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Glue was made out of animal hide and fish products by early furniture makers. These original furniture glues had to be heated each time a woodworker wished to use them. Life is so much easier today with wood glues that remain liquid in the bottle. As a restorer of a piece of old furniture, you may wish to go the traditional route or the modern route, but either way, when it comes to securing joints, rather use glue than screws.

Why use glue rather than screws?

Use glue rather than screws to secure a joint if you want a joint to last. Metal screws can wear out over time, particularly around stress points. A well glued joint won’t loosen as a screw will. Another consideration is that old wood can easily split if it is dry. Rather use glue to avoid the possibility of ruining a good piece of furniture.

When should you take a piece of furniture apart?

Some restorers believe that a piece of furniture should be taken apart completely before every joint is glued together again. This extreme route is not necessary for sturdy pieces so refrain from taking a piece apart unless it is falling apart.

If the piece of old furniture is wobbly and damaged then take it apart carefully by using a mallet with a rubber tip or by covering the head of a normal hammer with a pad of cloth. Tap gently away at the relevant area until the old glue starts to give way. Then tap a little more vigorously from there to release that particular section.

When it comes to restoring valuable antiques, it’s always best to stay as true to the original as you can so that your finished product remains as authentic as possible.

Tags: antiques, furniture