Greetings:
I’m not a woodworker, but a weekend DIY’er who hopes that he’s turned to the right place for help. A few days ago, someone leaned on the dining room table, and the corner dipped down. I looked at the leg, and one of the three legs on the pedestal was loose. I am at a loss on how to try and fix it because there is some type of a mechanical fastener that I have never seen before and do not know how to remove it to try and repair the leg (it appears that the screws securing the leg have pulled out). I have attached some photos to try and show some details. If anyone out there can help a guy out, I’d appreciate it – – the bride doesn’t like table turned on its side like this ( I told her if we keep it on its side, it won’t catch clutter and she won’t have to dust it – – she was NOT amused!!!)
Replies
I repaired a number of tables with legs like those when I was younger but they were either doweled or dovetailed. Yours looks as though the brackets took the place of the wood joints.
Try to take out the screws at the bottom of the base and see if the leg comes off. With it off you can then see if the screws going into the leg can be removed and the hole plugged with a dowel, pilot drilled, and refastened with the original screw. If your successful then before returning it to use, check all the other legs and tighten carefully or repair as needed.
Having fixed the table don't forget to buy a cattle prod and poke anyone that positions their butt close to the table.;-) Explain that it belongs in a chair with all four legs kept on the floor.
I'm with QCinspector, take it apart and see what you can do with it. Sometimes a bigger screw, longer screw or shims in the hole (e.g., toothpicks) will tighten up the hole enough for threads to catch.
I would not rebore and insert a dowel as then you'll be screwing into end grain. A different approach would be to bore up through the base where the screw threads will catch (cross-grain), insert a dowel, drill pilot holes and put the screws back in, catching the "new wood" of the dowel. Be sure to use a good strong dowel like hickory or maple and not the cheap underdetermined tropical wood du jour at the big boxes.
Sometimes, necessity is a mother, or however that expression goes. :-)
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