gluing up the parts. th-cam.com/video/92deV01eWFU/w-d-xo.html
Titebond makes and Elmers used to make a dark wood glue which would hide any minor squeeze out. I like to use it for walnut and the darker woods since you don't have to worry about a bright yellow line on the finished product.
This is a great video, and exactly what I needed to repair some chairs I bought second hand in the past year. My question is: what if the legs won't come out? I have the same kind of chair as pictured, in terms of how the legs are laid out and installed. I removed the metal screws and started wiggling the already very wiggly legs. I removed any glue along the edge that might have been problematic. And no matter how hard I try, I can't get them out! Why would they be so wiggly and still so stuck in there? And how do I fix it? Thanks!
It could be one of 2 issues. The glue holding on or there may be a brad nail in the joint. Try adding some white vinegar in the joint to loosen the old glue... let it sit for 5-10 minutes and see if that releases the leg. If it's a brad nail (sometimes hard to see), here's a video about how to remove them th-cam.com/video/WFNMH_HFQRc/w-d-xo.html
I hope you are still here because I just found this page. I have to do my dining room chairs. They are loose and I am sure it comes from pulling them in and out from the table and made them wobbly. My concerned is, when you use the chisel, how can you be sure not to remove too much of the wood in the hole and on the leg of the chair? and also the same thing with the sand paper( I guess experience makes the difference) but I need an ideal to be sure I dont remove or sand too much of the room.
Your videos are great Scott. I'd love to learn more about how to fix a wobbly wedged mortise and tenon joint. How do I get the replacement wedge the right size, for example?
Thanks for your feedback Nicholas. Yes, we can make a video on how to repair wedged tenons. It will be after our current backlog of videos are published. Thank you for the suggestion! Scott
Hi Brian - I'm preparing a year-end video about tools I made and bought this year, and one tool I made was a jig to make wedges for wedged tenons. Here are 2 videos from the past year that show different ways to make wedges for wedged tenons. I hope they help you. Restoring an American Windsor Chair - th-cam.com/video/92deV01eWFU/w-d-xo.html Spindle Repair on a Chair Back - th-cam.com/video/FkIR6pcoeGE/w-d-xo.html
I could tell very early in this video he is an expert. I would like to have seen what he would do if only 1 or 2 legs were loose and how to dismantle it for repair.
Possibly a shop tour is in the offings of your video selection. I only ask as your workspace appears to have some thought put into it. My workspace could use some more thought on the layout of tools.
I have plans for a workshop tour in the future. Once I finish my tool cabinet, I'll have space to clean up the boxes of miscellaneous stuff. Cheers. Scott
I need to do this to one of my chairs and noticed all 4 legs have screws. Based on this video, you are recommending to not reinstall any screws, correct? What happens if the holes are too big or not tight anymore?
How wobbly is too wobbly for yellow glue to hold? At what point with Windsor chairs do you need to consider building up the tenon so that it's tighter (or using epoxy)? My problem is that the middle stretcher wants to fall out because the legs spread about half an inch with any weight. All legs have a bit of movement, mostly left and right. I have seen the technique where you glue shavings to tenons, but I lack the tools to produce shavings. Does sawdust work? I managed to create some shavings, but they're only maybe 1/4" wide. Maybe the wobble isn't bad enough, and the yellow glue alone will hold? How to know?
Thank you for your great videos, something that theoretically might help a glued joint other than your great tips is, carving horizotal ridges on the tenons before applying the glue , so that it acts like the ridges on steel rebar ... thanks again for your time and patience!!!!
Hi George. Thanks for your suggestion. I've been trying to source spiral dowels lately, but haven't had success. My thought is that a flat gluing surface should be stronger than fluted dowels. Maybe I should do some strength testing and incorporate your idea too. Scott
Thanks for your corresp. It's great to know that there are people out there with the same love for fine wooden " gluteus rests" as me , let alone skilled craftsmen like yourself , your advice and inspiration is a treasure !!!!!!!!!
I have a dining set that I bought pre loved. All the chairs have either wobbly legs or loose foot rests. I miss some screws I think and some of the holes are too big now. Could you suggest how to approach fixing this?
I need to do this to my dining room chairs. The joints are almost identical to this chair including the screws. The screws were factory installed, probably to hold the legs on after gluing together. I tried regluing them a few months back and did not stay strong for long, I guess the screws need to be removed. Would a epoxy work if the joints are too loose?
