Expert: Kirk Ryan - 3/19/2008

Question
Hi! We purchased a round wood table 4 years ago with a big pedestal underneath. It was solid, no problem for the first 2 years (we used it round only, did not add in the leaf that came with it). Then, we moved to a new home and we had the room to open it up, so we inserted the leaf in the center and kept it like this ever since.

Not long after our move, and using it wide open, the table top started to wobble, not too badly for the longest time. Then, last summer, it started wobbling more. My uncle came over to visit from across the country 3 weeks ago, and he's fairly handy at these things, so we took the table apart and retightened all the screws. The table wasn't moving anymore, all was great.

Now, it's wobbling more than before him and I tightened it all up. Why would it do that? We have 4 adults sitting at the table, we only use it for setting plates on it and eating. We don't use it for anything else, nobody is hanging off the edges and pushing down on it or anything.

I don't know why it's doing this, and obviously, tightening up the screws everywhere doesn't fix the problem (btw, there were only 2 screws that were a bit loose on it, the rest was as tight as could be when we took it apart).

It's not an expensive table, but I would like to try to fix it if I can instead of buying another one (this is the last time I buy a pedestal table!).

Do you have any tips or any idea of what I can do to make it stop wobbling. It's a pretty table and I would like to be able to keep it.

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have.

Kind regards,
Nathalie

Answer
There are two things that can cause this.

1.) The biggest thing is the table being level. Maybe in the old home the floor was perfect and the table sat right on it. In the new home the floor could be off, but also the table could be off. If the table does not have "leveling feet", you will need to go to the hardware store and get some type of pad to put under certain parts to level it out.

2.) The table could be out of whack somehow with the connections. You may want to try to reinforce it with wood glue in any areas that seem to be weak connections or joints. If you want something really strong, I suggest this new "gorilla glue." It drys hard as a rock.

Lastly, I wonder if you could send me a picture of the table with the leaf in it. I would need a side view from a distance away so I can see the overall structure of the table. It may help me to better determine a solution. I'm almost wondering if the pedestal is too small to support the full table top with the leaf in. Its just a theory and I would have to see the table.

my email is ~ Jackal4215@hotmail.com