Expert: Eileen Cronk - 2/7/2007

Question
Should a rocker be slightly/fairly wobbly? My husband says yes so the wood doesn't split. I say no. I want to sit down on a sturdy, solid piece of furniture.  

Answer
Hi Lynn
Nice to hear from you.
I love this question LOL.
OK here's what I think...and so I do not break up this marriage, you are both right...OK perhaps you are a bit more right than your hubby.
At the time this chair was made it would have been solid and sturdy.
As time went on, the joints shrink in the climate and one will become loose. Now if the rest fail to loosen it puts  too much stress on the rest and something breaks (see your hubby was right to a point).
I'll bet you have often glued a loose joint only to find in a weeks time another one has let go. Thats because too much stress was placed on another loose joint and this just keeps snowballing.
So ALL the joints must be made tight and sturdy again.
Here is the product to fix this problem once and for all
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&cat=1,110&p=30261
Just make sure you use it on every joint.
Lynn I have repaired a pile of chairs with this product and to date not one chair has come back for repairs again.
Thanks for a great question.
You made my day.
Kindest Regards
Eileen