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When taking a piece of furniture apart for restoration, you will need to code identical parts as you go along. This will prevent confusion later on because even though old pieces may look similar, they’re never identical. Once disassembled, remove the old glue with boiled vinegar or coarse sand paper (for hidden sections). Use a drill bit to get the glue out of sockets. From there you can begin the restoration job by gluing a few pieces at a time.

Gluing an entire piece

To prevent pieces from falling out or down while you work, rather take your time, gluing a few pieces at a time and allowing that particular section to dry overnight before you attempt another section. Every now and then while you’re gluing, check the horizontal and vertical planes to make sure everything is level. You can do this by placing the piece on a flat surface.

As you glue, wipe the excess off the wood, especially when it oozes out of joints. As they say, prevention is better than cure – you don’t want to be stuck with a beautiful piece that can’t take the stain or oil in the finishing phase. Wood glue is difficult to remove once it’s dry but comes away easily with water when it’s wet.

Smaller gluing jobs

Sometimes you don’t need to take the whole piece of furniture apart because perhaps it’s only a leg that’s loose. In a case like this, you can force the glue into the joint while the two sections are still in place. This technique will also work well for very narrow cracks in seats or on tabletops. A hypodermic syringe filled with some diluted glue is a great tool for the job.

How to use a hypodermic syringe

To dilute the glue, mix one part of water to three parts of glue. This watered down version will allow for an easier flow of glue through the syringe needle. Place the syringe needle deeply into the crack or the joint and push the plunger allowing for a generous amount of glue.

Clean off the excess glue, tap the joint with a wooden mallet and clamp overnight.

Tags: furniture