Expert: Mark H. Miller - 1/24/2004

Question
My wife has an old oak rocker that has one of the rocker pieces broken at the round rear leg tenon.  I tried gluing it once with wood glue but the repair didn't hold.  I am wondering how to proceed, make a new rocker piece, try to reinforce with a wood dowl or steel rod, or splice a new rear piece on the old using a angled joint to join the two.

Steve

Answer
Hi Steve,   I'd definitely replace the existing rocker with a new one, rather than attempt to repair the existing one.  Reinforcing with dowell, splicing or steel rod, none will hold as the chair rocks.  My main concern is that should the rocker fail the chair could tip over backward causing a very serious injury.  Upholsterers rarely would do that much repair so I would send this job to a woodworker.

If your chair is an antique, replacing the rocker will lower it's value but safety would be a greater concern for me, so my advice is that you replace it.

I hope this helps.

Mark Miller