I'm repairing damage on a wooden sleigh bed; specifically, to one of the two side pieces that support the Frame Slats (a.k.a. "the slats"!). It is the thin "edge" that is joined to the inside and bottom of each Long Rail (i.e. the bed's sides). I dunno if it has a name, but I'll refer to it as simply the Slat Support. The original join was regular "yellow" glue, supported by screws every 10.5". Here's the non-broken left side (left and right being as seen from standing at the foot of the bed and looking towards the head) with a few slats supported on its Slat Support:
The damage is that on the right side (not shown in the above — the position I was standing when I took the above shot), the Slat Support has separated from its Long Rail, at the Headboard end, to a length of about 24". Here is the break, held open by a ruler:
Given that this needs to bear a fair amount of load — the Slat Support holds up the Frame Slats, the Frame Slats support the box spring, which supports the mattress, which supports the kid jumping up and down on it apparently!… — can anyone recommend what glue I should use? As I say, the original join was regular "yellow" glue, but I'm wondering if should use epoxy for the repair.
I may also fill in the three affected screw holes and drill some new ones away from the damage. In addition, I intend to swap the left and right Long Rails so that the repair moves from being at the Headboard end and right side, to the Footboard end and left side.
But I think the glue is doing the most work here, so I want to make sure I get that part right.
Thanks!
Best Answer
I think you are over thinking this.
I made this exact same repair a month ago and I used wood glue, you could use construction adhesive. Sand both surfaces, and glue and clamp.
Add extra screws for strength, one every 8 inches ? .
No need to fill in counter sunk screw holes, with box spring/mattress in place that part of the frame in not seen.