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MurrayM

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#317690 6-Nov-2024 13:56
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So my dining room table and chairs, about 18 years old, has two chairs where a front leg has fallen off. Here's what they look like:

 

 

As you can see there's a single bolt that holds the leg on. This bolt screws into a threaded insert (the object underneath the bolt in my photo) which is screwed into the chair leg. The threaded insert has little teeth on the outside to bite into the wood of the chair leg and is screwed into place with a hex key (or Allan key or whatever you want to call them).

 

The hole that the threaded insert goes into has enlargened so that the insert no longer holds tight to the wood. Fortunately that's the only problem, the chair leg is otherwise intact with no splitting of the wood or anything.

 

I've watched a few YouTube videos showing people fix these. If the hole is really large then they'll insert a piece of dowel and glue that into place and drill a new hole for the insert. I don't think mine is that far gone, so I was thinking of gluing in some toothpicks around the inner edge of the hole and then reinserting the threaded insert and gluing that into place (they previously weren't glued into place). This is another method I've seen mentioned.

 

I've seen a lot of people recommend epoxy glue to glue the insert into place (some also use wood glue). I have some old J-B Weld that I know is really strong stuff, but it's about 10 years old. Their website says it has a shelf-life of 3 years and will last longer if it's been properly stored. I'm pretty sure that mine is still good, it certainly hasn't gone hard in the tubes. The back of the packet says it's good for wood and metal.

 

Should I try my old J-B Weld glue or buy something new? If get a new glue, what would you recommend from Mitre 10?


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elpenguino
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  #3305911 6-Nov-2024 14:05
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Firstly, IANAC.

 

I dont like the idea of glue doing all the heavy lifting so I'd favour drilling out, insert dowel (held by friction + glue) , drill for original insert, done.

 

 





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SATTV
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  #3305912 6-Nov-2024 14:30
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If you dont have a drill press I would not overdrill as that is on an angle, you would easily take too much out.

 

If it was me I would just use PVA glue and wait 24 hours and you should be good to go.

 

I do like the idea of Matchsitcks and glue.

If that failes you can look at something like Gorilla Glue or no more nails, that stuff is really strong.

John

 

 





I know enough to be dangerous


MurrayM

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  #3305915 6-Nov-2024 14:45
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SATTV:

 

If you dont have a drill press I would not overdrill as that is on an angle, you would easily take too much out.

 

 

Yeah I don't have a drill press and I don't even have a workbench with something that would hold the chair leg securely while I drilled it.

 

SATTV:

 

If it was me I would just use PVA glue and wait 24 hours and you should be good to go.

 

I do like the idea of Matchsitcks and glue.

If that failes you can look at something like Gorilla Glue or no more nails, that stuff is really strong.

 

I'm a little bit hesitant to use my J-B Weld glue simply because I know from past experience that once it's cured then there's no way it'll come off. Which would be fine if it worked and securely held the threaded insert in place, but would be a nightmare if it didn't work (eg the glue just stuck to the outside of the threaded insert and not to the surrounding wood, would mean I'd then have to replace the insert as it would be no good).

 

By Gorilla Glue do you mean something like this?




mdf

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  #3305917 6-Nov-2024 15:26
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What size is the bolt and insert? I'd usually say just to go up a size and call it done. M8 seems to be as big as easily available:

 

https://www.anzor.co.nz/technical/product-specific-information/stainless-steel-wood-insert-dimension

 

For anything else, you might need to check with a specialist supplier. If you're in Wellington, Coastal Fasteners are great.


Jvipers2
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  #3305918 6-Nov-2024 15:36
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Some simple glue + toothpicks usually does the trick...

SATTV
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  #3306119 6-Nov-2024 19:21
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By Gorilla Glue do you mean something like this?

 

More like this. https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/gorilla-gorilla-grab-construction-adhesive/p/2005293

Any glue you use you should put a screw into the thread to keep it clean, don't use the furniture one, use one the same thread and one that can be sacrificed if needed.





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Bung
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  #3306191 6-Nov-2024 20:44
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You might be able to just screw the insert further into fresh timber in the hole in the leg.


pdh

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  #3306201 6-Nov-2024 21:20
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Tonight, I feel like doing a good deed...

 

I'm about 10 minutes North of you (the OP, in Browns Bay, I believe) and am reasonably competent at wood work.
I'm happy to grease up the bolts and epoxy the thread inserts back into the legs for you.
It's the sort of task at which thickened epoxy is unmatched.
(Countless large sailboats have kept very large winches mounted for years - thanks to Epoxy.)

 

Bring the legs & bolts/inserts (not the chairs) round one evening and it'll take 15 minutes.
And about 20 c worth of epoxy out of my big jug ;-)
PM me if interested. 


kiwifidget
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  #3306202 6-Nov-2024 21:22
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Did you say the front fell off?? 😂





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pdh

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  #3306204 6-Nov-2024 21:28
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>>>Did you say the front fell off??

 

I'm always up for a good John Clarke moment...
but please let the 'sticky wicket' references go unsaid.


MurrayM

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  #3306430 7-Nov-2024 08:23
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pdh:

 

Tonight, I feel like doing a good deed...

 

I'm about 10 minutes North of you (the OP, in Browns Bay, I believe) and am reasonably competent at wood work.
I'm happy to grease up the bolts and epoxy the thread inserts back into the legs for you.
It's the sort of task at which thickened epoxy is unmatched.
(Countless large sailboats have kept very large winches mounted for years - thanks to Epoxy.)

 

Bring the legs & bolts/inserts (not the chairs) round one evening and it'll take 15 minutes.
And about 20 c worth of epoxy out of my big jug ;-)
PM me if interested. 

 

 

Awesome! I'll PM you.


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