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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/A $1.00 garage sale antique table

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Expert: - 8/19/2009


Question
I am not sure how to repair the top of the table as some of the wood has separated where it was originally joined.  Can you help me?  I have purchased some carpenters glue and wood clamps for a start.

Answer
Hi Debbie, this can be a tough repair if the shrinkage or separations aren't perfectly parallel. You'll need to disassemble the table to clean the old glue off of the old joints, and then dry fit the top back together to see if the joints fit properly. If the joints are just a "glue joint" (meaning no tongue and groove, spline, dowels, etc.),then they might need planing and fitting before you can get a good repair. Having said that, there are some situations where a visible seam, or gaps look appropriate, like in a country piece, although you still need to glue them together. Clamping can also pose some problems, depending on the shape of the top. Remember that you can't rely on clamping power to close an ill fitting or glue residue-d joint, so the disassemble, prep, and proper gluing/clamping is important. Alignment of the glue job must also be payed attention to as well, before the glue starts to set, and a Carpenters glue will set faster than, say a white glue or liquid Hide glue.Make sure you have a plan, and order for clamping, and that your dry fit is good, before starting the glue up phase, and clean up all the glue squeeze out immediately with wet paper towels.Hope that helps- post back if need be- Greg

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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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