Bentwood Rocking Chair Repair

Bentwood furniture is created by laminating thin pieces of wood together with glue. Over time, the laminations can separate at the stress point of the bend. You can make simple repairs to a rocking chair yourself. The key is to get resin glue back into the lamination. Then, by clamping it securely, the chair can be fixed without tearing it apart or taking it to the nearest professional woodworker.

Glue, powdered resin type
Masking tape
Putty knife
6 hand clamps
Sandpaper, 100-grit
Stain to match chair
Spray lacquer, 13-oz can

Instructions

- 1
  Tape the area around any cracks in the laminations. Place the masking tape alongside the cracks but do not cover the cracks. If all of the separate laminations have come loose, tape along the sides of the legs or rails to prevent glue from dripping down the finished sides of the chair.
- 2
  Mix the glue with water according to the manufacturer's directions. Force glue into all of the cracks and separated laminations with the putty knife. Do both sides of the crack if the cracks and separations go all the way through.
- 3
  Clamp along the length of all cracks and laminations. Apply pressure to the clamps until glue oozes out of all the cracks. Wait 24 hours for the glue to dry.
- 4
  Remove all the clamps and tape. Sand off all excess glue with the sandpaper. Apply stain where you sanded through to bare wood.
- 5
  Spray the stained areas with spray lacquer.

How to Redo a Sling Chair

How to Build a Side Chair

Chairs