I've an old dining chair, elm I think, that's coming apart and I want to
know how best to put it back together again. I haven't got much in the
way of tools or expertise so I hope it's not too hard.

The legs are splayed out at an angle of about ten degrees, and there's a
H-shaped brace to stop them spreading. The legs and braces, which are
all round in section, are simply glued into sockets. Over the years one
of the legs has come loose, and the resulting strain has made two of the
braces come out of their sockets. I guess the sockets were once tight
but things have obviously been waggling around for a few years and have
been worn into a more round shape than they probably started off.

My first thought is to glue it all back together again but it seems to
be asking a lot of glue to hold the braces in place if one of the legs
isn't *very* firmly fixed in place under the seat.

Any ideas?

--
Mike Barnes

"Mike Barnes" wrote in message
...
I've an old dining chair, elm I think, that's coming apart and I want to
know how best to put it back together again. I haven't got much in the
way of tools or expertise so I hope it's not too hard.

The legs are splayed out at an angle of about ten degrees, and there's a
H-shaped brace to stop them spreading. The legs and braces, which are
all round in section, are simply glued into sockets. Over the years one
of the legs has come loose, and the resulting strain has made two of the
braces come out of their sockets. I guess the sockets were once tight
but things have obviously been waggling around for a few years and have
been worn into a more round shape than they probably started off.

My first thought is to glue it all back together again but it seems to
be asking a lot of glue to hold the braces in place if one of the legs
isn't *very* firmly fixed in place under the seat.

Any ideas?

--
Mike Barnes

Not yet got any but next time I order from Axminster...

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-V...Glue-22462.htm

Peter

Mike Barnes used his keyboard to write :
My first thought is to glue it all back together again but it seems to
be asking a lot of glue to hold the braces in place if one of the legs
isn't *very* firmly fixed in place under the seat.

Ordinary PVA wood glue should do the trick. Pull apart any joints which
are at all loose. Clean/scrap off the old glue almost down to the wood,
so the new glue can penetrate. If any joints are too loose for just the
glue alone - mix PVA with saw dust to act as a filler.

You will need to assemble it in one go and it really needs to be
clamped tightly together. Lacking clamps it is possible to use loops of
6mm or similar rope, tightened by inserting a stick in the middle of
the loop and twisting round until tight - then pegging it to stop it
unwinding itself.

Leave for 24 hours tightly clamped.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Peter Andrews wrote:


My first thought is to glue it all back together again but it seems
to be asking a lot of glue to hold the braces in place if one of the
legs isn't *very* firmly fixed in place under the seat.

Any ideas?

--
Mike Barnes

Not yet got any but next time I order from Axminster...

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-V...Glue-22462.htm

This stuff looks ok if you need to fix it without dismantling it.

Otherwise, if you *can* dismantle it and then re-assemble it using PVA glue,
that would be better - provided the joints are not *too* slack.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Lacking clamps it is possible to use loops
of 6mm or similar rope, tightened by inserting a stick in the middle
of the loop and twisting round until tight - then pegging it to stop
it unwinding itself.

Known as a Spanish Windlass.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

In my experience epoxy glue (a two part glue like Araldite, but not the
rapid setting 5 minute one!)) would be the best glue to use- use liberally
to ensure all gaps are filled and make sure all surfaces 'wetted'. Large
gaps need filling with wood wedges, care not to bang wedges in and split the
wood. Clean up with a cloth dipped in acetone before the glue sets fully
(acetone may damage any finish on the wood so use carefully). You could use
PVA glue, but I haven't found it much good if there are any traces of old
glue in the joint. There is a 'Chair Doctor' glue which you can inject
direct into the joint if it is still in one piece, but if very loose I'd be
cautious.
Francis

"Mike Barnes" wrote in message
...
I've an old dining chair, elm I think, that's coming apart and I want to
know how best to put it back together again. I haven't got much in the
way of tools or expertise so I hope it's not too hard.

The legs are splayed out at an angle of about ten degrees, and there's a
H-shaped brace to stop them spreading. The legs and braces, which are
all round in section, are simply glued into sockets. Over the years one
of the legs has come loose, and the resulting strain has made two of the
braces come out of their sockets. I guess the sockets were once tight
but things have obviously been waggling around for a few years and have
been worn into a more round shape than they probably started off.

My first thought is to glue it all back together again but it seems to
be asking a lot of glue to hold the braces in place if one of the legs
isn't *very* firmly fixed in place under the seat.

Any ideas?

--
Mike Barnes

On Wed, 15 Mar 2006 16:19:36 +0000, Mike Barnes
wrote:

I've an old dining chair, elm I think, that's coming apart and I want to
know how best to put it back together again. I haven't got much in the
way of tools or expertise so I hope it's not too hard.

The legs are splayed out at an angle of about ten degrees, and there's a
H-shaped brace to stop them spreading. The legs and braces, which are
all round in section, are simply glued into sockets. Over the years one
of the legs has come loose, and the resulting strain has made two of the
braces come out of their sockets. I guess the sockets were once tight
but things have obviously been waggling around for a few years and have
been worn into a more round shape than they probably started off.

My first thought is to glue it all back together again but it seems to
be asking a lot of glue to hold the braces in place if one of the legs
isn't *very* firmly fixed in place under the seat.

Any ideas?

The best thing I've found for such jobs is described by Aldi as "Nail
Free Adhesive" They'll have some for sale from 23rd March priced at
£ 1.49 per tube (310ml, 48.1p per 100ml) While it cures you can hold
the chair together with parcel tape.
--
Regards,
Mike Halmarack

Drop the EGG to email me.