How to Repair a Wooden Bookshelf

There are two types of bookshelves: a fixed height bookshelf is permanently attached to a bookcase while an adjustable bookshelf allows for height adjustment. When shelves get overloaded they can suffer damange. Here's what to do if you detect cracking or bowing in a bookshelf.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wooden bookshelf
• White or yellow glue
• Woodworking clamps
• Dowels (preferred) or screws

1. Measure the damaged shelf. Cut a board or plank to the size of the piece you're replacing. Stain the wood the same color if you need to. After it dries, slide in and reattach. Use screws or dowels to duplicate the original workmanship. Generally, the problem with an adjustable bookshelf is that a pin or dowel has broken.

2. Fill any holes you find in your bookshelf with wood putty. This includes holes made by ill-fitting or stripped screws. Put new screws or dowel rods in a different spot than where the repair occurred.

3. Eliminate any old glue that is on the bookshelf by using a paint scraper. Sand the area where you removed the glue to remove any residue still clinging to fibers. Use white or yellow glue and clamp the shelf in place just as it was before it was damaged. You must remove all of the old glue, otherwise the new glue will not stick. Do not use glues that have super bonding agents; they won't penetrate the wood before drying.

4. Consider if clamping is necessary for this bookshelf repair. If so, leave the clamps in place until the glue dries thoroughly. A minimum of four hours works well for this repair project, and overnight is a good idea.

5. Remove the clamps and make any paint touchups necessary. If you need to repaint the entire bookshelf after the repair, sand down to bare wood before applying paint.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're not comfortable cutting the shelves to size, your local lumber yard will do it for you.

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