The screws in my 30+ year-old glider (used daily) are getting loose again. I have tightened/replaced them several times over the years, so now the wood has been reamed by the screws. I thought I'd drill holes all the way through and fasten with nuts and bolts. I bought wing nuts and lock washers to use with the bolts, figuring it would be easier to get my small hands in the tight spaces than to use conventional nuts and a wrench. Has anyone tried replacing screws with nuts/bolts?
Also, a couple of the seat springs have broken loose, so as a quick-fix, I placed a piece of extra thick foam-core board under the cushion. I bought some chair webbing and plan to weave it to make a new seat support, using glue and a staple gun to secure the ends (after wrapping around the frame). Has anyone tried this?
I haven't found another chair as small as mine; it fits me perfectly and I'd like to keep it!
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It sounds like you have done the best that you could on making the piece stronger. A suggestion to making your bolts and nuts stronger, you could try adding washers to give the bolts a more tighter fit.
Go to your cupboard take out some wooden toothpicks put them in the screw holes break them off flush to the top. Just put your screws back in and you're done.
You can glue in wood dowels of the same size as the screw holes. Once completely dry, drill the correct size new holes, screw the screws into the dowels and it should hold like brand new.
You could use wood putty to fill the holes and the screws would be more snug.
My suggestion:
Take several good pictures of your chair undersides and take pictures and any old screws from chair and new pieces and go to your nearest Ace hardware store and ask for help.
I know what you mean about the size of the chair as my daughter is small and we were lucky to find a smaller platform rocker also.
Don't give up - ask for help so it will last a long time.
Here are some tips for securing the screws:
- Try using thread locking glue. Apply the glue to the threads of your screw before installing it, tighten it (do not over tighten) and allow the glue to dry before using your glider.
The screws can be replaced with nuts and bolts if there is access to both sides of the surface. As I understand it, in your case it is difficult, but possible.
A photo of your chair would help me better understand its condition.
To fix your chair using chair webbing, stretch the webbing across the bottom of your chair like here: naturalupholstery.com/
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