Child Item

How to clamp table legs while gluing?

Hi all,

I’m attempting to fix an occasional table that the legs have fallen off. It’s a small table and the legs slot into grooves. There’s a small ledge that sits half way up the legs. I’m assuming that I can just glue the legs back in but I’ve no idea how to clamp them while it sets. Any advice greatly appreciated!

elle

Find more posts tagged with

Tools and Materials

Furniture

Repairing

Accepted answers

Brad

Irwin quick action clamps are a bit forgiving when spaning distances. Given the fit up doesn't look great and there is some damage repair being done I would use epoxy as the glue as it will fill gaps, the full cure type is stronger than the 5 minute ones so you need some time in a clamp for it to set. If you was going to paint the top? a screw would also help keep it together.

All comments

Jason

Hi @Elle44,

Let me extend a very warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. We're pleased to have you join us and look forward to reading all about your projects and plans, as well as seeing you restore this table.

I'm sure our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. expert @EricL will be happy to assist you when he is back on the site on the weekend. In the meantime, let me tag some other helpful members to see how they would tackle the repair: @LePallet, @dean, @Peggers, @loggie, @Tara86, @Brad.

Jason

Brad

Elle44

Many thanks Jason. I really appreciate any hep available. Elle

Elle44

Thank you Brad. It does look much worse underneath, the tops are in better nick! I was hoping to keep the timber unpainted, as it’s such a lovely wood, but if additional steps will be needed for stability I guess I’l have to rethink it. Thank you for all your good ideas!

regards

Elle

Brad

Screw I would save then if all else fails given you want to keep it natural looking.

loggie

Hi @Elle44

There's 2 pretty easy ways to do it. Both methods avoid painting if you want to keep the original stain.

1. Drill a pilot hole at an angle from inside each leg to the base. use a piece of masking tape on the drill bit as a guide to ensure you don't go all the way through the top. After drilling the pilot hole, apply wood glue/epoxy to the slot and screw each leg in.

Start drilling the hole perpendicular (like a regular pilot hole). After a few milimetres into the timber, start angling the drill slowly (while the drill is spinning). When bit is in the right angle, complete drilling the pilot hole. I suggest practicing on a piece of scrap timber if you haven't done something like this before.

drill-a-pocket-hole.1.jpg

2. Small angle brackets like these can help support each leg in place. Drill a pilot hole, wood glue/epoxy and screw each bracket inside each leg so it's not visible. These small countersunk wood screws would work great.

EricL

Hello @Elle44

Thank you so much for sharing your question about how to clamp table legs while gluing.

It's great that you've received excellent advice from @Brad and @loggie. Fixing and restoring your table is a wonderful way to give your furniture a second life. I suggest using Selleys 95g Liquid Nails Fast Grab Construction Adhesive. Before applying the glue, I recommend giving the slot on the table a good clean with a Trojan 100mm No.5 Slot Screwdriver. Remove all the old adhesive and debris in the slot and on the leg. This will allow the glue to get a good grip on the timber.

A combination of the Irwin 1270mm Quick-Grip Heavy Duty Bar Clamp and the Grunt 25mm x 2m Pull Tie Down Strap to keep the legs together should be enough to hold it in place while the glue cures. Using the Carinya 38 x 38 x 20 x 2mm Zinc Plated Angle Bracket - 4 Pack is an option worth exploring if you wish to support the legs. It looks like a fantastic project, any updates you can provide while repairing the table would be much appreciated.

If you decide to restore the table here is a handy step-by-step guide: How to restore wooden furniture

Let me tag our experienced members @JoeAzza and @TedBear for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance with this project, please let us know.

Eric

JoeAzza

Hi @Elle44

Good to see that you have solved the problem re clamping table legs while gluing. If I can't clamp timber together, I usually use some super glue in one area to be glued, then use normal glue for the rest of the surface area to be glued, it works really well, no clamping.

Elle44

Dear Loggie

thank you so much for this suggestion — and pics! I really didn’t want to paint it — not least as it’s taken me a VERY long time to strip it back! I’ll see what I can manage with your suggestions

regards

Elle

Elle44

Dear Eric, thank you for all these suggestions. I really appreciate your help. I’m really inexperienced about tool options (well everything DIY actually!) but keen to learn. So thank you too for the guide to restoration, it is something I’ve been looking for.

Regards Elle

Elle44

Thanks JoeAzza. Superglue is a great idea — and I definitely have some of that! cheers Elle

Elle44

table 2.jpg

Hi all. I thought you might like to see how the table came out following all your great suggestions. It took me a little longer than I'd planned, mostly because of competing demands! Thank you all again for your very helpful suggestions and advice. All the best Elle

EricL

Hello @Elle44

Thank you very much for posting that update. What a beautiful exotic-looking table. It's great that you've managed to repair it, it is truly a unique-looking piece. Can you please tell us a little bit of history about the table? Its point of origin and where those beautiful carvings are based from? Any other information you can share about the table would be much appreciated.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Elle44

Hi Eric. Thanks for your reply, it does look nice doesn’t it! Sadly I don’t know anything about the table’s origins. It came from a second hand shop many years ago and has been on my to do list since then. It was painted in a thick black paint which had become very unsightly over time. It was very difficult to get off and took ages. I don’t think I managed to get it all off, especially in the carved top as some of it seems quite fragile so I did what I could without damage. But I’d really appreciate any ideas about the table’s origins. I’ve looked on line but not seen anything similar. Cheers, Elle

Noyade

Hi Elle.

Table looks great! 👍

Any chance of a photo from underneath - I'm interested how all the gluing went. It looked quite a challenge based on your August photos?

Cheers.

Elle44

Hi Noyade, yes that angle's not so beautiful! But it was tricky with the clamps as you say. I ended up doing the legs one by one, which has left one a little off centre but I was able to connect the mid point bench (also glued). I think the bench part is meant to go under those little knobs on the legs but I couldn't see a way to do it. I decided to glue in two pieces on either side of each leg for extra stabilty rather than screw them in as I was too cowardly. Table bottom view.jpg bottom view 2.jpg It seems pretty stable though so I'm hopeful. Cheers Elle

Tyro

Hi @Elle44

That is a superb table! No wonder you were hesitant to paint it! Like you I'm new to DIY but whatever you ended up doing, Congratulations! It looks like you put heaps of time into your project driven by the love 😂

And while the Workshop support team are fantastic when it comes to support and advice, it's your efforts have created this gorgeous little piece! 👏🥰 Can't wait to see more or your renovated pieces!

Cheers 🤗

By the way, there are restoration places that can acid wash timber - this is particularly useful for carved or filigreed work.

Elle44

Thanks @Tyro, I appreciate your comments. I’m also intrigued by your suggestion about acid washes. There were parts of the table that I couldn’t get into, not least because the carved sections are quite fragile. I’ll look into it and see if there’s any possibility of getting the remaining stain out.

regards, Elle

Tyro

Hi @Elle44

You might like to contact some of the restoration places.

This one is in WA. The website might give you some ideas of what to put into your search engine:

http://www.thestripjoint.com.au/paint-stripping/

You might also look into getting some paint stripper and power washing it? Or even a really stiff brush. If you go with the latter option it's best to remove your jewellery and wear old clothes, safety glasses and super thick rubber gloves - just in case it splashes up. It's a pretty toxic compound.

What treatment is used can also depend on the timbre of the timber 🙄😂 (... I haven't had coffee yet!)

Hope that helps!

Good luck 🤗

Child Item