Furniture Repair: Fixing a Broken Spindle or Rail on a Wooden Chair

A broken back rail or spindle on a chair is one of the most common, and uncomfortable potential problems. Thankfully, fixing the problem is a fairly easy thing to do. By following the steps described below, you can easily take apart the problem joint, remove the offensive spindle, have a new one created, and replaced before next Sunday dinner with the family.

When you discover that a spindle on your favorite wooden chair needs to be repaired and or replaced gather the necessary tools and materials together. Common tools that you will need in this endeavor are a claw hammer, a standard screw driver, a Phillips screw driver, wood glue or other adhesive, sandpaper of varying grits, strap clamps, and wood stain or paint as needed. Be certain to allow yourself plenty of room to work in, and always have the necessary safety equipment on hand and in use. These include, at a minimum rated safety glasses, and gloves.

The first step in fixing a broken rail or spindle is to determine where the broken piece or pieces is connected to the chair. If the rails are placed horizontally, they are most likely mortised into a curved or straight top rail. If the rails are placed vertically, they are most likely joined at both the top rail and the bottom of the chair.

Once you determine where the rails or spindles are joined on the chair the next step is to take apart the back. It will most likely be jointed at the legs, seat, and top rail. Carefully pry the joints apart, removing any nails or screws. Be sure to take your time, and do not force the wood. If the wood begins to crack under the pressure, chances are you’ll have to replace much more than the broken spindle. Another caution is to only disassemble enough of the parts to remove the broken piece. The less you take apart, the less you have to put back together when the job is done.

Once you’ve removed the broken spindle, you now have two options. If you’re skilled with woodworking, and you have the tools, a creation of a new spindle might just be the ticket. Another option of course is to take the broken spindle, a second, unbroken example to the local millwork shop and have them carve you a new one. Depending on their workload, it should take no more than a few days.

Now that you have the replacement part, the next step is to make sure that any old adhesive is cleaned from the original parts. Old adhesive will create places of weakness when the pieces are rejoined. Next, reassemble the piece, making sure to replace the broken piece with the new one. Also, be sure to assemble the back of the chair in the reverse order of the disassembly, and apply strong glue to each and every point of joint contact. Finally, secure the chair with some strap clamps, and allow the adhesive to dry overnight.

Once the chair has been repaired, the next step is to refinish the chair so that the newly acquired piece matches the rest of the chair.