Yes, there are 2 ways to solve that problem. Epoxy will hold where there are loose joints, but it's not something you should use on antique chairs, which should be repaired with hide glue. You can also use a thin plane shaving to wrap around the joint to take up the space - just make sure you slather glue on both sides of the shaving so when it dries, it becomes one solid piece. I hope that helps. Scott
Just got into woodworking, just found your channel. Thank you so much for the information on tools and process, and the incredibly zen-like manner in which it is delivered. It encourages patience when approaching the work - which is critical to not plowing through and making things worse! Looking forward to all your videos -
@@FixingFurniture You're more than welcome, Scott. I've built a few amateur-level projects in the past like bookcases or wall-framing, but have no formal training. As a result, I'd get discouraged by the vast number of things I Don't Actually Know How To Do! Or, at least, how to do properly. [I laughed out loud when I saw you pull drywall screws out of the chair legs... every bookcase I've ever built is assembled with drywall screws! Because no one was there to say - "Please, God no... that's NOT how it's done!"] But TH-cam has changed everything. Thanks to generous folks like you, it is now possible to learn from experts in any field - from home, no less. You have become digital mentors to an army of students worldwide. Personally, I can't thank you enough, and look forward to a day when I can return the favor by sharing what I've learned with others as well. Cheers -
Thanks for the info. I have a chair from my Grandmother's kitchen set that I am refurbishing. The legs are set up similar to the chair in this video; so I guess I should glue the stretchers to the legs first and then glue the leg assembly to the seat. The tenons that attach to the seat are through tenons so would there be enough time to apply glue, assemble the legs to the seat and then drive wedges into the through tenons? All the leg joints are angled going through the seat.
You've got the right idea, but you will need to glue this up all in one step, within 10-15 minutes. If you glue the leg assembly first and let it dry, it won't allow the flexibility you need to properly work it into the seat. I suggest doing a few practice runs and make sure your parts are laid out in the right spot so you can glue it up as quickly as possible. If you want a glue that will give you more time, try a fish glue which has a 60 minute working time - I buy mine at Lee Valley Tools. I hope that helps. Scott
Thanks a million for the video, it was extremely helpful! I followed your tutorial precisely and was able to resurrect some 50 year-old dining chairs for a friend. The chairs are sturdy once again; I was very surprised at how sturdy.
That's awesome! Congratulations. I love to hear when our videos help people complete their projects. Thanks for taking the time to post your comment Greg. I appreciate that! Scott
7:50 All nonchalant: "Should last a couple of decades." 😳 This guy repairs.
You have the heart of a teacher. Your videos are brilliant and educational. I learn something every time
Wow, thank you! Scott
I never understood why the fasteners are not mechanical with metal, until now! Your description of the materials "working against each other" is the crux. Subscribed and a contributor. Methodical and informative, and the beauty of wood!
I'm happy to hear you found that useful. Thanks for subscribing and helping to support our community by contributing via Patreon. Your contribution level will ensure your name shows on our future video Patreon Thank You screens. Welcome to our furniture repair community! Scott
Really appreciated the close ups into the holes when you painted the glue all around!
Thanks for that feedback. It helps to understand what viewers appreciate in a video! Scott
My sister in law has a chair with this exact problem. I look forward to using this video in a repair attempt. Thank you!
I just saved a set of old chairs from the burning pile, beautiful heavy solid timber but falling apart at the joins. Now I know how to fix them and give them a few more decades of life. thank you
That's awesome Lisa! Good work! I hope you subscribe to our channel. Scott 🇨🇦
Your calm, clear, methodical approach is incredibly helpful. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
I am pleasantly surprised by how few tools this job needs! Our 20-year-old chairs need to be tightened up, and before watching this video I flipped one over and noticed all of the screws. I thought for sure I'd be hiring this out, but now I'm confident that it's a job I can do on my own. Thank you!
Earlier today I was ask to look at some wobbly wooden chairs. Your video just taught me how to fix them. Properly. (I noticed screws holding the legs to the chair!) Thank you!
Thanks for this tutorial, very interesting. I'm now in the middle of restoring eight chairs, I have check a few videos, and this one is the most helpful.
I'm right now from Melbourne, Australia, watching the Queen Elizabeth II Funeral ceremony.
