Repairing A Foot Stool

By Robert Robillard on How To

Repairing A Foot StoolRepairing A Wobbly Ottoman Leg:

Footstools or ottomans  are popular  additions to chairs and couches and are designed for people to rest their feet on or for additional seating.
They also serve additional functions of storing items such a blankets and books on, and although not recommended, are occasionally used as a stepping stool.
As you can imagine footstools and ottomans take a beating, especially if they are used often.  One of the many repairs that I see on footstools and ottomans are loose legs.
 Repairing A Foot Stool

If your footstool legs are loose consider this repair:

Many store bought stools have threaded inserts that accept a machine threaded bolt.  This bolt usually has a machine thread on one end and the other is a wood thread.  The wood thread side inserts into the stools leg.  this is where the  failure usually occurs.
Use or misuse causes the legs to spin loose and eventually wiggle which in turn elongates or widens the wood threaded hole causing the leg to become permanently loose or wobble.
There are two ways to repair this:
1.  Quick fix
2.  More involved repair
Repairing A Foot StoolFor the quick fix:
Many times the quick fix will work on this repair.
I use thin strips of wood or even toothpicks and a little wood glue to make the wood hole smaller.  I then insert the wood threaded bolt.  The additional wood gives the threaded bolt something to grab against.
Use ChannelLock pliers to hold the threaded screw as you hand turn the wooden leg.
Repairing A Foot StoolA more permanent fix:
For this I would use a dowel or cut a wood plug with a utility knife and completely fill in the threaded hole.
Once the wood plug has dried cut it flush with a utility knife of flush cutting saw and then re-drill the hole [slightly smaller than the wood threads] on a drill press or carefully by hand.
Then re-thread the stool leg into your new hole using ChannelLock pliers.

 

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About the author

Robert Robillard

Carpenter / Remodeler / Editor

Rob Robillard is “The Concord Carpenter” Rob is a builder, general contractor, carpenter, woodworker, and editor of Concord Carpenter and ToolBoxBuzz As a General Contractor and carpenter, Rob owns and operates Concord Carpenter LLC. A full-service remodeling and construction company. Rob is a recognized leader in home building best practices and a source for how-to information for building professionals. On this website, Rob covers all aspects of home construction, building science, home improvement, woodworking, remodeling, and some of the best product and tool reviews. Rob is in charge of our Tool and Product Review series - Concord Carpenter Videos where we post all of our tool reviews and video tutorials. Rob approaches remodeling and building construction with a pragmatic and problem-solving approach. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help and educate building professionals as well as DIYers on best practices in the construction and remodeling industry. He's a strong advocate for "raising the bar" in the construction trades and promoting the trades to youth. #BeAMentor #Green2Great Craftsmanship, quality, and pride guide his journey on this channel The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!" : Read more about Rob

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