How to Make a Brace for Chair Legs

Chair braces are small blocks of wood that are attached between the chair leg and chair seat, in the inside of the angle where they meet. These braces minimize wobbling and act to distribute weight through the frame of the chair, putting less stress on each leg. Although store brought plastic and wood braces may be purchased and screwed into place, they do not have the beauty of a handmade brace. With a few tools from the local hardware store it is easy to make a brace for chair legs that will be a perfect match to the style of the chair.

Radius clamp block
Wax paper
Large tea kettle
water
Tongs
6 strips of Hickory wood (1/8-inch thick, 6-inches long, width equal to chair leg width)
3 c-clamps
Wood glue
Sandpaper (fine grit)
2 paint brushes
Wood Stain
Clear polyurethane wood coating
Wood screws
Drill with screw bit
Pre-made wood chair brace (if desired)

Instructions

- 1
  Set up the radius clamp block so that the inside radius matches the inside angle between the chair leg and the bottom of the chair. Follow the instructions included with the block to make the adjustments necessary.
- 2
  Separate the two halves of the clamp block and wrap the inside face of each half in wax paper. This will prevent the wood glue from adhering to the block.
- 3
  Fill a large tea kettle and heat the water until it is boiling and steam is coming from the spout.
- 4
  Hold the wood strips in the steam, using tongs to do so safely, until the strips are so saturated with steam that they have become flexible.
- 5
  Stack the strips on one of the inside faces of the radius clamp block with a coating of wood glue between each strip. The glue is what will laminate the strips into a solid form.
- 6
  Clamp the two halves of the radius block tightly together with the strips of wood pressed between using c-clamps. Wipe any excess glue off that may squeeze out from between the strips of wood when placed under pressure. Allow the glue and wood to dry for two days (or longer, depending on the humidity in the environment).
- 7
  Open the c-clamps, separate the two halves of the radius clamp block and remove the wood strip brace. Sand the block with a fine grit sandpaper.
- 8
  Stain the wood strip brace to match the chair using a paint brush to apply the liquid. Let the brace dry. Paint the brace with a clear polyurethane coating making sure to use a clean paint brush when doing so. Let the brace dry overnight.
- 9
  Hold the wood strip brace in place between the chair leg and the bottom of the chair and attach it using wood screws and a drill.

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