Broken chair gluing in Exeter
Professional broken chair gluing services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
30-60 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Wobbly chair repaired properly with wood glue and clamping. Get your chair solid again instead of throwing it away.
The Chair Nobody Sits On
You've got a wobbly chair. Everyone knows not to sit on it. It's become the "clothes chair" where you dump your jacket because it's not safe to actually sit on.
You've tried tightening it. Doesn't help. The joints are loose. Maybe a spindle or leg has come apart. You know you should fix it properly, but it seems like effort, and you're not sure how.
💡 Pro tip: Most wobbly chairs just need the joints re-gluing properly. The original glue has dried out and failed - happens to all wooden chairs eventually. Fresh wood glue and proper clamping fixes it for years.
Why DIY Chair Repairs Often Fail
| ✅ Done Properly | ❌ Quick Fix Attempt |
|---|---|
| Joints taken apart and cleaned | Squirt glue in while assembled |
| Proper wood glue used | Superglue or random adhesive |
| Clamped for 24 hours | Immediately used |
| Actually stronger than before | Wobbly again within a week |
Common Chair Problems
Loose Joints Mortise and tenon joints dried out. Glue failed. Chair rocks or wobbles. Fix: Disassemble, clean old glue, re-glue, clamp overnight.
Broken Spindles Back spindles cracked or broken. Chair back weak. Fix: Replace spindle or repair with dowel reinforcement.
Split Seat Frame Wood frame cracked from stress. Fix: Glue split, reinforce with dowels or brackets underneath.
Leg Come Away Entire leg loose or separated. Fix: Clean socket, re-glue, heavy clamping.
What I'll Do
🔧 The Repair Process
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assess | Work out what's loose or broken |
| Disassemble | Take apart the loose joints |
| Clean | Remove old glue residue |
| Glue | Fresh wood glue on all surfaces |
| Clamp | Proper clamping for 24 hours |
| Cure | Let glue fully set before use |
🔨 If Parts Are Broken
Broken spindles or stretchers can be:
- Repaired with dowel reinforcement
- Replaced if I can match the turning
- Reinforced with hidden brackets
- Spliced and glued (depends on break)
Pricing
| Repair Type | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple re-glue (one or two joints) | 30-45 mins + cure time | £60 |
| Full chair disassemble/repair | 1 hr + cure time | £60 |
| Broken parts needing replacement | 1-1.5 hrs | £85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour). Chair needs 24hrs curing time after repair.
Repair vs Replace
Worth Repairing:
- Solid wood dining chairs
- Antique or vintage chairs
- Part of a matching set
- Quality craftsmanship
- Sentimental value
Probably Not Worth It:
- Cheap flat-pack chairs (particle board)
- Extensively damaged
- Rotten wood
- Cost of repair exceeds replacement cost
I'll advise honestly which category yours falls into.
Why Choose Us for Broken chair gluing in Exeter?
Properly glued with wood glue
Clamped overnight for strong bond
Loose joints tightened
Saved from landfill
What to Expect
Step 1: Assessment
Look at the chair, work out what's loose, whether parts are broken, if it's repairable.
Step 2: Repair or Collect
Simple repairs I can do on-site. More involved repairs I'll take away to work on properly with clamps and workspace.
Step 3: Cure & Return
Glue needs 24 hours to cure fully. I'll bring chair back the next day, solid and ready to use.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to repair a wobbly chair yourself? Here's how:
🔧 What you'll need
- Proper wood glue (Titebond or similar, NOT superglue)
- Clamps (sash clamps ideal, or improvise with rope tourniquets)
- Rubber mallet (to knock joints apart)
- Old chisel (to clean out dried glue)
- Damp cloth (to wipe excess glue)
📐 The process
- Disassemble: Knock joints apart with mallet (tap from underneath)
- Clean: Remove ALL old glue from sockets and tenons
- Dry fit: Make sure joints go together before gluing
- Glue: Apply wood glue to both surfaces
- Assemble: Knock joints together firmly
- Clamp: Hold tight for 24 hours minimum
- Wipe: Remove excess glue immediately with damp cloth
- Cure: Leave undisturbed for 24 hours before using
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Using wrong glue (superglue, epoxy, or all-purpose glue)
- Not removing old glue (new glue won't stick to old glue)
- Not clamping properly (joints pull apart as glue cures)
- Using chair before glue cures (breaks glue bond)
- Overtightening clamps (can distort frame)
💡 Pro trick: If you don't have clamps, use rope or strong cord. Wrap around chair frame, twist with a stick to tighten (tourniquet style). Holds joints tight while glue dries.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Antique chairs: If the chair's valuable or antique, consider a furniture restorer rather than a handyman. Proper period-appropriate repairs maintain value.
Matching sets: If one chair in a set is wobbly, others probably will be soon. Worth checking and fixing them all before joints fail completely.
Prevention: Periodically check chair joints and tighten if you notice any movement. Catching wobbles early prevents them becoming full repairs.
Exeter's older houses: Period properties often have original dining furniture. Victorian and Edwardian chairs are well-made but the glue eventually fails. They're absolutely worth repairing - don't bin them.
Flat-pack furniture: IKEA-style chairs with cam locks and dowels can't really be glued effectively. If they're wobbly, replacement is usually the only option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which chairs can you repair?
Wooden chairs with loose joints or broken spindles/legs. Dining chairs, kitchen chairs, office chairs (wooden ones). If it's solid wood joinery that's come loose, it's usually fixable. Flat-pack or particle board chairs aren't really repairable.
Do you need to take the chair away?
Sometimes - it depends on the repair. Proper glue repairs need clamping for 24 hours. If the chair needs significant work, I'll take it, repair it properly, and bring it back the next day.
What if parts are broken, not just loose?
Broken spindles or stretchers can often be repaired or replaced. If a whole leg is snapped, that's trickier but might still be salvageable. I'll advise honestly whether repair makes sense or if replacement's better.
How long will the repair last?
If done properly with proper wood glue and clamping, it should last years - often stronger than the original joint. The key is using the right glue and giving it time to cure fully.
Is it worth repairing or should I just buy a new chair?
Depends on the chair. Cheap flat-pack chair? Probably not worth it. Solid wood dining chair, antique chair, or part of a set? Absolutely worth repairing. I'll give you an honest opinion.
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