# Furniture Repair

Part of the Home Repairs Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/home-repairs/guide/index.md)

*3. Workshop Projects*

> **3c.** Repair a piece of furniture.

A loose chair rung, broken sofa leg, or separated drawer front can make a good piece of furniture feel ready for the trash. Furniture repair teaches the opposite idea: many everyday items can be restored if you understand where the failure happened and fix the real cause instead of hiding the symptom.

Video: [Sofa Leg Frame Repair (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_3jmub6U0g)

Video: [Fix Split Furniture with Wood Glue (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66rQe_aB1v0)

## Diagnose Before You Repair

Furniture can fail in different ways:

- A glue joint may have separated
- A screw or fastener may have loosened
- A leg or brace may have cracked
- A moving part like a drawer may be out of alignment

The smartest repair starts with observation. Wiggle the part gently, look for movement, and identify what is actually loose or broken.

> **Be Prepared! If the First Fix Does Not Solve the Wobble**
>
> A chair still rocks after one screw is tightened.
>
> - Stop and inspect again for another loose joint.
> - Check whether the frame is twisted or a brace has split.
> - Decide whether glue, clamping, tightening, or a different repair is needed.
> - Explain to your counselor that the first visible problem is not always the only one.

## What Makes Furniture Repair Different

Furniture is both structural and visible. A repair has to hold, but it also has to look reasonably neat because people use and see the item every day.

That means cleanup matters. Wipe up excess glue, align parts carefully, and let repairs cure or set fully before testing them. Rushing the final step can undo the whole job.

> **Tip**
>
> Take apart only as much as you need to fix the problem. If you remove extra parts without a reason, reassembly becomes harder and you may introduce new alignment issues.

This project pairs naturally with [Req 3d — Painting and Varnishing](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/home-repairs/guide/req3d/), where the focus shifts from making the item solid to making the surface look good and stay protected.

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- Previous: [Building a Workbench](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/home-repairs/guide/req3b/index.md)
- Next: [Painting and Varnishing](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/home-repairs/guide/req3d/index.md)