
Chair Repair – Fixing a Loose Back on a Wooden Dining Room Chair
- Figure out How the Back Connects to the Chair. The first thing you want to do is find out how the chair is held together. ...
- Remove the Back from the Chair. The next chair repair step is to wiggle the back off the chair. ...
- Prep the Chair for Reassembly. Once you have the spindles and the top bow off, sand the connection points of the spindles until they feel smooth to the ...
- Reassemble the Chair – *HELPFUL TO HAVE AN EXTRA SET OF HANDS*. Spread newspaper or a dropcloth below your work area to catch glue drips. ...
- Final Cleanup. After the glue sets, inspect the chair repair for soundness. Remove the painters tape. ...
How to refurbish old dining room chairs?
- Remove Antique Chair's Seat and Rattan Caning Material. ...
- Label the Joints before Dismantling the Antique Chair. ...
- Disassemble Screwed and Glued Joints of the Antique Chair. ...
- Repair the Split Spindle with a Scarf Joint. ...
- Drill Dowel Holes on the Broken Ends of the Stretcher. ...
- Glue and Reassemble the Antique Chair in Sections. ...
How to reupholster your dining room chairs?
What You Need
- Dining chair with upholstered seat
- Screwdriver
- Needle-nose pliers
- Scissors
- Fabric
- Pencil
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Staple gun
- Screws or corner braces
How to upcycle dining room chairs?
YOU WILL NEED
- Paint/varnish stripper – try 100 per cent biodegradable SOY Gel, £24.40 a litre, Dave Roper
- Fine and medium sandpaper
- Washing-up sponge with an abrasive side
- 25mm and 50mm brushes
- 250ml matt emulsion or oil-based eggshell – try Dulux Paint Mixing emulsion in Night Jewels 1, £2.99 for 250ml
- Fine wire wool
How to reupholster and refinish a dining room chair?
You'll need the following to reupholster and refinish your chair:
- Paint
- Fabric
- Fine sandpaper
- Cloth rag
- Flat head screwdriver
- Phillips screw driver
- Needle nose pliers
- Staple gun
- Staples
- Scissors

How do you fix wooden dining room chairs?
6:459:16Tools and Tips to Fix Wooden Chairs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow that is replacing a part sometimes you can glue something together where it just needs someMoreNow that is replacing a part sometimes you can glue something together where it just needs some reinforcement adding in a spline is an example of that a spline is a slot cut in the wood.
How do you reupholster the back of a dining chair?
0:0916:12How to Upholster: Outside Back of a Dining Room Chair (part 1) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe need to save the fabric on the front. So here we are we have to take the double piping off first.MoreWe need to save the fabric on the front. So here we are we have to take the double piping off first.
How do you fix a rear spindle on a chair?
2:054:36Fixing a Broken Spindle in the back of a Chair (WnW #7) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then I used a quarter inch bit to go a little bit deeper same thing with the end of the dowel.MoreAnd then I used a quarter inch bit to go a little bit deeper same thing with the end of the dowel. And then I fit a little quarter inch dowel in that to join the top dowel to the spindle.
How do you replace webbing in a dining room chair?
0:5113:24HOW TO! Upholstering a Dining Chair for PART 2: Webbing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you always start. If you if you always start out by measuring the webbing to see how manyMoreSo you always start. If you if you always start out by measuring the webbing to see how many webbings you're gonna take.
How do you put upholstery back on a wooden chair?
How to Upholster Wood ChairsMake a cardboard template for the chair back. ... Now cut out the foam and fabric. ... Attach the hardboard to the back of the chair using the appropriately sized screws for the thickness of your wood and chair.Using spray adhesive, attached foam to hardboard on the chair back.More items...
Can I reupholster a chair myself?
No problem. Just pull a few staples and start over. Reupholstering is a great way to bring tired-looking chairs-even tired-looking rooms-back to life. The materials are relatively inexpensive, the tools are simple and it's a project almost anyone can tackle with success.
How do you replace a broken spindle?
2:0113:09Really useful broken spindle / baluster replacement instructions - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAn easy way to replace spindles is to take the spindle that you need to um your existing spindle iMoreAn easy way to replace spindles is to take the spindle that you need to um your existing spindle i should say and make sure you marry up the shoulders.
How do you fix a broken spindle?
Apply wood glue to each hole and to the surface of the dowel. Line up the jagged edges of the spindle, push the dowel into one end and squeeze the other spindle piece on. Clamp the pieces together and wipe off any squeezed-out glue with a damp rag. Set the spindle aside to dry for 24 hours.
