How to Repair Loose Furniture

Separate the loose joint by removing the furniture segments that form the joint. If remnants of glue keep the joined pieces stuck together, slightly twist the two pieces to break the bond. If nails hold the parts together, dig out the nail heads with a utility knife and remove the nails with a pair of pliers.

Remove the old glue from the parts using a utility knife and sandpaper, being careful not to gouge or sand down the parts. Place the two pieces back together to test the fit. If the fit is tight, apply a bead of glue to each part and join them back together. Clamp the parts to secure them as the glue sets. Immediately remove any excess glue that escapes the joint with a clean rag.

Enlarge the end of the piece of furniture that fits into the other piece if the joint is loose when you test fit. Cover the inserted end with glue and then wrap silk thread around the end enlarge the piece slightly. Allow the glue to dry and wrap a second layer of thread if the connection was greatly loose. Allow that layer to dry and join the enlarged piece as you did the tightly fitted piece.

Join loose pieces connected with a dowel by removing the loose dowel and regluing the dowel in place. If the dowel has broken, then cut the dowel even to the surface of the joint with a utility knife. Drill out the remaining piece of the dowel with an electric drill. Glue a new dowel of the same size into the hole and glue the other end of the dowel into the other half of the joint.

Clamp the joined pieces together as the glue dries to keep them from shifting during the drying process.

Use an angle brace to join loose pieces that form a right angle externally. Place the brace against the angle created by the joined pieces. Put a piece of cardboard beneath one of the angled sides. Screw the other angled side to its piece of the joint using wood screws through the screw holes of the angle brace. Remove the cardboard and then place screws through the other angle of the brace. The cardboard creates a small angle for the brace that, with the cardboard removed, applies pressure to the inside of the joint, holding the two pieces tightly together.