# A Handy-Person's Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004 "2001-10-02T17:37:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004/1 "2001-10-02T17:37:36Z")
One of the cross pieces on one of my kitchen chairs keeps popping out. I have been using Elmer’s® Carpenter’s Wood Glue to fix this , but it keeps happening. Can you recommend something stronger or should I be using another technique? (I put glue in the hole and around the round wood piece and stick it back together, and then make sure the chair is undisturbed for 24 hours) Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004/2 "2001-10-02T17:41:02Z")
Get some filler in case the holes are deeper or bigger than the stick; see if you can find a stronger glue (although that Elmer’s stuff is probably the best); wrap a belt around the legs and tighten it way the heck down as an improvised clamp. ---
**Author:** ![Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diver)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004/3 "2001-10-02T17:45:46Z")
I am surprised what you are doing is not working. You must have a pretty large gap. One way to to get a permanent fix is to saw a slot in the end of the crosspiece and insert a small wedge that extends a little past the end of the crosspiece. Add glue as before and tap the leg onto the crosspiece. The wedge will expand the crosspiece and hold it snuggly in place. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004/4 "2001-10-02T17:46:19Z")
A small shim should do it. It’s a wedge shaped piece of wood that you pound in with the cross piece. If you are careful and select the right size shim, you can pound it in so that it is flush with the leg and not noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004/5 "2001-10-02T17:53:03Z")
I use something called “Mr. Grip”, which are little metal shims punched like a rasp so they have gripping teeth on both sides. If there’s enough gap in the hole, I bend them around the end of the peg (in a horseshoe shape around the end, not wrapped around the circumference) and drive the peg in. If there’s not that much gap, I slip a piece in the hole and drive the peg in alongside it. ---
**Author:** ![Delta-9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@Delta-9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delta-9)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004/6 "2001-10-02T18:52:51Z")
There is a type of wood glue that expands as it sets to make things fit tighter. I know I’ve seen it next to the Elmers at the hardware store but I can’t recall the name. ---
**Author:** ![Sn-man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sn-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sn-man)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004/7 "2001-10-02T19:02:38Z")
You can drill a small pilot hold through the backside of the cross member. Countersink the pilot hole. Remove all the old glue from the leg and socket. Use a good carpenter’s glue and assemble. Using a wood screw, fasten the leg and the cross member together. Fill the countersunk area above the head of the wood screw with wood dough, stain and finish. If that is really too much for the quality of the chair, remove the old glue, drill the pilot, re-glue the pieces and use brass plated decking screw to hold the two together. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Zambezi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mr.Zambezi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Zambezi)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004/8 "2001-10-02T21:49:28Z")
I am guessing thta this has happened more than once. I so, you must clear off the old dried glue before trying it again. Sand down the dowels (cross piece) and sand out the inside of the hole. Of course, if there is a big gap, this does not matter. Then the countersunk wood screw sounds good. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-handy-persons-question/85004/9 "2001-10-02T22:27:28Z")
I would use Epoxy, this stuff is reallllly strong. Stronger than the original wood. Big holes you can use Bondo if you want. Its not very petty.