I was given a bedroom set that's beautiful but made like junk; like the
bottom or drawers almost seems like reinforced cardboard put together with
an office stapler or something. It needs some repairs and it's like it's so
junky you can't really fix it with what's already there. There was a little
warping and the bottom wouldn't stay in the groove; I managed to fix it with
a strip of real wood across the bottom with wood glue, and some small nails
from the back .

Anyway, a foot came off the dresser; it's attached to a triangle of wood(one
side attached to foot and other to bottom of dresser. The food is sort of
like a block of wood with ridges for decoration; also had some sort of long
narrow staples and a couple of dowels going from the dresser into the foot.
There was some slight water damage. Anyway I'm trying to nail this triangle
of wood to the foot with finishing nails, and the nails keep bending before
they get into the foot. So I'm constantly hammering and rebending the nails
and getting nowhere. What is it I might be doing wrong or what could I do
better with this. The other 2 feet seem to be secure and ok. At the
moment, I glued everything back into place with wood glue but it would need
reinforcement. Should I drill holes? Is it unusual to have to drill a hole
to put a nail in something, or is a finishing nail the wrong thing?
ares

ares wrote:
I was given a bedroom set that's beautiful but made like junk; like
the
bottom or drawers almost seems like reinforced cardboard put together
with
an office stapler or something. It needs some repairs and it's like
it's so
junky you can't really fix it with what's already there. There was a
little
warping and the bottom wouldn't stay in the groove; I managed to fix
it with
a strip of real wood across the bottom with wood glue, and some small
nails
from the back .

Anyway, a foot came off the dresser; it's attached to a triangle of
wood(one
side attached to foot and other to bottom of dresser. The food is
sort of
like a block of wood with ridges for decoration; also had some sort
of long
narrow staples and a couple of dowels going from the dresser into the
foot.
There was some slight water damage. Anyway I'm trying to nail this
triangle
of wood to the foot with finishing nails, and the nails keep bending
before
they get into the foot. So I'm constantly hammering and rebending
the nails
and getting nowhere. What is it I might be doing wrong or what could
I do
better with this. The other 2 feet seem to be secure and ok. At the
moment, I glued everything back into place with wood glue but it
would need
reinforcement. Should I drill holes? Is it unusual to have to drill
a hole
to put a nail in something, or is a finishing nail the wrong thing?
ares

Not unusual at all. Depends on the wood. Screws probably would be a
better choice. Drill either way.

R

A screw will hold far better than any nail and predrilling will prevent the
possibility of that screw splitting the wood and causing more damage.

For tricky repairs of wood that was just too weak I have often used Wood
Epoxy or a filler compound to build up new material or replace large broken
out areas. When hard, the filler can be sanded, drilled, cut and painted
like regular wood, it just dosen't stain very well. When soft, it can be
molded like putty. Sometimes I need to add additioanl reinforcement of a
screw or threaded rod across the grain of the wood to prevent futurre
splitting.





"ares" wrote in message
news:CqB6e.10842$H_5.8841@trnddc01...
I was given a bedroom set that's beautiful but made like junk; like the
bottom or drawers almost seems like reinforced cardboard put together with
an office stapler or something. It needs some repairs and it's like it's
so
junky you can't really fix it with what's already there. There was a
little
warping and the bottom wouldn't stay in the groove; I managed to fix it
with
a strip of real wood across the bottom with wood glue, and some small
nails
from the back .

Anyway, a foot came off the dresser; it's attached to a triangle of
wood(one
side attached to foot and other to bottom of dresser. The food is sort of
like a block of wood with ridges for decoration; also had some sort of
long
narrow staples and a couple of dowels going from the dresser into the
foot.
There was some slight water damage. Anyway I'm trying to nail this
triangle
of wood to the foot with finishing nails, and the nails keep bending
before
they get into the foot. So I'm constantly hammering and rebending the
nails
and getting nowhere. What is it I might be doing wrong or what could I do
better with this. The other 2 feet seem to be secure and ok. At the
moment, I glued everything back into place with wood glue but it would
need
reinforcement. Should I drill holes? Is it unusual to have to drill a
hole
to put a nail in something, or is a finishing nail the wrong thing?
ares

Get yourself a variable speed reversible drill and some steel screws (brass
is weaker) and go at it. To make screwing easier, wipe the threads with
some cake hand soap. The best trick I learned in woodshop. Makes the
screws go in much easier.



