How to Change the Legs on an Armoire

Consider changing the look of your armoire.

Having an armoire is a gift to any room of the house. An armoire not only gives you tons of storage but it conceals your valuables from the eyes of the rest of the household. While you might not think much of the legs of an armoire, the small, carved blocks of wood that support it, these can have a profound effect on the general impression of the armoire. Taller legs can make the armoire seem more imposing, whereas shorter legs can make the armoire seem more subdued. Changing the legs on your existing armoire allows you to almost effortlessly make this adjustment.

Things You'll Need

• Blanket
• Screwdriver
• Blow dryer
• 100-grit sandpaper
• Electric sander
• Screws
• Wood glue in gel form
• Drill

Instructions

1. Remove all the items from the armoire until it is completely empty. Lay a blanket down on the floor.

2. Move the armoire so that it is flat on the floor, laying on its back flat on the blanket. Open the doors of the armoire and locate the screw that attaches to the front, right side leg.

3. Remove that screw using your screwdriver. Grip the leg and shake it slightly. If it is still somewhat attached, you'll need to soften the wood glue.

4. Put a blow dryer on the highest setting and direct the stream of hot air to the area where the glue is. Once you've adequately softened the glue, remove the leg. Repeat this process with the remaining three legs.

5. Attach a piece of 100-grit sandpaper to an electric sander. Run the sander around the bottom of the armoire, removing any dried-on glue.

6. Coat your first leg area with a new layer of wood glue in a gel form. The gel form is ideal as it is unlikely to drip the way normal glue will.

7. Press a new leg against this gel. Insert a screw via the bottom of the armoire and screw it in with a drill. Repeat this process with the remaining three legs.

8. Stand the armoire up on its four new legs. This will help the glue to set.

References

• "Furniture Repair & Refinishing"; Brian Hingley; 1998