Most furniture that is more than six months old will need something fixed, and people don't realize that most basic repairs are pretty simple. Here are some ways to do quick fixes on wooden furniture.
Loose rungs on the chair should always be fixed as no one wants to sit on the chair and go to the ground. If the rest of the joints are still in good shape, pull the loose rung as far away from the baseboard as possible, apply a liberal amount of carpenter's glue, and rejoin it. But for the glue to work, it must dry under pressure. Use a pipe clamp if possible. If not, after putting the rung back into the baseboard, tie a rope around the legs. Then insert a peg (or short stick) into the knot and tighten the rope to the desired pressure by turning the peg. Then slide the peg behind the chair rung to keep the rope taut and allow the glue to dry for 24 hours before removing the contraption from the rope/peg. Be sure to wipe off any excess glue before it dries.
Wobbly furniture legs can often be remedied by flipping the furniture over and then tightening the bolt, nut, or screw that connects the leg to the part.
White water rings on tables are trapped by moisture under the finish. If the ring is cool, immediately use a hair dryer on low heat to evaporate the ring. To remove a ring that has been there for a long time, use abrasion. Try lightly polishing the water ring with fine quality steel wool dipped in lemon oil so it doesn't scratch the surface. After caring for the ring, use lemon oil all over the surface to match, and then use a rag to remove excess lemon oil.
Nicks and scratches used to require a whole quart, but now there are a variety of stain markers. Choose a color that matches the wood, draw the tip over the nick or scratch, then wipe off the excess with a cloth. The scratch won't go away completely, but it will be the same color as the rest of the furniture and won't be as noticeable.
Wax stains come off easily if they are hardened by placing ice cubes on top. Then use a credit card, putty knife style, to scrape off the wax.
Sticking drawers can often be remedied with wax. Rub an old candle along the runners and tracks inside the table or cabinet.
Small holes, like a nail in a joint, will disappear if you use your finger to fill them in with a bit of stained wood putty (the color of the wood, of course).
- The pores in wood need carpenter's glue, so save the super glue for plastic and glass.
- For tables with one leg shorter than the rest, purchase a furniture glide, either metal or nylon, at a hardware or home supply store. Touch it on the short leg and it will add an eighth of an inch to the height.
- Use lemon oil when dusting to add some shine. It doesn't last very long, around two weeks or so, at which point it's time to dust again. Paste wax is more of a finish for antiques. About once a year, rub it down and let it harden for about 10 minutes before polishing the piece. That will leave a shine that will last for several months.
