Bench Seat Restoration

[siphco]

Hi guys,

I came accross this bench seat recently and thought it might be a good restoration project. Im just looking for some advice on whether its repairable and if so, how I would go about it? As you can see in the pics, the leg has come off the seat, could it just be bolted and glued back in? (Pics to come)

Thanks,
siphco

[siphco]

As mentioned

1.jpg 2.jpg
3.jpg image.jpg

[Christos]

It looks like the part of the rail(mortice) is still in the leg. Which means that you would need to take it apart to clean up the broken pieces and then make a loose tenon to attach the rail and leg.

The other side looks like the leg has a crack in it which seems to be hollow? I am not sure what would be the best option. I am tending to think that you would have to cut out and then fill in with solid wood, using epoxy as the glue, then mortice out for a loose tenon.

I gather that the back is pretty solid?

I am just thinking out loud now as without taking everything apart can this be approached this from the underside to hollow out the mortise and then add another support at the back part of the front leg. As you will loose some support if you come at this from the underside.

[siphco]

thanks for your reply,

Yes the back is fairly solid, its just those two parts where the rail attaches to the leg that are the problem.

I take it that means you dont think a bolt or some kind of brace could be used instead of taking it apart? im new to this so probably dont have the correct tools available!

[Xanthorrhoeas]

thanks for your reply,

Yes the back is fairly solid, its just those two parts where the rail attaches to the leg that are the problem.

I take it that means you dont think a bolt or some kind of brace could be used instead of taking it apart? im new to this so probably dont have the correct tools available!

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news but:
The bench looks like one of the Asian products made from rainforest timbers and sold through many outlets for low or at least low-ish prices. Some of those are surprisingly well made but others are knocked together roughly and the gaps filled with bog, which has little or no structural strength, especially once the weather gets in and rot begins. Unfortunately, this one looks like one of those.

Repairing something with many poor or faulty joints will require considerable expertise and good workmanship as well as quite a few tools. As the above response by Christos has indicated, the only real way to fix a bad/broken joint is to pull it apart, clean away all bog, rot and old glue and then make new solid joints with good timber and construction techniques, like the slip tenons mentioned. Trying to attach braces/ screws and or bolts will not create a solid and safe piece of furniture and will probably weaken the bench further as the timber often does not have great structural strength.

If you have or want to acquire the skills and the tools then this would be a great project to practice your skills. However, at the end all you will have is still a cheapo Asian bench, so you would only do it if you just loved woodwork and wanted something to practice on.

Solid Australian timber second hand furniture needing some work can often be purchased very cheaply and IMHO will better repay your efforts. It is a bit like spending a fortune to repair an old run-of-the-mill (rotm) car instead of either repairing a classic or putting the money into a good quality car. It doesn't matter how much you spend on the rotm, you end up with a rotm in the end and it won't be worth more than when you started.

As, I say, sorry to give such negative advice, and I wish you well in whatever you decide to do. On the positive, I do not know where you are in Australia, but if you are keen to learn there are many great classes around Australia where you can learn the techniques that you need. Some teachers may let you take the item in to learn how to fix it, others will just teach you how to make good joints and what tools to use. It is a wonderful hobby so please do not let my comments above put you off.

David