How to Glue a Loose Dowel Joint
A dowel joint (also called a butt joint) is a method used to join two pieces of wood so that they are flush and have a smooth, apparently seamless facade. Tables, or other furniture with large expanses of wood where a single board is not wide enough to create the desired surface, are often made with dowel joints. The dowel is positioned within holes bored in both sections so that when they are joined, the dowel is invisible. When dowels work loose, surfaces may pull apart or warp, so the joints must be re-glued.
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Things You'll Need
- Replacement dowels
- Sandpaper
- Drill
- Rasp or sanding bits
- Rags
- Carpenter's glue
Instructions
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1
Remove the dowel or dowels, by working the two joined surfaces back and forth until they come apart.
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2
Use sandpaper to clean dried glue from the previously joined surfaces, the dowels and the holes in which they were set. (If glue is particularly hard to remove from the holes, use a small drill with a rasp or sanding bit to drill out the remains of the glue, being careful not to enlarge the holes.)
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3
Wipe the surfaces clean of dust.
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4
Examine the dowels for signs of deterioration. If they are damaged in any way, use replacement dowels of the appropriate size.
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5
Apply a small amount of carpenter's glue to the dowels and replace them on one side of the two pieces to be joined. Wipe away excess glue with a damp rag before the it dries.
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6
Put additional glue on the other end of each dowel and insert the dowels in their opposite holes by carefully aligning the surfaces and pressing them together. (Amateur Woodworker suggests that for a stronger joint, the entire surface of the second piece should be glued, as well as the dowel joints.) Wipe off excess glue with a damp cloth.
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7
Let glue dry well before moving or using the joined surface.
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Tips & Warnings
If any dowel will not come out, clean the area near the socket, then use a syringe to squirt the glue deep into the socket. Wiggle the dowel as much as possible to distribute the glue. Wipe away excess glue and proceed as above.
Dowels that break in the process of pulling the joined surfaces apart can be removed by carefully drilling them out of the holes. Use replacement dowels to fill the holes.
