Expert: Eileen Cronk - 4/4/2009

Question
I have an oak dresser, the quarter sawn oak and the dovetail drawers look like its from the 1890's.  The front board on the top has separated from the rest. Looking closely, there is a slight warp that prevents the boards from lining up just right.  Is there a way to correct the sight warp?

Answer
Hi Craig
Nice to hear from you.
You are likely close on the age of this dresser.
Usually this is an easy repair but you need the correct tools.
Sometimes a warp can be removed but if its been this way for many years it could be "set in its ways" LOL.
Try to correct it like this...
First the top must be removed. You will see flat headed screws on the underside of the top inside the dresser. Its easy to remove a top.
Next the warp needs removing. Likely both pieces are warped.
You need a hot sunny day, a small patch of grass and a water can with water.
Do this..wet the grass in an area that will get full hot sun. Place the boards over the wet area cup side down (pretend the board is a cup and turn the cup over).
Leave it for several hours but keep checking from time to time to see if its improving. Sometimes a board can actually turn up the other way too much but don't panic. Just turn it  over the other  way. I think if the boards have not straightened after a full sun day they are not going to.
If they do, you need a biscuit cutter and clamps to repair the boards. I like joining boards with biscuits as it assures they will never seperate again.
If the boards remain warped, they can be ran through a planer to remove the slight raised edge warp and repaired as above.
If I was making this repair I would add 4 extra screws to secure the top back on. One on either side of the repaired split on both ends and about 1 inch back from the split. I venture to guess there were no screws close to the split.
And one final comment.
When I make this repair (and I've made it a lot of times), it has always been on a piece I was refinishing so the top was completely stripped of finish before going in the sun.
While I don't know for absolute sure that it won't work with the finish on, I am thinking not. So keep that in mind.
And if you have to resort to having the boards planed, the finish must come off anyway.
A final caution. Make absolutely certain the top is solid wood and not veneer as this won't work on warped veneer.
But I am guessing its solid as it sounds like a clean split.
Get back if this is confusing.
Regards
Eileen