furniturewooden-furniture
My kids have a dresser and somehow they have managed to pull the sides partially off. (In all fairness, it could have simply been an age issue – the sides were originally stapled on and it is 20 years old). I've tried using a couple of screws to hold it together, but they aren't managing to hold it as tightly as I would like.
The design is pretty basic. There is an interior structure which allows drawers to move in, but the sides actually hold the channels for the drawers.
A sealer shouldn't be necessary unless you like the look better.
If you do decide to try a sealer, you need to select one that is compatible with the paint that you used.
It's always a good idea to try out your planned finishing steps on scrap. You can try several variations and decide what looks best.
You took the wind out of my sails with that last paragraph. I was going to suggest using a nut/bolt.
As far as it causing problems when the tabletop is lowered, you can recess the bolt head. Yeah, you could make the cavity in which the bolt will stay on the underside of the tabletop, but maybe you'll drill too far or crack/scratch the tabletop if you chisel it out. It could end badly... which is why you should instead house the bolt head on the top-side of the cross member.
Brown = table top
Black = underlying cross member
The one on the left is what you were talking about. The one on the right is what you want to do.
Also, use a washer under the bolt head, etc.
Best Answer
Glue it & screw it. Staples were never a good idea & they eventually fail. You would remove the panels in order to hammer out all of the staples & to apply a bead of glue (wood glue). Then, pop a panel back on & screw (screw length should be twice the panel's thickness) wherever there was a staple. Repeat for the other panel. The screws are your clamps & the piece is actually better than new. Of course, wipe clean any glue that squeezes out.