This small table has a typical problem — the top has split along the old glue joint.
1. Remove the top. The screws that hold the top to the base will prevent the clamps from closing the open joint, so you’ll need to take the top off. Notice how the top comes off in two pieces.
2. Scrape off all the old glue.
3. Sand the joint with 120-grit sandpaper using a long block of wood to help stabilize the sandpaper and to prevent deforming the edge. Clean off the debris with clean water. Do a quick test-clamp (without glue) to check that the fit is snug.
4. Apply a thin bead of glue using your finger to spread it.
5. Clamp the top together using pipe or strong bar clamps. The glue sometimes makes the two parts slip out of position, so use two clamps on either end to get the top perfectly flat.
More from Refinishing Furniture
• Repair Wood Furniture: Dismantle and Reassemble Chairs
• Repair Wood Furniture: How to Steam Out Dents
Reprinted with permission from Refinishing Furniture Made Simple by Jeff Jewitt and published by The Taunton Press, 2012. Photographs by Gary Junken.
