6/15/2013

How to Easily Fix a Broken Furniture Leg

I come across furniture pieces once in a while, that have a broken leg and can easily be repaired.
This tutorial that I will show you is only for breaks like this...


You will need a wooden dowel, a drill, a drill bit the size of the dowel and wood glue. First, drill a hole in the center of the broken leg and in the center of the part of the furniture where the leg will fit.
This is what it will look like when you have done the first step.
It's a good idea to dry fit the dowel to see how much length will be needed so you can cut the dowel to length. Then put glue on dowel and insert in the leg. After cutting off the dowel to the length that is needed to go into the furniture piece, just insert the glued dowel leg making sure that the break matches up for a seamless repair.
You can see by the arrow, that this break had a distinct area making it easy to place it back correctly. I discovered this by doing the dry fit first. The dowel will keep the leg in place while the glue is drying and though it will never be as strong as before the break, it will be able to be saved and still used again.
Now it's ready for it's makeover!
On a side note. Our neighbors threw away a beautiful antique spinet desk because the leg was broken. I asked if I could take it out of their trash and we fixed it this same way in about 15 minutes and it still is in our living room in all it's glory...

The front left leg of this spinet desk was broken the same way as the side table above and you can't even tell it's been repaired!

So the next time you pass on a piece with a leg broken like this, pick it up and try this easy fix!

Photobucket
These parties I love to link up to or check out my Blog Parties tab
Monday
Party Time @ It's So Very Cheri
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple  
Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage 
Creative Blogger's Party @ Homemaker On A Dime
Making The World Cuter @ Making The World Cuter 

Mop It Up Monday @ I Should Be Mopping The Floor
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Make It Yourself Monday @ An Original Belle 
Tuesday
Cowgirl Up Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch 
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home
Knick of Time Tuesday @ Knick of Time
The Inspiration Board Link Party @ Homework
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Time to Shine Tuesday @ A Diamond in the Stuff 
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
From Dream to Reality @ The DIY Dreamer
Tweak It Tuesday @ Cozy Little House
Creative Tuesday @ The Rustic Pig 
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life 
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home 
Wednesday 
Be Inspired Party @ Elizabeth & Co.
Power Of Paint @ Domestically Speaking
Swing Into Spring Wednesday @ DIY by Design
Wildly Original Wednesday @ I Gotta Create!

What We Accomplished Wednesday @ Green Willow Pond  
Adorned From Above Party @ Adorned From Above
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Piece of Work Wednesday @  Primitive & Proper
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters 
Wow Me Wednesday @ Ginger Snap Crafts
Thursday
Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch To Yours


Show & Share @ Southern Lovely
Show Me Extraordinary Thursday Party @ The 36th Avenue
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage
100 Ideas Under $100 @ Beyond The Picket Fence
Blog Stalking Thursday @ The Crafty Blog Stalker
The Weekly Creative Saturday Party @ The Girl Creative and Reasons To Skip The Housework
Friday
Fabulously Creative Linky Party @ Jennifer Rizzo 
Free for All @ Five Days, Five Ways 
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed

Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Saturday
Any Link Goes Party @ Bacon Time With The Hungry Hungry Hypo 
Weekend WrapUp Party @ Tatertots and Jello 
Serenity Saturday @ Serenity You
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal 

Strut Your Stuff Social Hop @ Glitter Glue & Paint
What To Do Weekends @ Crafts A La Mode
Sunday
Get Schooled Saturday @ Too Much Time On My Hands
Overflowing with Creativity @ It's Overflowing
Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn 
Sundae Scoop Weekend Wrap Up Party @ I love Nap Time 
That DIY Party @ DIY Show Off
So Darn Crafty Party @ Sew Many Ways
Think Pink Party @ Flamingo Toes
Let's Get Social Sunday @ My Turn for us 
Sunday Show Off Linky Party @ Twigg Studios

9 comments:

  1. I have a piece of furniture that is broken (not the leg, but a decorative crossbar on a chair). It keeps breaking each time I glue it, but I hadn't considered using a dowel rod!! Great tip! It will definitely do the trick.
    - Lora @ Craftivity Designs

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great fix! I just had this problem and fixed it in not a very pretty way (a bunch of nails that were showing), but it was at the top of the table and it had a lip to cover it up. I am glad I know how to do it right for next time!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, yes, this is good. Excellent. Thank you. Linda

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Terry--I love your blog & look forward to receiving them..You have such great ideas & tips, like today's..Are we not able to "PIN" them anymore?..I have looked & looked for your "PIN" button & can't find it..Can you help?

    Thanks!
    Karen K

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice save on the table and desk. Do you have any tips on drilling the holes so the leg is straight when the dowel is put in?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What I usually do is have another person standing there watching to make sure that it looks level. They signal to me when I need to straighten up the bit. A bit primitive I know.

      Delete
  6. I am trying to figure a way to make legs longer so I will have to give that idea a try!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Terry, I needed this today! When we moved a leg was broken on one of our wing back chairs. It has been sitting like that for a year!! This is exactly what I will do. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

It makes me smile to hear from you!

09 10