KNOW YOUR STUFF:Media Platforms Design TeamIt’s a Keeper.When disassembling or assembling furniture, avoid the frustration of a missing screw or other small part by keeping small, loose parts and fasteners in a closable sandwich bag. Then, even if you have to take time out in the middle of the project, you can keep all the parts from getting lost.7:171 || THE INVISIBLE PLUG:Media Platforms Design TeamYou drilled without measuring, and now your bookcase has an extra hole.THE QUICK FIXMix sawdust from the table wood with wood glue to create a thick paste. Fill the hole and scrape it flush. Then sand it completely level when dry.7:172 || DRIVING LESSON:Media Platforms Design TeamMaking a small repair means driving tiny brads into your bookshelf, but you keep missing the nail and hitting wood or flesh and bone.THE QUICK FIXStabilize a small nail for driving by poking it through a piece of duct tape. The tape lets you hold the nail in place until you’ve driven it far enough in to be steady. Then remove the tape and finish driving the nail.7:173 || HANDLING THE HANDLE:Media Platforms Design TeamThe holes in your drawer knobs have stripped and the screws aren’t keeping them in place.THE QUICK FIXPush toothpicks into the holes of the knobs and break them off, then tighten the screws. They’ll grab the toothpick wood and hold tight.7:174 || SPLITTING UP:Media Platforms Design TeamYou have to a drive a nail near the edge of a wood piece, but you’re afraid of splitting it.THE QUICK FIXUse the trick of professional carpenters: Before driving the nail, turn it over and hammer the point a couple of times to blunt it. The flatter tip will crush wood fibers in its path, rather than prying them apart and leading to a split.7:175 || GUIDE GLIDE:Media Platforms Design TeamYour dresser-drawer guides are causing the drawers to stick.THE QUICK FIXSimple drawer guides cause wood-on-wood contact and can, over time, lead to a lot of friction that creates a sticky situation. Give your drawer glide-power by rubbing a candle or bar of soap along the guides. Use a scented variety to add a nice aroma to the dresser.7:176 || HINGE SUCCESS:Media Platforms Design TeamYou want the hinges on the kitchen cabinets to line up perfectly, but repeatedly removing and replacing the hinges is probably going to damage the brass screws, screw holes, or both.THE QUICK FIXWhen fine fitting cabinet-door hinges, use steel screws during the adjustment process until everything is right. Save the brass screws for final installation only.FIX OR DITCH?Furniture Longevity Guidelines» WOOD FURNITUREDitch if … there are large cracks throughout a major portion of the surface area of the piece; the veneer is thin and was poorly applied and is chipping or peeling; major sections of the piece are warped and the piece is constructed of pressed wood, fiberboard, or similar composite materials.Fix if … the piece is intact and constructed of solid wood, has only cosmetic blemishes, and has mortise-and-tenon joints.
