broken table leg

[igneous]

I wasn't sure where to put this, but I figured someone here might know. I had this table in the garage over christmas and I think it got brittle from the cold or something. When I put it down the lower part of one of the legs broke off. Hopefully you can kinda see what I mean from the pics. Do you think I can fix this or is it broken for good? I was thinking some gorilla glue and some brads MIGHT hold it, but I'm not sure, and I really don't work with wood much. Any thoughts? thanks

 

[mbatarga]

The design and grain direction are the weakness for that leg.

If you can successfully position the broken part on the break and the crack is almost invisible, then any woodworking glue - white, yellow, or even that expensive Gorilla glue will work. No brads are required or recommended. The glue joint will be the strongest part of the leg. The hardest part will be devising a means to clamp it and keep it that way for several hours. Can the rest of the leg be detached so you can lay it flat on scrap and clamp it with straps or rope?

 

[igneous]

nah it has to stay on. Ill have to take a look at it tomorrow to see if there will be an easy way to clamp it

 

[swgray]

Use the gorilla glue but also use at least 2 drywall screws to secure it. Countersunk and predrilled.
Just make sure you know where they'll end up or you may have an exposed screw. The length of the screw depends on the size that is broken off.

 

[Kevin54]

Use the gorilla glue but also use at least 2 drywall screws to secure it. Countersunk and predrilled.
Just make sure you know where they'll end up or you may have an exposed screw. The length of the screw depends on the size that is broken off.

Ditto on the Gorilla glue. Glue alone should hold it, brads will work. If you do screw it, use a countersink that matches the head of the screw. This will keep it from having any voids under the head that could work loose.

 

[KenS]

I would avoid screws, nails or brads. As the joint expands and contracts they will loosen and fail. You might want to consider drilling a cross-grain hole in both pieces and gluing in a wooden dowel to strengthen the shoulder.

The glued joint can be wrapped with strips of bicycle innertube or, even better, a rubber tarp strap or bungee cord, serving as clamps.

Remember if using Gorilla glue to wet both wood surfaces to activate the urethane. Let the glue harden so you can chip it off with a sharp chisel. Don't attempt cleanup while it's wet or you'll have a mess on your hands.

If the piece is a valuable antique, I would seriously consider hide glue since it is reversible and forget the dowel.

 

[kbs2244]

Glue it.
White will be good enough with good clamping.
Then instead of drywall screws, drill a 1/4 inch hole through the crack at a right angle.
Put a glue coated dowel through the hole, trim and sand and stain to match.

 

[igneous]

I would avoid screws, nails or brads. As the joint expands and contracts they will loosen and fail. You might want to consider drilling a cross-grain hole in both pieces and gluing in a wooden dowel to strengthen the shoulder.

The glued joint can be wrapped with strips of bicycle innertube or, even better, a rubber tarp strap or bungee cord, serving as clamps.

Remember if using Gorilla glue to wet both wood surfaces to activate the urethane. Let the glue harden so you can chip it off with a sharp chisel. Don't attempt cleanup while it's wet or you'll have a mess on your hands.

If the piece is a valuable antique, I would seriously consider hide glue since it is reversible and forget the dowel.

nah its not that valuable, and Im not super worried about the look since that leg can face the wall and you won't see it anyway. I'm going to wait til we get some warmer weather to take care of this, thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[buening]

I second the recommendation of a dowel. It will increase the strength of the failure plane when glue is used, but won't prevent it from breaking along the grain at a different location

 

[v8garage]

I would go with the dowel also. It will be a much stronger joint. Probably stronger than it was to start with.

 

[mbatarga]

Have you ever seen antique roadshow? That's the show where they appraise antique furniture that has been repaired improperly and thus has diminished value. That particular table may not have much value or meaning to you, but if it was handed down several generations, it would only increase in value. Hundreds of years from now, it could be priceless.

Please don't use screws or nails to repair that leg. Glue alone will be fine. Use white, yellow, Gorilla or even hide glue.

 

[kbs2244]

You use dowels for the repair because they are stronger.
Not to preserve any kind of value.
Antique Roadshow, like Mythbusters is entrainment.
But it has made people think that anything older than they are is worth millions.
Do pay any attention to the thousands of people lined up at the booths in the background?
All those appraisers are charging $20.00 to over $100.00 up front just to look at what is brought in.
Of all those people, 5 or 6 get camera time.
The shows are great money makers.
For the appraisers.