What sort of clamps do I need to fix a wobbly chair?

[Libertine]

Hi folks,

Yes, I'm still in the middle of restoring an Edwardian table, but I've managed to find myself another project while I'm waiting for the weather to warm up. Haha.

Anyway, I have 5 old oak chairs that are a bit wobbly. I'll need to pull them apart, sand down the joints and re-glue them. I've never done any woodworking or DIY things before and I only own one tool (ROS which won't help me much for this project!). Literally, one tool. And a multipurpose screwdriver. That's it. So I have two questions:

1. What type of clamps should I buy, and what sizes will I need? I don't know the difference between all the varieties.
2. What type of glue should I use?

Thanks in advance!

[Horsecroft88]

Hi Libertine, I would have thought that someone might have chipped in on what you might need to do the repairs to your chairs.

But no, and I am not even remotely very experienced in this sort of thing. I have only restored a few chairs in my woody years.

Ok, from what I gather hide glue is probably the best sort of glue for fixing the joints on your chairs. It is what would have originally been used. One of the other forum members gave me a web link address to a supplier for this stuff but I would need to check to re-find the address. The alternative could be a really strong epoxy based glue, albeit I know plenty of people here on the forum (especially in the restoration section) argue against using this type of glue. I have used such products in the past and found them to be ok. The one glue that is freely available from hardware shops (ie. aquadere - selleys etc), I don't think would be up to such a job, especially if you want to use the chairs.

In terms of clamps, hmn, good question, I would tend to think there are a variety of G clamps (a bit like sash clamps) available from your local hardware shop. These days they seem to come in a variety of sizes and are much lighter than the old style metal ones (which were also quite heavy). The key being how many you need and working out the size required. They seem to cost around $20-40 depending on size/make. Not knowing the size of your chairs but working off various antique chairs I have, I would tend to suggest you might need clamps that can span say roughly 30-40cm. This seems to be the typical distance between say either the two front or rear legs and/or the distance between front and rear legs. Not sure if that helps.

I too need both the right glue and clamps to finish off putting my old cedar box I am restoring back together.

As you work on your various projects, I am sure you will slowly start to obtain a variety of tools which will make the job so much easier. This is exactly what has happened to me.

All the best with the chairs and hopefully you can post some photos of them.

[DaveTTC]

carefull 'sanding down' the joints, you want it all to go back together tight.


If it goes back together tight I would just use PVA.

when it is all glued you could just use a ratchet strap around the legs. A bag of cement on the seat as it dries so the legs are all lined up to sit flat on the ground. Others may chime in

[Sturdee]

I've done too many chairs for my liking so I'm not offering to do them for you.

But to answer your questions :

If the chairs glue originally was hide glue you can use it again without cleaning of old glue as hide glue will glue onto old hide glue. The easiest way.

If other glue was used you need to remove the old glue before reglueing. I use any good PVA glue. If in cleaning of the old glue you made the holes a bit loose you can glue some paper onto the rungs and then glue into the holes.

After a dry fit assembly , place the legs and rungs in such a way that you know where they are. I prefer to put the around the chair as when you start glueing you don't have time to muck around.

Make sure you have a totally flat surface, I use a large sheet of chipboard. Glue and insert the legs and rungs into the base. Should go fairly easy but a rubber mallet helps. Gentle taps to make sure they are in and the chair sits level.

You should not need clamps but if the legs are a bit wobbly I use a ratched clamp or a piece of rope tied around the base of the legs and then twists the rope with a stick until tight. Then wedge the stick agaist one of the rungs. Cheaper them any other clamps.

Seems complicated but it isn't.

Good Luck and show your photos of the repaired chairs here.

Peter.

[jimbur]

When dismantling be very careful in case someone has 'strengthened' the joints with nails, screws etc and covered them up with filler. As Sturdee said, if it was hide glue before stick to it.