Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Dining Room Chairs

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Expert: - 5/6/2009


Question

latham chair
My dining room chairs are breaking at the seat box cross joint where the rear legs are screwed/bolted in.  I have already bought two new seat boxes to fix those that broke but I am worried that we may have overtighten those screws and that is why they keep breaking.  Should there be some give in the assembly so that those rear legs have some (minor) movement?

Answer
Hi Mary, typically the bolts should be tight.....but this design is prone to weakness no matter what you do. An adult person,(especially larger adults), can put huge stresses on those joints, especially if your kids (or adults) tip back on the chairs as people do, and while they're the ultimate in convenience for the manufacturer to be able to ship them easily, they are just not a strong joint, period. I don't think I've ever seen the cross block break like that, usually the bolts break out of the legs. If there's carpet on the floor, this increases the stress on the joints as well. Nothing beats traditional joinery, (dowels, mortise and tenons) for strength....so I would consider that when replacing these chairs down the road.Wish I had better news- post back if need be- Greg
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentIt was good to know that our tightening these loose bolts was not the issue. We found a carpenter who will be making spare boxes out of stronger wood to replace as the current boxes break - feel like we have a plan now and appreciate your advice.


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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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