Repairing Guides

how to repair old chairs

by Jonathon Dickens DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How to: Antique Chair Restoration Techniques

  • Method 1 Upholstery Download Article. Unscrew the seat cushion from the chair frame with a screwdriver. Flip the chair...
  • Method 2 Structural Repair Download Article. Scrape out as much old glue from any loose joints as possible. Inspect your...
  • Method 3 Wood Finish Download Article. Put on personal protective equipment and...

Part of a video titled How to Repair Wooden Chair Joints - Furniture Restoration
9:26
14:40
You have tight joints here so you want to use wood glue pva carpenter's glue. So typical yellow glueMoreYou have tight joints here so you want to use wood glue pva carpenter's glue. So typical yellow glue is what you want if you're working on an antique you want to use a hide glue.

Full Answer

How to reupholster a chair at home?

  • If you need to, add small L-shaped braces on the bottom of the chair where the legs attach to the seat. ...
  • Depending on your chair, you may need to wait to do this until after you've reattached the fabric.
  • With some legs, you may need to glue them back in place to the seat. ...
  • If 1 leg is shorter than the others, add a nail-in glide to the bottom.

How to refurbish a chair?

  • 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. ...

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How to reupholster your chairs?

Reupholstering My Chair: Can I Do It Myself?

  • Be prepared with the right tools for the job. ...
  • Purchasing a little extra fabric to reupholster your chair is like buying insurance. ...
  • Tear Down: Yes, I did just say epidermis. ...
  • Upholstery tear down is a dirty job, but necessary in the process of reupholstering a chair. ...
  • Take lots of pictures and notes. ...

How to repair a broken wooden chair?

How to Fix a Broken Chair Leg

  1. Assess the Damage. One of the dowels in the rung of this cute curb side rocker was completely broken. ...
  2. Drill Bits to the Rescue. For a fast and, more importantly, perfect repair it may be surprise you to learn you’ll need three different drill bits.
  3. Add Glue. ...
  4. Drilling Procedure. ...
  5. A Perfect Repair. ...
  6. Strengthen the Repair. ...
  7. Pipe Clamp. ...
  8. Wood Filler. ...

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How do you fix an old wooden chair?

1:209:16Tools and Tips to Fix Wooden Chairs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou likely want to use a hide glue. You can get this pre-made. Or more commonly it's in a pot ofMoreYou likely want to use a hide glue. You can get this pre-made. Or more commonly it's in a pot of warm water and it's applied when it's warm that glue can be reactivated.

How do you restore old chairs?

6:2017:45Repair and Refinish an Antique Chair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply some glue insert a dowel then press the broken ends back. Together. Very cool you never knowMoreApply some glue insert a dowel then press the broken ends back. Together. Very cool you never know okay now we're gonna have to glue this chair together in sections.

How do you refinish a chair without stripping it?

0:168:19Refinish Without Stripping And Sanding - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd we're going to scrub it down good with a sanding sponge to rough up the existing finish. So thatMoreAnd we're going to scrub it down good with a sanding sponge to rough up the existing finish. So that our polyurethane. Will hold real good we're going to clean the top of this.

How do you repair a wooden chair joint?

9:2614:40How to Repair Wooden Chair Joints - Level 1 Woodworking ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou have tight joints here so you want to use wood glue pva carpenter's glue. So typical yellow glueMoreYou have tight joints here so you want to use wood glue pva carpenter's glue. So typical yellow glue is what you want if you're working on an antique you want to use a hide glue.

How do you restore wood furniture without stripping it?

How to restore wood furniture without sanding and strippingRemove any hardware. ... Wipe on mineral spirits. ... Clean the surface. ... Fix the white rings. ... Fill small cracks and imperfections. ... Try to fix the dents. ... Restore the colour with gel stain. ... Renew the lustre with a wipe-on finish.

How do I clean an old wooden chair?

MethodDust your furniture. Dampen a clean, dry cloth (non-scratching and preferably microfibre) with some water and gently wipe the surface. ... Use mineral spirits. Apply a liberal amount of mineral spirits to another clean, dry cloth. ... Wipe the surface. ... Clean off residue. ... Wipe away moisture. ... Polish and buff.

How do you redo webbing on a chair?

7 Easy Steps To Re-Web Your Lawn ChairStep 1: Measure The Existing Webbing.Step 2: Remove The Screws From The Old Webbing.Step 3: Cut The New Webbing.Step 4: Weave The New Webbing In Place To The Seat Of The Lawn Chair.Step 5: Continue Weaving Front-to-Back.Step 6: Do The Back of The Lawn Chair.More items...•

How to get rid of a wood chair?

Rinse off the chair with denatured alcohol or mineral spirits. Pour denatured alcohol or mineral spirits over all the wood surfaces to neutralize the finish stripper. Wipe off all the remaining residue with a soft rag. Make sure you rinse off the whole chair very thoroughly.

How to fix a chair that is glued together?

1. Scrape out as much old glue from any loose joints as possible. Inspect your chair for loose and wobbly joints . Separate the pieces of the chair at the loose joints as much as possible by pulling the connected pieces in opposite directions to expose the old glue.

How to remove seat cushion from chair frame?

1. Unscrew the seat cushion from the chair frame with a screwdriver. Flip the chair over to see the bottom of the cushion. Examine the screws to determine what type of screwdriver you need, then loosen and remove all the screws and set them aside in a safe place. Carefully pull the seat cushion off the chair frame.

How long does it take to remove old paint from a chair?

Let the stripper sit for 15-20 minutes. Give the stripper up to 20 minutes to dissolve the old finish on the chair or refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for the recommended amount of time. When the old finish bubbles and turns into a sludge, move on.

How to make a chair seat cushion?

Place the fabric on top of the seat cushion and fold 1 edge about 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) onto the underside of the chair, then staple it in place with a staple gun. Stretch the fabric tightly against the top of the cushion and staple the opposite edge in place underneath.

Disassembling the Chair

It's rare to find an antique that doesn't need some type of repair: The joints may be loose, a spindle broken or the wood gouged. It's best to make these repairs before refinishing. You have to disassemble the chair to reglue weakened joints, which may mean removing some upholstery.

Stripping Off the Finish

If you have to remove old finish, it's best done while the chair is in pieces. Depending on the finish, use a mild stripper -- one with orange oil is the least toxic option, but you may need a stronger one to remove layers of paint. Scrape the stripper carefully with a pull scraper, which is easier to control than one you push into the wood.

Sanding and Reassembling

You'll probably want to sand some of the pieces before you put the chair back together, because you have more control of the sandpaper when you're handling small pieces. Sanding an antique chair is not a job for a machine -- it's better to sand by hand, going with the grain, to avoid reshaping the wood.

Staining and Finishing

If you choose to apply a stain, use a brush to apply it -- that way, you'll be sure to get into all the crevices -- and wipe the excess thoroughly with a clean rag. The best surface coating is the one that the chair originally had.

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