Well-made wood chairs are made to last several generations. However, when they start to shake, wobble or creak excessively it is time to repair them. Shaking is not a fault in the chair or the wood. Probably the glue, screws or pegs loosened. Shaking chairs may only need to have a few screws tightened. Tighten all of the screws and replace perpetually loose screws with wider screws. Not repairing them leaves them prone damage that may be difficult to restore.
If your chairs need more than screw tightening this guide will explain how to refurbish wooden chairs that need to be reglued. Chairs may have different designs, supports and sizes but the fundamentals are usually the same.
Tools: Wood glue, clamps, screwdrivers, wooden pegs, rags.
To repair wooden chairs
1. Unscrew all screws that support the legs, seat frame and cushion of the chair.
2. Remove the cushion from the chair.
3. Carefully detach the front of the chair from the back by pulling the front away while holding the back in place.
Warning: Do not forcefully separate any joints that are glued together. Forcefully separating them may damage them.
4. Carefully, pull all loose leg and seat frame parts apart.
5. Arrange the parts of the chair as it should be connected. Take note of parts that stick out (especially corner pieces) that need to be reassembled first because they will not fit into a partially assembled chair.
Note: If wood is cracked, glue it together. If not, you will need a carpenter to replace that piece of wood.
Use properly sized wooden pegs to replace any damaged pegs.
6. Starting with the corner pieces, wipe the joints with a dry rag and apply wood glue on both sides of the joints to be connected. Put some glue in the peg hole too.
7. Carefully attach the matching parts together and press them together tightly leaving no space in between the two parts.
Note: The wooden pegs can easily be damaged while connecting two parts together.
8. Screw in any screws that support that joint.
9. Wipe away excess glue.
10. Repeat steps 6 -9 until the chair is reassembled.
11. If possible, clamp all of the joints with a clamp. To protect the wood tighten the clamps over a folded cloth or smooth wood block. Let glue dry over night.
12. Screw the cushion on.
Good Luck!
Take a look at this video I’ve found and try to learn how to do it yourself:
123 Do it Yourself 