Glad you're finding our videos helpful. Sad news about the Queen. I'm learning much more about her with all the news coverage.
This is exactly what I needed to do on my kitchen chair. I'm so glad you showed us how we can do it without clamps! Yay!
Glad it was helpful! Scott
@@FixingFurniture After looking at my chair it has little nails in the legs and I can't even wiggle them out. Any suggestions? Wish I could send a video. Also the bottom of the chair split. I glued it together and on the bottom I used what I had at home which was small hinges and screws. I put in two and it worked like a charm. Who looks at the buttom anyway. Lol
What a great well paced video. Extremely helpful!
This is precisely what I need! Chairs I bought have drywall screws in them too!
I love your calm voice and pace in the videos :) subscribed
Thank you so much. I have received many comments about my calm voice. People often say I remind them of Bob Ross. Glad to hear you are a new subscriber.
Perfect! Thank you!
You're welcome. Cheers
Great tutorial, thanks for the close-up shots, very helpful!
Thank you so much I really learned how to fix my wiggly chair!
what an amazing video. Almost ASMR
Glad you liked it Adnan! Thanks. Scott
Great video. Such a gentle demeanor and everything is explained with a reason. Nice Job!!!!
Great teaching method. You taught me a lot. God bless, Go Buckeyes!
Just smart enough to seek professional advice on how to achieve the exact job I discovered on your video! After watching your excellent tutorial I now feel very confident that I can DIY our wobbly dinning table chairs.. THANKS SO MUCH!
Great to hear! Thanks for sharing that Thom. Scott
@@FixingFurniture I don't know if I was properly sending you a follow-up note.. my repair came to a screeching halt when the second screw I was removing broke in half.. leaving just enough still in the leg and chair seat that I couldn't remove it.. I searched for another of your tutorials on that subject but couldn't find one.. please help.
For the algorithm!
Thank you for the video and information. I'll be repairing my friend's chairs, and they are remarkably similar to the one you have in this video. You made me feel confident that I could actually do this project well.
Excellent. Thanks!!
You're welcome! Scott
Omg as soon as I'm done leaving this comment I'm going fix my chairs, I've been wanting to fix them for so long but I thought it was complicated THANK YOU 😊
Thanks for the detailed advice and the good camera angles. Made it super easy to see what you were doing
Thanks. You saved my wife’s chairs ❤
You’re welcome. Happy to help!
@FixingFurniture thanks for the lesson..I love the design of the back rest! By any chance do you have a video on how to make that design please?
Thank you! Very informative!!
Glad it was helpful! Scott
Love learning about what I thought I knew about 😕 😬 thanks cuz...
Happy to help! It makes me proud to hear when people are learning from our video content. Thanks for subscribing! Scott 🇨🇦
I have watched two of your videos and find your tutorial style very watchable as you take your time and show very clearly each stage of a repair. I am viewing from my home in England UK
Sizzler
Great video! Very clear and concise. I'm excited to try this on a few of my chairs. Thank you for the helpful tips!
What a calm personality. I think I can fix my chairs even though the last person split the tenon (??) with a screw.
Great job, much more complete than some of the other online videos. You touched on why metal and wood don't mix well in such applications---I had seen two videos that call for "a slightly larger screw" to fix a loosened joint---a problem waiting to happen, again! Thanks a million--
Glad you found it helpful. Scott.
I can’t believe that just the glue will do the work! Thank you. I will fix mine and let you know
That's great. Good luck with your project. Scott
Thank You 😊
You're welcome 😊
Very nice calm voice, and just so informative. Extremely helpful.
Thanks so much for this video. My kitchen chair now feels like it isn't going to break every time I sit on it. Now I know to look for screws and get them out of there. That surely can't be a cost effective method in production.
You're welcome. I recommend not using that chair until you re-glue it as a very loose chair can become a broken chair, which is much more difficult and costly to repair, not to mention causing a potential injury. Good luck with your project! Scott
Thank you
You're welcome
Soothing voice and nicely explained
Thanks Amit. Scott
I really like your well-organized video series with leveled skills. I’m an experienced paint finisher, but have recently taken up woodworking. I’m hoping to use some of your tips to sturdy-up some “big-box” stools that were partial-assembly-required. There are oval-shaped mortise & tenon spreaders & rails, with the hols longer than the pegs. They also used pocket holes through these, but the screws barely reach into the legs, since the pocket holes go through the pegs. The frame under the seat uses diagonals, pulled tight with bolts using an Allen wrench. They keep getting wobbly & falling apart, & I’ve tried unsuccessfully to fix them. I may try removing the finish from the joinery parts and just regluing everything, without the pointless screws.