"ares" wrote in message
news:CqB6e.10842$H_5.8841@trnddc01...
I was given a bedroom set that's beautiful but made like junk; like the
bottom or drawers almost seems like reinforced cardboard put together with
an office stapler or something. It needs some repairs and it's like it's
so
junky you can't really fix it with what's already there. There was a
little
warping and the bottom wouldn't stay in the groove; I managed to fix it
with
a strip of real wood across the bottom with wood glue, and some small
nails
from the back .

Anyway, a foot came off the dresser; it's attached to a triangle of
wood(one
side attached to foot and other to bottom of dresser. The food is sort of
like a block of wood with ridges for decoration; also had some sort of
long
narrow staples and a couple of dowels going from the dresser into the
foot.
There was some slight water damage. Anyway I'm trying to nail this
triangle
of wood to the foot with finishing nails, and the nails keep bending
before
they get into the foot. So I'm constantly hammering and rebending the
nails
and getting nowhere. What is it I might be doing wrong or what could I do
better with this. The other 2 feet seem to be secure and ok. At the
moment, I glued everything back into place with wood glue but it would
need
reinforcement. Should I drill holes? Is it unusual to have to drill a
hole
to put a nail in something, or is a finishing nail the wrong thing?
ares

Thanks guys;
I have a reversible cordless drill and there's probably some wood filler in
the shed I could use to build up one corner around the dowel. The stuff I
don't think is stained; the small edges seem to be veneered with something
like, uh, contac paper. Whadya know I tried drilling and the bit broke;
gotta try a new one. Sorry if my original story is confusing. Someone
repaired the other drawer bottom that wouldn't stay in the groove by
drilling in some drywall screws from the back to support it from underneath;
it's hidden but it sure looks bad when I take the drawer out. Oh, and I did
bust the triangle of wood but cut another piece with the table saw from a
2X4 from the shed.
I'll be probably having more questions coming up as there's a big to do list
and hubby started a job working 12 hours a day with little time off; I might
have to hire a handyman. (gotta cut a top off a metal barrel to make a burn
barrel and not sure what blade to put in the circular saw; and hang a large
mirror, maybe it's around 4'X6'; I won't attempt replacing the valves on the
aerator tanks!).
ares

"ares" wrote in message
news:CqB6e.10842$H_5.8841@trnddc01...
I was given a bedroom set that's beautiful but made like junk; like the
bottom or drawers almost seems like reinforced cardboard put together with
an office stapler or something. It needs some repairs and it's like it's
so
junky you can't really fix it with what's already there. There was a
little
warping and the bottom wouldn't stay in the groove; I managed to fix it
with
a strip of real wood across the bottom with wood glue, and some small
nails
from the back .

Anyway, a foot came off the dresser; it's attached to a triangle of
wood(one
side attached to foot and other to bottom of dresser. The foot is sort of
like a block of wood with ridges for decoration; also had some sort of
long
narrow staples and a couple of dowels going from the dresser into the
foot.
There was some slight water damage. Anyway I'm trying to nail this
triangle
of wood to the foot with finishing nails, and the nails keep bending
before
they get into the foot. So I'm constantly hammering and rebending the
nails
and getting nowhere. What is it I might be doing wrong or what could I do
better with this. The other 2 feet seem to be secure and ok. At the
moment, I glued everything back into place with wood glue but it would
need
reinforcement. Should I drill holes? Is it unusual to have to drill a
hole
to put a nail in something, or is a finishing nail the wrong thing?
ares

ares wrote:
I was given a bedroom set that's beautiful but made like junk; like
the
bottom or drawers almost seems like reinforced cardboard put together
with
an office stapler or something. It needs some repairs and it's like
it's so
junky you can't really fix it with what's already there. There was a
little
warping and the bottom wouldn't stay in the groove; I managed to fix
it with
a strip of real wood across the bottom with wood glue, and some small
nails
from the back .

