How to Fix an Uneven Chair

There's nothing quite so frustrating as sitting down and trying to do work, only to realize that your chair seems to be on a swivel. This is usually the case for wooden chairs, which often are broken apart because of poor glue, worn-down legs, and other strange causes. If you want to know how to fix an uneven chair, it's time to bring out some basic tools: glue, sandpaper, and a wood clamp. Let's fix that uneven chair.

First, you'll have to see exactly what it is that needs fixing. Where in the structure of the chair does the problem seem to be coming from? Is the chair so old that the entire frame leans one way, or can you simply wear down the other legs to make it even? The way you fix the chair will depend on your problem, so take a few minutes to really diagnose what's going on. If you need to, push the chair around and see where the swivel is coming from. You should be able to spot it pretty quickly.

Now that you know what your problem is, you'll have to ask yourself how to make it even again. If the structure of the chair itself has the problem, then you might want to see if you can take it apart and put it back together again. This is how many around-the-house items are fixed, so don't worry if you think you'll never see the chair back in its original condition. If you're able to take apart the chair, you should have better insight into why exactly it seems to be on a swivel.

If the problem is with the leg height itself, you can use something to prop the chair up as an unattractive temporary fix. But if you plan on keeping the chair for the long haul, you'll want to get all of the legs even. You can wear down the bottom edges of each chair leg with sandpaper or even steel wool. Be sure to check the chair repeatedly to see how even you're getting it. You can also use a saw to cut the other legs down to size, so make sure you bring the chair outside or in your garage so you can collect and brush away any sawdust.

If your chair repair required the use of glue to re-set the chair's structure, you'll need to keep the chair drying overnight. If you have work to do and need that chair, see if there's a temporary solution you can set up before fixing the chair itself. But be careful - you don't want it falling apart on you!

Photo Credits: WayTru

This post involves:

basic tools, bottom edges, chair leg, glue, insight, legs, long haul, sandpaper, steel wool, wooden chairs

... and focuses on:

Furniture, Handyman, How to Fix

Posted by Fix Handyman on August 13, 2009 in Furniture, Handyman, How to Fix. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.