Another thought I’d had was to cut off the pegs (tenons? - still learning the vocabulary), move the spreaders up higher, and making proper pocket holes joining perpendicular pieces with glue & pocket screws. But based on your advice on metal vs. wood, I’m thinking that’s not the best idea. I know I could just toss or sell them, but I like them, & now consider it a challenge I want to accomplish! Thoughts?
Yes, I would stay away from screws. I don't suggest cutting off the tenons as they're a strong component to woodworking construction. Wood glue applied to tight fitting, clean joints will go a long way. If the joints are loose, epoxy would be a better glue choice. Happy to chat via a video advices session if you like woodenitbenice.ca/collections/woodworking-advice-sessions
Good videos and instruction. I noticed in one video that you had a simple jig for holding wedge pieces in order to plane the wedge shape. Can you please tell me the video title so that I can check it out again. I need to make this type of jig.
Here's the video I made on how to make wedges. th-cam.com/video/4VFBvs1x-lI/w-d-xo.html I hope this is helpful. Scott
This is a fantastic video! Looks like I've got a nice project for this weekend! Thank you!
Good info!!!
I started to repair cane seats on chairs a couple of years ago. I have found almost every chair that needs re-caning also needs repairs to firm up loose joints or repair cracked wood. The caning sometimes feels like it's secondary. Thanks for this video. The procedures it shows will help me a lot.
I'm happy to hear it's helping you out! I haven't tried any caning myself... maybe that's something I can experiment with in the future. Cheers. Scott
Excellent video. Thanks
You're welcome. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Scott
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!
Thank you for the tutorial.
I found a Paul Cobb Planner Group captain's chair thrown out on the street today. It's still very beautiful, but wobbly - so your guide here will be incredibly useful in helping me restore it without making a hash of it. My eyes nearly fell out of my head when I saw how much they sell for, although I already like it too much to let it go. Really looking forward to this project.
This was so helpful. May I ask two more questions?
What should be done if there is still "wiggle room" between the chair seat and the leg socket?
Additionally, I have a leg that is broke off under the leg socket (so part is still in the socket and the rest is attached to the leg.
How would I get that piece out and where do I go from here?
Thank you very kindly.
Very good explanation, thanks. One of the four gluing requirements is tight joints. It would seem that after sanding the holes and the legs, the fit would be pretty loose. Is there a fix for joints that are too loose? Thank you.
Thanks, going to try on an antique bird's eye maple chair I inherited.
Perfect Video Tutorial!
Informative and concise.
Thank you!
Thank you for the feedback and positive comments. Scott
This was the best how to video i have ever seen. (Being NOT a mr. fix anything, that is saying a lot) Small details (like labeling holes and legs) probably seem anal to people who are good at this stuff, but it helps a lot.
Thanks
Definitely subscribed! Thank you so much for this channel. I have my grandmothers antique sewing machine and the table that it is installed in, which is also antique and it is the same table she used to sew her clothing for her entire family, had a loose leg. My husband decided to try to “fix it“ by drilling tons of screws into it! I was horrified when I saw what had happened. He is a welder, and he can do amazing work when it comes to building a boat or a metal building. But whenever it comes to wood, he is no Carpenter. So now my grandmothers machine table is full of holes, and the part that was originally broken is even more broken than it was before ☹️ I do not move the table at all, and it will not be moved until I am able to fix it. I will not be painting it because I want it to be exactly the way it was when she gave it to me when I was a child, and thankfully all of this damage was done on the backside, so I would be fine with just using a wood filler for all of the holes he created. He is a very smart and talented man, but he is not allowed to touch my furniture ever again lol
I'm glad you found our channel Stevie. We have lots of how-to videos to show the right way to repair furniture. Thanks. Scott
Enjoyed the last 4 or so I watched as well, next one came on before I could LIKE them. Thanks
I love to hear that people are enjoying our videos. Thanks for taking the time to post a comment. Scott
thank you for the amazon tool list links, so often I run to home depot, this method of purchase is more specific and convenient
Glad it was helpful!
