Rebuilding an old broken chair is more practical than buying a new one. It will not only save money but help reduce waste. Instead of throwing it away, repair it and use again. This is not a difficult task to do. One only has to have a little know-how on woodworking, materials and tools needed. Here are some tips that may help you on applying glue when rebuilding a chair.
- Assess your problem. Check the damage on your chair and decide if it can be rebuilt. You would not want to waste time, energy and money on something that is not workable. You cannot put back together pieces of chair that is completely damaged. This article will only discuss the damages that require the use of glue.
- Choose your glue. Adhesives come in different types and forms depending on the desired application. There are specific adhesives made for wood, plastic or metal. For rebuilding a wooden chair, you will need wood glue.
- Prepare your tools. You only need few things here, a brush (usually a paint brush), a damp piece of cloth and a clamp.
- Apply the glue on the affected part. Clean the surfaces to be joined. Any dirt, old paint or varnish left on the surface will cause a weak bonding. You will therefore need to remove existing paint, varnish and dirt from the surfaces that will be glued together.
- Squeeze out the glue on the affected parts. Using a paintbrush spread out the glue on the surface that will be joined together. Brush the glue on using a zigzag pattern. Ensure that all areas will be covered and glue is applied evenly on all areas. This will create a balanced bond.
- Wait for a few minutes to allow the glue to be absorbed. If too much glue was absorbed by the wood, apply additional glue on the surface. Keep the application as even as possible. Join the broken parts together and check the alignment. There should be no bumps or edges on the joint.
- Wipe out excess glue with damp piece of cloth. This is to clean the surface and to prevent glue from hardening on the surface of the chair, which can cause a stain. Clamp the two parts firmly so there will be no gap in between the parts. Check the curing time on the glue packaging and allow the adhesive to set before removing the clamp.
After drying, check if the adhesive is enough to hold the two pieces. If the bond is not that strong, you might need to add a piece of wood to support the joint. Use a nail or wood screws to fix the support.
When working with wood and glue, be mindful of your safety. Even if you are not using heavy tools and machinery, doing any handiwork at home requires one to wear protective clothing such as gloves and goggles to prevent injuries. Since you are using glue, it’s a good idea to use a face mask so you don’t inhale any harmful fumes.
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