Fixing timber furniture can sometimes be harder than it needs to be. If done incorrectly, can sabotage your DIY efforts. Luckily, we’ve found the easiest ways to repair and restore timber furniture that will help you get the job done right. Let’s check them out!
1. Only use glue
Don’t use nails, screws, metal mending plates, or angle irons to put broken furniture back together.
Timber furniture parts should be joined by glue.
If you use metal add-ons, remember they are just a temporary fix before the total failure of a joint.
There are exceptions to the rule. Some pieces of timber furniture are put together with screws, and some that are predominantly glued have screw joints – for example, where chair arms attach to the backrest.
And some drawers are held together with small nails.
2. Fix it before it breaks
Some breakages are the result of accidents, but most are caused by the stresses of everyday use on loosened joints.
For that reason, it’s vital to fix a joint as soon as it becomes loose.
One loose joint leads to another and, as you continue to use the piece, the wobbling will wear, weaken, distort or crack the wood.
The next thing you know, a problem that could have had a simple fix becomes a major issue.
3. Remove all old glue residue
New glue will not adhere to old glue.
This is because glue works on timber by soaking in and attaching itself to timber fibers.
Before you glue furniture pieces back together ensure you scrape off any old glue.
Take the joint apart and scrape off any old glue with a sharp knife, chisel, file, or small paint scraper. The coarse abrasive paper will work on the glue that is fairly loose or flaky.
4. Use the right glue for the job
For most furniture, you can use ordinary PVA glue or a high-strength grade PVA.
Before the 1960s, animal glue was used in furniture making.
If you want to keep your furniture original, you should reassemble it with animal (or hide) glue.
Be warned it’s fiddly because it has to be heated and it’s smelly.
Avoid epoxy glue or the super-bond glues for routine fixes, as these will not penetrate the timber fibers.
5. Hold a glued joint together under pressure until dry
An unclamped joint is a lost cause.
This doesn’t mean you need a workshop full of clamps. Instead, hold glued-up parts together using weights, sticks, or boards used as wedges; or ratchets or elastic straps. Clamping pressure must be sufficient to bring the two pieces of wood together securely and accurately, just as they were in the original construction of the piece.
6. Naturally stain & darken
To stain the wood a darker, yet still, more natural color, give vinegar a try! You can use either balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar, depending on the color you prefer. If you scrub the vinegar in with a wire brush, it will take this great wood DIY to the next level!
7. Naturally restore wood
Before grabbing a store-bought wood stain, try a natural ingredient. Coconut oil not only rehydrates your wood but also restores your wood’s natural color and soft glow. It may appear to “stain” the wood darker, but it’s actually a restoration of the healthier, natural color.