How to Repair Vintage Chairs

Examine the damaged area to determine whether the repair will be visible when the work is done. If the repair will not show, a "scab" repair is appropriate, as long as you don't change the profile of the piece. A scab repair is a strong cover over the damaged area.

Create a scab repair by inserting glue into the cracked or broken area. Clamp a small, strong piece of wood on either side of the break. Be sure the wood bridges the broken area. Drill small pilot holes through the wood and into a solid.unbroken area of the chair, using a drill and pilot bit. Affix the wood pieces to the chair with wood screws. Alternatively, use a flat metal plate to make the repair.

Fix broken or loose braces in chair corners with glue and wood screws. Remove a brace if it is completely broken. Use it as a template and trace it on a new board of similar thickness. Cut the replacement brace to size with a saw. Dry-fit the brace, then clamp it in place. Drill pilot holes using the old holes as guides. Drill new holes into the chair if the old ones have broken out.

Reattach a loose brace with screws. Drill new holes or use larger screws if the holes are too large for the original screws.

Repair cross braces and chair legs without breaking solid joints. If a cross brace -- also called a stretcher -- or a leg is loose at one joint, repair only the loose one. Remove old glue by sanding with fine-grit sandpaper. Dry-fit the stretcher or leg end in the socket. Glue and assemble it if it fits snugly. Clamp the repair. Drill pilot holes at an angle, then drive in small screws to add extra strength.

Fill gaps in very loose stretchers or legs with wooden toothpicks or small thin wedges of wood. Spread white glue on the stretcher or leg end and the socket. Insert the stretcher or leg into the socket. Gently drive in wedges or toothpicks with a hammer to tighten the joint without splitting the surrounding wood. Add small screws for extra strength, first drilling pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood.