The Art Center's own Shelly Miller Leer in the Indianapolis Star - sign -up for her class!

What a little glue can do

By Shelly Miller Leer

Posted: December 13, 2008

On my last Goodwill shopping "fix," I found a pair of coveted mid-century modern chairs covered in burgundy velvet.

The wind was taken out of my sails when I noticed a nasty break in the wood stretcher that attaches the front and back legs. My feeling of victorious smugness (due to this find) dissolved immediately.

As I often do, I went ahead and bought the slightly damaged duo. However, after examining the break, I realized that I didn't know how to fix it. This is when having a good network pays off. I called local upholsterer and friend Jeff Mattingly, and he explained how to fix this break. As you'll see, this gem is as good as new.

Materials and tools:

»TiteBond wood glue
»Small clamp
»Drill and small drill bit
»Small dowel rod
»Crescent pliers
»Sandpaper or wood file
»Wood filler
»Old English furniture oil

What you do:

1. Clean out loose particles or old glue around the break.
2. Dab the split wood break with wood glue, covering every surface inside the break.
3. Attach a small clamp to hold the wood tightly until dry.
4. Wipe off excess glue around the break.
5. Cut a length of dowel rod approximately 6 inches long.
6. Using a drill bit equal to the diameter of the dowel rod, drill a hole through the back of the chair leg, drilling all the way into the leg stretcher.
7. Blow out the wood dust.
8. Coat dowel rod with wood glue and tap dowel into drilled hole, making sure it runs approximately 1 inch past the break.
9. Clamp and let dry.
10. Snip off excess dowel rod with crescent pliers.
11. Sand or file off any protruding dowel.
12. Fill indentation with stained wood putty, making sure it's flush with the leg.
13. Wipe off repaired leg with Old English or other furniture oil.

• Shelly Miller Leer is a featured writer for www.curbly.com, www.weebabystuff.com and www.apartmenttherapy.com (Chicago). Visit her Web site at www.fliptstudio .com, or e-mail her at flipt@att.net. Shelly teaches sewing for teens at The Indianapolis Art Center.

Sign up for Shelly's spring 2009 class by calling (317) 255-2464 ext. 0, or go online to www.IndplsArtCenter.org. Here's the class she's teaching!

Youth and Teen
Beginning Sewing
Taught by Michelle Leer

Mondays 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Session I (CH135)
6 Weeks: February 2-March 9
Session II (CH156)
6 Weeks: March 23-April 27

This is not your mom's Home Ec class. These are modern, streamlined techniques to appeal to teenagers. This class will provide each student with the fundamentals necessary to build their confidence in using the sewing machine and marking and cutting out fabric from patterns. Straight, zigzag, and reverse stitching will be covered. Students will create three unique projects that will build on the basic sewing skills. There will be class discussions and instructor demonstrations. Sewing machines will be provided. Ages 13-17. Printmaking Studio.

Total
Member $140
Non-member $145