The video instructions are excellent. It is a pleasure to watch and listen to how you repair furniture. I look forward to more information about repairing furniture. Thank you.
Thank you Diane. I appreciate you taking the time to post you comment. Scott
Great tutorial from Malta EU
I'm glad you enjoyed it George! Thanks. Scott
Good video, great job that gave me good solutions for a similar repair.
Glad it helped. I love to hear our videos are helping people out - that's why we do this. Cheers. Scott
Very nice video. After repairing a large number of these kinds of chairs I have convinced myself that, at the factory, they squirt in a measured amount of adhesive normally right at the bottom of the hole where it does the least good. They then jam the leg assembly in and run a drywall screw into the joints to hold it while the "glue" dries. A horrible system and they all fail the same way. Your repair is the right way to do it and the problem is now solved. Thanks again for posting. Well done.
Thanks, I appreciate that. I can tell from what you describe, you've seen this before. That glob of glue at the bottom of the hole does nothing. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's nice someone else notices these things. Cheers. Scott
Do you put the screws back in ???
Hi
Thank you for your video. I made a mistake trying to repair mine. I didn't realize their were nails in the joints i broke part of the mortice and tennon joints. Any tips repairing the tongues?
Thanks
I've got a few videos on how to glue split wood back together. They may be helpful for you. It's unfortunate that people put nails in chairs to repair them and create damage in the process. I also offer video coaching sessions if you'd like some advice. See Advice Sessions on our website woodenitbenice.ca
Great video - thanks for sharing! Have you tried/ had luck with instant adhesives, super glue fixes for squeaky wooden chair joints - 'Wonderlok 'Em Tite Chairs Super Strength' is what I'm looking at? Curious if you've had to re-fix joints that's been used on
Awesome! Thank you.
You're welcome! Scott
AMAZING, you made it look so easy.....THANK YOU
Glad you liked it!! Scott
Thank you for the video...simple, easy steps that saved me $
Great to hear! Thank you. Scott
I purchased a new Titebond 4134 Extend Wood Glue from Amazon as an alternative to the Lee Valley product that does not ship between October to April. I used it on a chair that I am re-glueing . It worked well. I also dug out an old set of wood carving palm chisels that served me well for clearing old glue from the 1/2 inch mortice holes. Thank you for your excellent video. I would like some clarification on when the fit is too loose for a proper glue up. When it is too loose is it better to: 1) Drill the hole oversize, plug with a dowel and redrill to fit the tenon. 2) Glue a shaving to the undersized tenon. 3) Turn a new stretcher with larger tenon.
I would choose #2 or use epoxy glue, depending on the value of the piece. If it's inexpensive or not valuable, epoxy is the easiest solution. I hope that helps. Thank you for posting your comment. Scott
Great video but a question I have is my some chairs have a brad nailed into tin additional to the glue up?
Thank u so much for sharing!
You are so welcome! Cheers. Scott
The video was extremely helpful, however the chair manufacturer never made a percise joint in the seat, and after preparation to glue up I have alot of movement, what would you suggest, im thinking of a Grove with a shim inserted to spread the dowel for a tighter fit, any help would be appreciated.
Thank your for your video! I recently purchased some beautiful old wobbly chairs that need love. I will glue all the things, but should I put the screws back in?
If the screws are on the base of the chair, they should not be re-installed. The only place screws are typically used properly is for holding arms on chairs. I hope that helps. Scott
This is just what I needed. Thanks for sharing.
That's great to hear. Thank you. Scott
Nice simple video and well explained. I repaired an armchair last year for a friend. There was nails and one leg curved replaced plus a miss spindle. I made new leg and spindle. Should last for a decade or two
Nice to hear you're repairing furniture too. Thanks for your comment. Scott
Happy Easter. Have a pile of live edge acacia pieces to make for our new beach house. Just finishing off the joinery at the moment. Check it out if you have time
Thanks allott seems like a little of a pain by my wife will be happy after I fix all her family set we got as a gift
Sounds like you're ready to tackle that project. Good luck and have fun with it! Scott
Thank you for this video. We have similar Windsor chairs we were going to return but after watching and some wood glue we will keep and enjoy them. them
Thank you for this video! 🙏🏼 does anyone know the tool name that is used to drill the initial leg holes into the seat?
