Restoring a Wobbly Antique Chair

Article 26: Restoring a Wobbly Antique Chair

By: A Woodworker Who Doesn’t Let Old Chairs Die Young

This project teaches essential repair techniques for loose joints, missing spindles, and worn finishes.

Materials

• Wood glue (Titebond III recommended)

• Epoxy or dowel stock for missing tenons

• Sandpaper (150–320 grit)

• Stain and shellac or lacquer

• Painter’s tape, rags

Tools Needed

• Mallet or rubber hammer

• Clamps

• Small saw or coping saw

• Drill + bits

• Sander or sanding blocks

• Wood filler (optional)

Steps

1. Disassemble Carefully
   Use gentle taps with a mallet and protect joints with a rag. Label parts.

2. Clean Joints
   Scrape old glue from mortises and tenons. Test fit each joint.

3. Repair Damage
   Rebuild broken or missing tenons with epoxy or dowel stock. Fill cracks with tinted filler.

4. Reassemble & Clamp
   Use fresh glue and clamps. Check squareness before tightening.

5. Refinish
   Light sanding, then apply matching stain and a finish coat (lacquer, shellac, etc.).

Visual

[Chair Joint Diagram]
   Spindle
     │
   ┌─┴─┐
   │Tenon│ ← glue here
   └─────┘
   │Mortise in rail│