Expert: Mark H. Miller - 4/25/2009

Question
I had a spring replaced recently underneath my settee which had snapped.  It lasted for a few months and has gone again and cannot get in touch with the upholsterer.  I am able with a little help to pull the spring up and push the spring back into a very narrow tube which you have to feel with hands as it is behind a block of wood, but although it is really tight inside the tube, after a few days it pops out again.  Can you help in any way.

Answer
Hello Mrs. Everitt.

The spring is supposed to have a slight bend to it at the very end so that it will not slide out.  Unfortunately by omitting that important step the spring slides out of the clip that holds it.  

You will have to devise an anchor to prevent the spring from sliding out since bending a hook on the spring once it is in place is impossible.  

I believe that anyone of the following, although not professional, will resolve your problem.

After you slip the spring  back in place attach the last loop of that spring to at least two loops of the springs next to it.  I suggest you use the metal wire that is used to hang pictures.  That wire is extremely strong and flexible - just loop the wire 5 or 6 times to attach it to the next spring and securely fasten it.  That should prevent the spring from sliding out of the loop.   

Or, after the spring is back in place glue and nail a small wood block against the back of the frame right up against the spring,  to prevent the spring from sliding out.  Even a piece of wire securely fastened around the last loop of the problem spring and then anchored with a screw against the back of the frame will prevent the spring from sliding out.  

None of those solutions will look professional - that doesn't matter, it won't show and it only takes a little bit to prevent the spring from sliding out of the clip.  Attach your wire anchor as far back and as close to the clip as you can, and shame on the upholsterer who did the repair for you by failing to bend back the spring, a small effort on his part, now causing you problems.

Since the upholsterer who did your repair failed to bend the end of the spring at the back there is a good chance that he also did not bend the spring at the other end, so, to prevent that end from slipping out I recommend that you anchor that spring following the same method as the back - just as a precaution.  

Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of further help.

Mark Miller.