There are several types of drill bits you can use; spoon bit, auger bit, etc. Here's a great video by Curtis Buchanan about drilling chair leg mortises in chair seats. Scott th-cam.com/video/wj5jtv0pjS8/w-d-xo.html
Excellent video. You have that calm, assuring voice. I will be fixing a similar type of chair. It has screws in them after I glue the legs back should I put in the screws?
Great video. It didn't answer the question as to what to do if the joints are not tight, as in antique furniture. I have a maple piano stool that has been repaired numerous times and the joints are very loose when dry assembled. What glue, or shim, or what. I've heard epoxy?
Hello Sir, thank you for your great video, I will be able to fix the legs on my recently bought wooden Windsor chair which has, among other problems, wobbly legs, the other problems I have is the back of the chair has a loose central splat and several loose supporting rungs, I have an idea how to repair these splats and rungs, but I reckon I will need to first remove the round outside frame which the rungs and splat are attached to.
Do you cover repairing the rungs and splat in your video on Windsor Chairs?
I will watch the video and see, because as mu old Dad used to say, if you're going to do a job, do it right the first time rather than bodge it up and have to repair it at a later stage.
Thanks once again, I have subscribed and look forward to watching further videos.
Thanks for subscribing Jack. Here's a video showing the restoration for an American Windsor chair. One thing I recommend is using Fish glue so you have a longer working time when gluing up the parts. th-cam.com/video/92deV01eWFU/w-d-xo.html
Titebond makes and Elmers used to make a dark wood glue which would hide any minor squeeze out. I like to use it for walnut and the darker woods since you don't have to worry about a bright yellow line on the finished product.
Thanks for sharing that. I'll have to check it out. Scott
This is a great video, and exactly what I needed to repair some chairs I bought second hand in the past year. My question is: what if the legs won't come out? I have the same kind of chair as pictured, in terms of how the legs are laid out and installed. I removed the metal screws and started wiggling the already very wiggly legs. I removed any glue along the edge that might have been problematic. And no matter how hard I try, I can't get them out! Why would they be so wiggly and still so stuck in there? And how do I fix it? Thanks!
It could be one of 2 issues. The glue holding on or there may be a brad nail in the joint. Try adding some white vinegar in the joint to loosen the old glue... let it sit for 5-10 minutes and see if that releases the leg. If it's a brad nail (sometimes hard to see), here's a video about how to remove them th-cam.com/video/WFNMH_HFQRc/w-d-xo.html
@@FixingFurniture Thank you so much!
I hope you are still here because I just found this page. I have to do my dining room chairs. They are loose and I am sure it comes from pulling them in and out from the table and made them wobbly. My concerned is, when you use the chisel, how can you be sure not to remove too much of the wood in the hole and on the leg of the chair? and also the same thing with the sand paper( I guess experience makes the difference) but I need an ideal to be sure I dont remove or sand too much of the room.
I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.
Your videos are great Scott. I'd love to learn more about how to fix a wobbly wedged mortise and tenon joint. How do I get the replacement wedge the right size, for example?
Thanks for your feedback Nicholas. Yes, we can make a video on how to repair wedged tenons. It will be after our current backlog of videos are published. Thank you for the suggestion! Scott
@@FixingFurniture I would love to see a video on this as well. can't find one out there. Thank you for the videos.
Hi Brian - I'm preparing a year-end video about tools I made and bought this year, and one tool I made was a jig to make wedges for wedged tenons. Here are 2 videos from the past year that show different ways to make wedges for wedged tenons. I hope they help you.
Restoring an American Windsor Chair - th-cam.com/video/92deV01eWFU/w-d-xo.html
Spindle Repair on a Chair Back - th-cam.com/video/FkIR6pcoeGE/w-d-xo.html
thank you!!!
I could tell very early in this video he is an expert. I would like to have seen what he would do if only 1 or 2 legs were loose and how to dismantle it for repair.
Love the way you show how to repair furniture no faff, only talk about what you are doing some talk so much I switch off🎉
Possibly a shop tour is in the offings of your video selection. I only ask as your workspace appears to have some thought put into it. My workspace could use some more thought on the layout of tools.
I have plans for a workshop tour in the future. Once I finish my tool cabinet, I'll have space to clean up the boxes of miscellaneous stuff. Cheers. Scott
Can loctite construction glue for wood application be used? If not, why is wood glue better? Thanks
I need to do this to one of my chairs and noticed all 4 legs have screws. Based on this video, you are recommending to not reinstall any screws, correct? What happens if the holes are too big or not tight anymore?
