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WILDEBILL308's avatar
WILDEBILL308
Explorer II
Nov 30, 2013

Wobbly dinette leg

I found a couple of screws on the floor under the dinette the other day. I got to looking and they had pulled out of the base the support leg screws into. My first thought was to just get bigger screws but decided to try something a little different. I turned the table top over so I could work on it and marked the location with 2 in masking tape. I then took out the other screws. I then took a 3/8 drill bit and marked how deep to drill (using one of the screws as a guide) wrapped the drill bit with about 5 or 6 layers of tape. This acts as a stop so you don’t drill through the table top. I then mixed up enough JB weld to fill the holes. I scuffed the back of the bracket and the “wood” cleaned every thing with acetone. After filling the holes I coated the back of the bracket with JB weld and located it to the surface. I then set the screws in the epoxy. I turned them in so there wouldn’t be any voids or gaps. I used a little weight on the bracket to hold it in place and formed any excess into a fillet seal around the bracket. After it was nearly set up I removed the tape and cleaned any excess off with a sharp putty knife.
Well we will see how long this holds up.
Bill
  • D_E_Bishop's avatar
    D_E_Bishop
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2013
    Our dinette table gets a workout what with using the dinette for one of the DGKs to sleep on and I had to do something to reinforce the table leg mounting plate. The table is hollow except around the edges and the 1/10 in luan plywood wouldn't hold the screws. My DW uses the table for support when seating and getting up and it really needs to be strong. I have scraps of 3/8 and 1/2 in Baltic birch ply and cut a piece of the 3/8 somewhat larger than the mounting plate and glued and screwed it to the luan. Works great and even folding and unfolding the leg is smoother now that there is no flexing or wiggling. More work? yes but permanent and even looks good.
  • SaltiDawg's avatar
    SaltiDawg
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2013
    Bill,

    I bought a pack of these thread repair strips. I use scissors to cut of a sliver and insert it in the stripped out hole. The package has lasted me for some twenty years!

    Thread Repair
  • popeyemth's avatar
    popeyemth
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2013
    old guy wrote:
    you can use match sticks or steel wool in the holes and that gives the screws new surface to hold on to.


    With the bonus of being removable . My guess is setting screws in wet epoxy is gonna be permanent .
    Good Luck, Mike
  • old_guy's avatar
    old_guy
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2013
    you can use match sticks or steel wool in the holes and that gives the screws new surface to hold on to.
  • camperpaul's avatar
    camperpaul
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2013
    Easy way:

    Insert a matchstick into each hole and cut it off flush with the surface.

    Reinstall screws.

    Done.
  • Artum_Snowbird's avatar
    Artum_Snowbird
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2013
    If you have a dinette that goes to the wall with seating on both sides, put in a dream dinette and you will never worry again.

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