Across everywhere are old furniture, many of them can still be restored. Common issues with them are loose joints from broken sections or when the original glue had shrunk or failed from effects of weather or humidity. Hundred year old furniture are susceptible to those failures but worthy of restoration. First photo below is an example of that. There were loose joints, a couple with broken off round tenons.
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| I clamped the loose joints to simulate dried glue up to see if the chair can be made rigid. It did. |
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| Where the round tenons broke off at the rail part I drilled a hole that will accept a round dowel. |
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| The round dowel was sized to fit the round mortise as shown. |
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| Shown above is the dry fitted "new" joint. |
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| Where the existing tenon was still good I scored the old tenon so glue can go in there during glue up. |
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| Clamps were applied at various joint sections. |
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| For added strength and to prevent the joints from ever coming off again I drilled 1/4 inch holes all the way through to the round dowel tenons. 1/4 inch dowels were then inserted with glue through the holes. |
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| The dowels were cut flush. A new finish. if desired, hide the tiny holes. |
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| The chair, now rigid all over, will still need a seat. |
