How to Fix a Rocker Chair

Repair

Repairing a rocker is not a project to rush through.

1. Lay the chair down so the broken rocker runner is facing up. If this is an old break, sand away any old glue first.

2. Carefully take the carpenter's glue and spread a thin layer inside the break. Some excess glue will probably ooze out. Clean quickly with a clean damp cloth.

3. Push the two pieces together and wrap a piece of wax paper around the rocking runner. Clamp the two pieces together. The wax paper will keep the clamps from leaving marks on the repaired piece. Let it dry thoroughly, for 12 to 24 hours.

Reinforce the Repair

1. Remove the clamp and wax paper to reinforce the repaired rocker runner. Turn the chair upright to its normal position so the repaired runner is on the floor. Take a piece of masking tape and mark one third from the bottom of the rocker runner (the part nearest the floor).

2. Drill down from the top of the rocker runner (closest to the seat) from one side of the repaired break to the other. Stop drilling at the masking tape location. You do not want to drill completely through the runner.

3. Measure and cut a dowel to fit the hole length plus an additional 1 inch. Apply a thin layer of wood glue to the dowel and insert it into the hole. Gently tap the dowel into the hole with a rubber hammer or mallet. Wipe off excess glue with a clean damp rag.

4. Let it dry again for a minimum of 24 hours. When it's dry, saw off the first piece of dowel at the top of the runner and sand it down to smoothness.