The joint where a chair leg meets a stretcher gets a lot of stress and when it breaks, a long-lasting repair is challenging. But the Insty Bit Tenon-Lok promises to make this high-stress joint stronger from the start as well as fixing old chairs for good.

The heart of the system is a clever bit sized from 1/2 in. to 1 in. ($19 to $22) with two spring-loaded cutters. You first drill a straight, flat-bottomed hole, and then use the Tenon-Lok bit to flare the bottom. A sharpened piece of steel tubing, called a Wedge Ring ($5 to $8 for 12), is driven in as the stretcher is pounded home, creating a dovetailed tenon that locks inside the flared hole. Seating the wedge ring requires some force, but once you do, your chair will stand up to just about anything.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Compass

An essential tool for drawing circles and curves accurately. Also good for layout.

Buy at Amazon

Rockler Deluxe Panel Clamp

These clamps can handle glue-ups between 10 in. and 36 in. wide, and boards up to 3 in. thick. Sliding feet attach to the lower bars with magnets, letting you position them quickly for stability on any surface. The spring-loaded jaws adjust easily, dropping into notches along the bars. And the powerful clamp handles clear the benchtop.

Buy at Amazon

3M Blue Tape

One of the most versatile accessories to have in the shop: from layout to seaming veneer. It has enough stretch to pull joints together.

Buy at Amazon