I hope you haven't fallen in love with the furniture. It sounds like
and ongoing source of problems and expense. Things like that can suck
down your time and give you little in return.

Since the furniture was given to you (not a gift from in-laws I hope!),
maybe you should cut your losses before said losses really start adding
up. If chairs came with this set, they too will break and someone will
take a spill...

R

"ares" wrote in message
news:MYE6e.13334$0c2.9363@trnddc08...
Thanks guys;
I have a reversible cordless drill and there's probably some wood filler
in
the shed I could use to build up one corner around the dowel. The stuff I
don't think is stained; the small edges seem to be veneered with something
like, uh, contac paper. Whadya know I tried drilling and the bit broke;
gotta try a new one. Sorry if my original story is confusing. Someone
(Big snip)
Ares- no disrespect, but you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.
Rather than waste time with this crap, you'd be better off taking a side
job, even at low pay, and buying real furniture at garage sales and thrift
stores. I've been there, and tried to do that, and the chipboard crap is
just unrepairable, realistically.

aem sends....

Well, most of the set is OK, it's just this one piece with most of the
problems and the other piece needing support on the drawer bottoms which was
fixed fairly easily, probably due to water damage in one corner that is
fairly superficial. It's actually from sis' mil who went to a nursing home.
I think it's from Rooms to Go, and says Made in Italy. If I were Italian,
I'd probably spray paint over that! I thought Italy was known for quality
goods.
But I know what you all mean; I would never buy something that I knew would
be that bad! My furniture is mostly handmedowns from grandparents; older
than me and I'm pushing 50
ares

"RicodJour" wrote in message
oups.com...
ares wrote:
Since the furniture was given to you (not a gift from in-laws I hope!),
maybe you should cut your losses before said losses really start adding
up. If chairs came with this set, they too will break and someone will
take a spill...

R

ares wrote:
Well, most of the set is OK, it's just this one piece with most of
the
problems and the other piece needing support on the drawer bottoms
which was
fixed fairly easily, probably due to water damage in one corner that
is
fairly superficial. It's actually from sis' mil who went to a
nursing home.
I think it's from Rooms to Go, and says Made in Italy. If I were
Italian,
I'd probably spray paint over that! I thought Italy was known for
quality
goods.

It's a business world and there are all sorts of manufacturers along
that bell curve of quality.

Many of the bicycles made in the world come from factories in Taiwan.
Everything from the crap you'd see at a Toys-R-Us to the high-end bikes
sold with Italian names. The factories take their specs and produce
the quality they're paid to produce.

R

ares wrote:

Thanks guys;
I have a reversible cordless drill and there's probably some wood filler in
the shed I could use to build up one corner around the dowel. The stuff I
don't think is stained; the small edges seem to be veneered with something
like, uh, contac paper. Whadya know I tried drilling and the bit broke;
gotta try a new one.

A tip which is almost lost to history is that for predrilling wood for a
nail you can get by using the same size nail for a drill. just clip the
head off and chuck it in the drill.

Try it, it woiks. Just stop drilling at about half to three quarters the
length of the nail you'll be using so there's some undrilled wood left
for it to drive into.

HTH,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"

Thanks guys;
I have a reversible cordless drill and there's probably some wood filler in
the shed I could use to build up one corner around the dowel. The stuff I
don't think is stained; the small edges seem to be veneered with something
like, uh, contac paper. Whadya know I tried drilling and the bit broke;
gotta try a new one.

A tip which is almost lost to history is that for predrilling wood for a
nail you can get by using the same size nail for a drill. just clip the
head off and chuck it in the drill.

Try it, it woiks. Just stop drilling at about half to three quarters the
length of the nail you'll be using so there's some undrilled wood left
for it to drive into.


If you don't want to take the time, or can't for some other reason
pre-drill, I've always had pretty good luck preventing splitting
blunting the tip of the nail. (By snipping it off with my trusty
Knipex CoBolt cutter, which is the best F'ing hand-powered wire-cutter
on the face of the planet, even if it does cost $35.)
The absence of the chisle-point keeps the nail from wedging.
Be warned that this doesn't work well with bright-finish nails,
or on materials other than wood.

--Goedjn