Damaged Welsh Dresser

[mcuk1978]

Hello! Newbie here. We (somewhat naively) stored my late in-law's welsh dresser in our garage for a few months, and now a corner appears to be warping or swelling.

I'm no expert, and have just started upcycling a few bits here and there. The wife is understandably upset, and my brother is going to help with repairs. Anyone got any hints?

 

[Adam W.]

Bring it indoors for a few weeks and see what happens. The timber may shrink again as the MC drops.

 

[dzj]

Looks like the shiplapped back expanded because of an increase in MC and it pushed the side out.

 

[mcuk1978]

Thanks people. Hopefully it will shrink back a bit.

 

[Simon89]

Would it be worth putting a clamp across it to help encourage it back into place, tightening as the days go by? - an idea rather than a suggestion

 

[Orraloon]

As said bring it back inside in one of the cooler rooms to dry out. Dont speed up drying with extra heat. Construction looks to be screws and staples. Back will have to come off to be renailed in any case and this will speed up the drying. Rescrew sides while back is off. After a couple of months see if back will fit back on and if so pin it back. May have to plane the sides of the two outmost back boards. The strait sides that fit in the back rebate. Each of those shiplap joints should be able to expand and contract a little bit to avoid this kind of thing happening so dont cram them in tight as a drum when you put it back.
Regards
John

 

[mrpercysnodgrass]

As others have said, bring it into a drier warmer room. It would be worth taking out those staples and screws then put them back in after it has shrunk back.