CURVE APPEAL UPDATE

This is an answer to a question submitted by Studio Blog reader Elizabeth regarding how to fix the stripped threaded hardware on her Thonet chairs.

QUESTION:
"Help! I have the same chairs and the holes are stripped on a couple of them, so the backs wobble (one even keeps falling off). I've tried using wood glue to keep the screws in place, but that doesn't work either. Is there any sort of putty/screw that will better anchor the chair backs?"

ANSWER:
I had the exact same thing happen to one of my chairs.. The piece you need to fix is called a Tee Nut. They come in various sizes, so to make sure you get the correct size remove the Tee Nut by following steps 1-4 below and take it to the hardware store. I found these at Home Depot and Lowes.

The solution is this:
1. Remove the chair backs.
2. Remove cover.
3. Locate the Tee Nut by pressing into the foam side of the back rest with your finger tips.
4. Carefully cut a small "X" into the foam above the Tee Nut and remove it. The "X" should be only big enough to get the hardware out then back in. A sharp x-acto knife works best.
5. Insert the Tee Nut into the "X" with the prongs facing the wood in the exact spot where the damaged Tee Nut was. If the holes for the prongs from the previous Tee Nut are shredded, you can simply turn it 1/4 turn.
6. Take a hammer and lightly tap the prongs into the wood. The prongs are what keep it from spinning while tightening the back screw.
7. Replace cover and attach back rest to chair.

I hope this solves your problem.
Good luck,
Conn