What is a spindle on a chair?
A spindle, in furniture, is a cylindrically symmetric shaft, usually made of wood. A spindle is usually made of a single piece of wood and typically has decoration (also axially symmetric) fashioned by hand or with a lathe.
How do you reupholster a dining chair with webbing and springs?
10:4724:41Reupholstering Chairs | Replacing Springs with Webbing | DIY HOW TOYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you can fold it back over. And staple back on top of itself for that extra security of holdingMoreSo you can fold it back over. And staple back on top of itself for that extra security of holding and then after i get them all folded. Over.
How do you fix upholstery webbing?
0:198:24How to Attach Traditional Webbing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut I would always use the tack with the improved head the bigger head. So that it can grip downMoreBut I would always use the tack with the improved head the bigger head. So that it can grip down onto the webbing and hold it tightly. Now I'll take a few of these tacks.
How do you fix a chair strap and webbing?
1:208:40How to Replace Cross Straps - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo we've got our strap. So these are the rivets we're gonna use we're going to use for thisMoreSo we've got our strap. So these are the rivets we're gonna use we're going to use for this particular job a 30 - 514 rivet. And we're going to use a 1364 drill bit set up already here on the drill.
How do you reupholster a leather dining chair and back seat?
0:424:30Upholster a Dining Chair in Leather - No Sew, No Pleat Method - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLeather is really nice to work with very forgiving. So just cut an oversized piece and stretch itMoreLeather is really nice to work with very forgiving. So just cut an oversized piece and stretch it out over your cushion base most people do pretty well up to this point.
How do you reupholster a dining chair without removing old fabric?
Bear in mind that if there's only one cover on the cushion, you can recover the chair without even removing the old fabric; simply lay the new fabric over the old. When dealing with a cushion that has more than one cover, however, take off the top layer by drawing out the staples that hold it in place.
How much does it cost to reupholster a dining room chair seat?
On average, the cost to reupholster a dining room chair costs between $150 to $300 each. If the chair has cushioned backing, the cost of reupholstering ranges from $400 to $600 each. Additionally, a wooden parsons chair with unique trim would cost $350 to $700 to reupholster.
What is the best fabric to reupholster dining chairs?
Polyester makes the fabric more durable as well as increases its stain and water-resistant properties. The higher percentage of polyester that is blended with cotton, the more durable it will be. For dining room chairs, a 50/50 cotton and polyester blend or a 60% cotton and 40% polyester blend works best.
How to get the back of a chair back to come off?
Gently pry up on the screwdriver to loosen the glue holding the plywood back on the chair. If it won't come completely loose, insert the screwdriver on the other side and keep prying until the back pops off.
What are dining room chairs made of?
Dining room chairs are built in pieces. Chair frames are assembled from hardwood, stained and lacquered while the cushioned parts are built separately. The seat and back are dense foam glued to thin plywood covered by upholstery fabric.
How to make a cushion out of plywood?
Place the cushion foam-side-down on a new piece of upholstery fabric. Using a pair of scissors, cut the fabric so that it is big enough to wrap around the edge of the plywood cushion on all four sides by at least 3 inches.
How to make a chair cushion with hot glue?
Insert a hot-melt glue stick into a hot-melt gun. Allow it to heat up. Apply heavy beads of hot glue down the back of the cushion 2 inches apart. Press the cushion back into the chair frame and press it into place with your hands to finish.
How to compress foam under plywood?
Place a heavy object on the back of the plywood to compress the foam underneath it as much as possible .
What are the weak points of a dining room chair?
By Chris Deziel. The weak points on hardwood dining room chairs are joints where dowels or spindles connect with the legs or the seat. When glue fails, the joints loosen. If you don't do something about it, the chair could literally fall apart while someone is using it. Loose joints aren't difficult to fix, but you have to take the chair out ...
How to fix a broken spindle?
You can often repair a broken spindle by gluing and clamping it with C-clamps, but in some cases, the only solution is to make or buy a new one. When you have to add new parts, it's usually a good occasion to refinish the chair so that everything blends. The chair may also need refinishing after you repair a split seat. When you spread glue on the edges of the sections that comprise the seat and clamp them together, it's often difficult to get the excess glue off without sanding it.
Where to place newly covered cushion on chair?
Grab your newly covered cushion and place it on the seat of the chair frame.
How long does it take for spray paint to dry on a chair?