How wobbly is too wobbly for yellow glue to hold? At what point with Windsor chairs do you need to consider building up the tenon so that it's tighter (or using epoxy)? My problem is that the middle stretcher wants to fall out because the legs spread about half an inch with any weight. All legs have a bit of movement, mostly left and right. I have seen the technique where you glue shavings to tenons, but I lack the tools to produce shavings. Does sawdust work? I managed to create some shavings, but they're only maybe 1/4" wide. Maybe the wobble isn't bad enough, and the yellow glue alone will hold? How to know?
Thank you for your great videos, something that theoretically might help a glued joint other than your great tips is, carving horizotal ridges on the tenons before applying the glue , so that it acts like the ridges on steel rebar ... thanks again for your time and patience!!!!
Hi George. Thanks for your suggestion. I've been trying to source spiral dowels lately, but haven't had success. My thought is that a flat gluing surface should be stronger than fluted dowels. Maybe I should do some strength testing and incorporate your idea too. Scott
Thanks for your corresp. It's great to know that there are people out there with the same love for fine wooden " gluteus rests" as me , let alone skilled craftsmen like yourself , your advice and inspiration is a treasure !!!!!!!!!
I have a dining set that I bought pre loved.
All the chairs have either wobbly legs or loose foot rests.
I miss some screws I think and some of the holes are too big now.
Could you suggest how to approach fixing this?
In the video Scott suggested using epoxy resin glue for joints that are too loose. DO NOT reinstall any screws according to Scott!
I need to do this to my dining room chairs. The joints are almost identical to this chair including the screws. The screws were factory installed, probably to hold the legs on after gluing together. I tried regluing them a few months back and did not stay strong for long, I guess the screws need to be removed. Would a epoxy work if the joints are too loose?
Thank you. I really want to try and save 4 chairs instead of throwing away. If the space is not tight, is there anything I can do?
Yes, there are 2 ways to solve that problem. Epoxy will hold where there are loose joints, but it's not something you should use on antique chairs, which should be repaired with hide glue. You can also use a thin plane shaving to wrap around the joint to take up the space - just make sure you slather glue on both sides of the shaving so when it dries, it becomes one solid piece. I hope that helps. Scott
Is fixing loose and wobbly spindle joints on the chair back the same process as this?
Just got into woodworking, just found your channel. Thank you so much for the information on tools and process, and the incredibly zen-like manner in which it is delivered. It encourages patience when approaching the work - which is critical to not plowing through and making things worse! Looking forward to all your videos -
Thanks for your comment. It's nice to hear we're making content that encourages others to learn the woodworking craft. Scott
@@FixingFurniture You're more than welcome, Scott. I've built a few amateur-level projects in the past like bookcases or wall-framing, but have no formal training. As a result, I'd get discouraged by the vast number of things I Don't Actually Know How To Do! Or, at least, how to do properly.
[I laughed out loud when I saw you pull drywall screws out of the chair legs... every bookcase I've ever built is assembled with drywall screws! Because no one was there to say - "Please, God no... that's NOT how it's done!"]
But TH-cam has changed everything. Thanks to generous folks like you, it is now possible to learn from experts in any field - from home, no less. You have become digital mentors to an army of students worldwide.
Personally, I can't thank you enough, and look forward to a day when I can return the favor by sharing what I've learned with others as well.
Cheers -
Thanks for the info. I have a chair from my Grandmother's kitchen set that I am refurbishing. The legs are set up similar to the chair in this video; so I guess I should glue the stretchers to the legs first and then glue the leg assembly to the seat. The tenons that attach to the seat are through tenons so would there be enough time to apply glue, assemble the legs to the seat and then drive wedges into the through tenons? All the leg joints are angled going through the seat.
You've got the right idea, but you will need to glue this up all in one step, within 10-15 minutes. If you glue the leg assembly first and let it dry, it won't allow the flexibility you need to properly work it into the seat. I suggest doing a few practice runs and make sure your parts are laid out in the right spot so you can glue it up as quickly as possible. If you want a glue that will give you more time, try a fish glue which has a 60 minute working time - I buy mine at Lee Valley Tools. I hope that helps. Scott
What brand of glue please? Tight Chair mentioned in another of your videos?