Old Table glue failing

[BumoutBob]

My wife bought a rather nice maple dining room table that has joint problems. The glue joints are failing all over the thing. These appear to be factory joints that are just coming apart. The table has phillips screws so it wouldn't be more than 50 years old I'd say. The finish is just fine. Anybody have an idea why the glue is going bad? I haven't seen failures like this on other old stuff.

 

[McRabbet]

Bob,

I've seen the same thing on a 60's era Maple rocking chair -- several of the seat boards separated like the top on your table. My suspicion is that a combination of sparse glue initially and storage in a humid location led the the failures in the seat. I opened up all of the failing joints and reglued with Titbond II. Because of the odd shape, I used a band clamp to hold it all together until the glue set.

P.S. - hope to see you at next Saturday's WNCWA BBQ and Swap Meeting ...

 

[jglord]

My first guess would be the table was assembled with hide glue and got a little too damp somewhere - softening the glue. Since cleaning the old hide glue would be difficult and the old glue may prevent something like Titebond from properly adhering. I'd get a bottle of hide glue, re-glue and clamp. :icon_thum

 

[BumoutBob]

So far I have taken apart the drop leaves. Part of the problem appears to be the support arm that was glued to the bottom of the leaf. This is cross grain to the leaf, and expansion and contraction could push apart the joint. However, the joint has little glue to look at. Whats there is real clear and very thin. One leaf was only partially unglued but came apart with some hand pressure.

Glue appears to be the problem, but maybe it's White glue not hide or yellow. White came out first in the '50s I think, but I'm not sure when yellow appeared. The broken glue surface is clear not brown that I associate with hide glue. If I have to take the whole thing apart it will be a real project.

Rob, I plan to be at the meeting.

 

[Travis Porter]

You might consider reinforcing with biscuits or dowels to get clean glue surface area.

 

[BumoutBob]

Thanks for your comments everybody. The computer had a problem and then we went to a program at church. Now I'm back on line. The table will be reassembled with biscuts and Titebond II. Since my shop is small I'm not planning on a complete overhall. If it's nearly broke don't fix it---wait till it's really broke.