How to fix the legs of a wobbly table?

Pat Grosse
by Pat Grosse

Yesterday I found a really old small table that looks like the one pictured. It is covered with old glossy paint which is flaking.


I have done a lot of furniture refinishing. I am in the process of refinishing my kitchen table and bought old chairs which I have painted. So the refinishing should be pretty simple with a safe stripper and then painting or staining it.


The legs are really wobbly.


What is the best way to make the little table steady?


Thanks.

  4 answers
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jul 15, 2018

    If the legs have come unglued, you will need to take them off, clean out the old glue and reglue it. Number the holes and the legs to make sure you get them back in the right place.


    HINT: While you have the legs out and without glue, move them around in different holes and see if they make for better stability. Someone may have tried to fix this and gotten the legs in the wrong position.


    Sometimes legs on old furniture are just worn and may need a little extra care. Try putting some tips on the legs to see if that does the job. If you find one leg that just won't meet the floor, you may want to add a "shim" under the tip before you attach it. If one leg seems too long, sand it down ever so carefully.

  • Jameece Jameece on Jul 15, 2018

    If they are square, or at least square on top, you can get an "L" bracket at the hardware store. Screw the L to the underside of the table next to the leg, and to the leg. Make sure you get screws that will not come through the table top from the underside.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jul 16, 2018

    My mom had a table like that, passed down to her from her mom. My dad fixed it using wood glue, filling the bottom of the hole the legs went into to make sure it expanded around the tip of the legs to hold them secure. He didn't fill the hole, just put in enough that it didn't come squirting out when he put them back in the holes.

  • Heje Heje on Aug 10, 2018

    Just like everyone else - glue after cleaning the holes out. Check the balance and do what is needed to make it steady. Enjoy your treasure when it is complete.