How to Repair Broken Dowels on Chairs

There is no need to replace your beloved antique chair when you can just replace the broken dowels.

Occasionally, antique pieces of furniture or priceless heirlooms withstand damage over time and dowels can break or crack. Learning how to repair broken dowels on a chair can be beneficial. Doing the repair on your own can be a cost-effective and time-efficient way to maintain your furniture. When dowels are broken, the only way to repair the chair is to replace the broken dowel.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement dowel
• Saw
• Philips screwdriver
• Drill with 1/8-inch bit
• Clamp
• Wood glue
• Wood finish

Instructions

1. Remove the broken dowel. Unscrew the broken dowel if screws attach it to the chair. If the dowel does not come loose, use a drill to drill it out or a claw hammer to pry it from its hole. Saw off the broken dowel if necessary.

2. Clean residual glue left from the removed dowel. Use rubbing alcohol to soften the adhesive and then use a damp cloth to wipe away any glue that remains on the chair. A mixture of water and vinegar is also effective for removing glue from wood.

3. Apply a small drop of glue to both ends of the dowel. Also apply a small drop of glue directly to the location of the chair where you will place the dowel.

4. Place the new dowel into the spot from which you removed the broken dowel.

5. Secure the dowel in place. Place the dowel between the clamp's jaws and crank the clamp until it is tight against the wood. It will be tight when you can no longer crank the clamp.

6. Paint the chair with a wood primer to create an even color. Add a clear coat or base coat if the chair's appearance requires. When repairing chairs that already had a coat of paint on them, apply a new coat of paint. When repairing chairs that had a wood finish on them, apply a similar finish.

Tips & Warnings

• If the chair has a loose dowel because there is too much space between the peg of the dowel and the hole it was placed in, the hole can be closed by applying wood glue. Just add the glue directly into the hole and allow enough time for the glue to dry. Check to see if the dowel is still loose. If it is, it may be a structural problem that needs replacement.

• If you applied too much glue to the dowel or the chair, you can easily remove excess glue after placing the dowel by using a wet towel.

References

• Utah State University:Wood Finishing
• Wood Central: Repairing Furniture Joints