Dresser joint repair problem

[Dhakala]

I have a 6-drawer dresser. While moving it, I learned the hard way that the top three drawers were secured to the bottom three by a long, 1/2 inch long x 1/2 inch wide mortise/tenon joint with three wood screws driven up into the tenon. One such arrangement on each side of the dresser. The top three drawers came off, pulling the screws out of their holes.

Here's a link to a picture of the problem; the bare wood in the middle is the tenon:

cannot remove the screws because there's wood glued and nailed over their heads. It's not coming off.

I CAN get the joint back together and the top tier rests solidly on the bottom tier. The tenon doesn't shift side to side in the mortise. The screws just slide up into what's left of their holes.

The wood is cherry, I think. This dresser is older than I am (50+ years).

What glue would you recommend?

[Walt Cheever]

Is there glue on the exposed "bare" wood that you want to put back together? Cause if there is, some of it has to be removed, cause glue fastens wood to wood, not wood to old glue.

Having done that, if the wood mates tightly, I'd use TiteBond or Elmer's. If it doesn't mate tightly I'd use epoxy cause it bridges small cracks. It is sure messier to apply and harder to remove slops than the Titebond is.

Good luck,

Walt C

[Dhakala]

No, there isn't any glue on the mortise/tenon or the surfaces around them that mate.

I'd like to fill those torn-out screw holes so I can get some gripping power on the threads of the screws.

Would Gorilla Glue be a good choice?

[dadiOH]

No. Epoxy would be.

-- dadiOH ____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at

[Charley]

Stay away from Gorilla Glue for this project. If you use it you will have foam-out all over your finished surface. I would use Epoxy for this project.

[Dhakala]

OK, no Gorilla. Glad I saved my receipt! :-)

[Dhakala]

Next question: what kind of epoxy?

I'm not very experienced at this sort of thing.

[dadiOH]

Any. But for what you want, one with a filler would be appropriate. Best used if you can turn what you are fixing so the epoxy runs down into the screw hole. Fill the hole not quite full, run in the screws and leave it alone until the epoxy totally sets up.

NO! You *have* to be kidding :)

-- dadiOH ____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at