Holding the spray paint 6-12 inches away from the chair, apply a light coat of paint. Allow it to dry for about 5 minutes. Apply a second light coat over the front of the chair and allow it to dry for 10 minutes. Edit.
How to staple a cushion cover?
Select a side to start on. With the staple gun, staple the end of the cushion cover you are holding into the board. Rotate the board and staple down the other side. Continue to staple down the sides, placing staples about 1 inch apart. Fold the corners in and staple them onto the board.
How to get scuffs off wood?
Using your sandpaper, rub any marks or scuffs off the wood.
How to staple down the other side of a board?
Rotate the board and staple down the other side.
Can you sand a dining chair to get a new cushion?
By simply sanding, painting, and screwing on a new cushion, you will be able to have brand new chairs at a much smaller price.
Can you use fabric instead of a cushion cover?
You may use fabric (cut to size) instead of a cushion cover.
How to fix a chair that is held together by screws?
The first thing you want to do is find out how the chair is held together. There are three options: Screws. Nails. Tight fit with glue and shims. If your chair is held together by screws, you might be able to use grandpa's trick for loose screws. Remove the screw, put a wooden toothpick into the hole, and then put the screw back in.
How to make a chair with a bow and spindles?
Lift the back (with your extra set of hands helping) and insert the bow and spindles into the chair base. Adjust alignment to seat the spindles at top and bottom. Wipe off excess glue. When the back is in the right position, lean it against a wall to dry for a day.
How to knock out sawdust in a chair?
Keep all parts laid out in the right order so they go part together correctly. If the holes where the spindles slot into the bottom half of the chair don't go all the way through, make sure to tip the chair upside down and tap on the chair to knock out the sawdust.
How to fix a broken spindle?
If one of the spindles snaps off, don't worry. Just sand both ends of the break and put some glue where it cracked to reinforce it.
How to fix a stuck spindle on a bow?
If they need to be reattached, now is the time to do it. Invert the bow, and apply wood glue in the spindle holes. Push the spindles into place. Set aside, propped do that the spindles stay in position. Work quickly so that the glue does not set before the next step.
How to fit a square back chair?
If the chair has a square back, cut the spline to fit each straight length of the grooves and miter the corners for a nice fit. Gently tap in place. A sharp utility knife works well to cut the spline. Gently replace spline in groove and tap in place with a hammer to fit securely.
How to remove chair seats?
Remove the chair seats; usually there are screws holding them on to the chair frame. Flip over the chairs and remove the screws and keep the screws in a container or plastic baggie for safe keeping.
How to get cane webbing out of chair back?
Place the trimmed cane webbing over the back of the chair and align so that it is straight and covers the groove in the chair back by at least a half inch. Use the wedges, or spatulas, to push the cane webbing in part way. Don’t be too aggressive, you don’t want the cane to break.
What is the tool used to remove a spline from a chair?
A tool with a curved end used to remove the old spline from the chairs. If you can not find a spline chisel, or don’t want to order one, a small flat head screwdriver works really well.
How to remove a spline from a chair?
Carefully pry loose the spline by gently running a utility knife along either side and lift out with the spline chisel or small flat head screwdriver. If the spline is stuck, it may be the hide glue won’t loosen. In that case, make a solution of equal parts warm water and white vinegar to soak the spline. Be sure there is a tarp or towels down so your flooring or work surface doesn’t get damaged. Remove the old spline and cane. Let chair dry before continuing.
What is a reed for a chair?
Reed that is specially shaped to fit into the groove that anchors the cane webbing into a chair’s seat frame. When ordering, order a foot more than you need to allow for cuts or mistakes. When choosing spline for the chair, pick a spline that fits loosely enough in the groove when it is dry that you don’t need to pry it out.
How do I cut a cane on a chair?
I used the utility knife and gently pressed it against the cane and it cut easily. Trim excess cane all the way around the chair back.
How long should I leave a chair on after clamping?
After attaching the clamps properly, leave the chair for 12-24 hours, at least. Then take the clamps off. I do the same, but I wasn’t confident that the glue had gone all the way down to the bottom. It is obviously too narrow down there, and the syringe won’t be able to get in it. It was looking safe, but I wish to add some more strength to the chair.
Can you use clamps to clamp parts together?
Then I clamp both of the parts together. When you clamp the parts, you have to make sure that the surface isn’t parallel to each other. In this case, you can use the clamps that have pivot the ends. It will be more helpful for you and hold the surface properly. These clamps will conform to the non-parallel surfaces better than the regular clamps. If the damaged portion is a bit larger, you will need to attach two clamps at that portion.
