Cheap and easy DIY: How to Fix Broken Particle Board Furniture

[@AnthonyChew]

Finally, a DIY video with no annoying BGM, only tool sounds which are SO SATISFYING!

[@libertyordeath555]

ASMR for guys.

[@TheJemmaGrl]

@@libertyordeath555 hey now! My Dad raised me in his garage - nails in one hand and a hammer in the other :)

[@libertyordeath555]

@@TheJemmaGrl I stand corrected, ASMR for DIY'ers.

[@juanvicera8372]

@@libertyordeath555 no.

[@xsh4n400]

Watched 3 videos in a row feeling like I didn't have enough information to fix my problem. Stopped after yours as I had everything I needed. You're a great teacher. Thank you!

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

Excellent! You just saved me thousands in repairing my old kitchen cabinets. Fun and rewarding project coming up. Thank you!

[@fortunatomina4323]

Just imagine I've been disposing of sawdust in the dumpster now I have a reason to save them and the answer to my longtime furniture problems. Thanks for this video THE WORKS SHOP.

[@lswhere40]

Same! Will definitely be saving it! Also it makes good firestarter!

[@alliphil1]

KZbin saves the day yet again! 🙂 Particle board above my dishwasher crumbling and I left it too long that way. BUT now I have a fix. THANK YOU!!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I'm glad I was able to help!

[@kemerson7358]

2 issues with this. #1 how do i save the hole where the missing board is and how long do i let it cure once i get the mixture in place

[@slackra3400]

Great video, I can't believe I watched the entire thing.

[@suzannelevy6723]

Thanks for settling an argument! I knew this could be done despite my partner saying different! Brilliant!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I am so glad I was able to settle an argument! Completely the opposite of what I usually do. Glad I could help!

[@jordandelwell]

Chunk always gets a like in my book.

[@ThePlayer4our]

Thank you so much! I'm working to restore a poker table I got for cheap off FB for boardgame night and the amount of splits it has it gnarly. This is great

[@territodude]

Great video, I appreciate it! No need to throw those broken things away, awesome!

[@dirkdiggler5821]

That is legitimately impressive.

[@marccobos2652]

GREAT VIDEO,, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME AND SHOWING PEOPLE HOW TO DO SIMPLE REPAIRS… MOST OF ALL, YOU GOT THE DETAIL PARTS VERY WELL,, CONGRATS..

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Thanks!

[@TheRachelThomasLife]

This video is amazing!! I went crazy on fb marketplace and ended up with some not so good pieces of mdf furniture I was trying to flip but it was all broken. I will be trying this tomorrow!!

[@christanichole605]

I'm having the exact same issue! I need to cut the back off and fix all kinds of cracks! Can you show me your results??

[@thomasjackson7785]

This video has solved an issue I've been wondering how to fix. Thanks, will try it on the smallest part first

[@dida079]

This was super helpful. Can't believe sawdust and wood glue would work so well.

[@saltnlight8072]

Very timely advice for two particle board night tables I just rescued. Thank you!

[@42lookc]

Thanks for posting. Straightforward and good techniques. No blah blah blah look at me look at me nonsense. Subscribed.

[@TrouverParadise]

My autisim appreciate the lack of music😂 I actually could focus on this video

[@scotttransue2436]

Any recommendations for alternatives to sawdust? Or suggestions on where to find it! Thanks

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I haven't tried anything else, I used saw dust because that is essentially what particle board is made of. If you live near a Home Depot, they have a saw to cut wood for customers (at least in Canada they do) so you'd be able to get some there. Also some high schools have a wood shop class so they'd have some.

[@CuttheBSwithDrSiraj]

Great video that's helping me save my TV stand. The edge is chipped and this is an easy way to repair before painting.

[@Miranda-cw9hq]

"I kept my fingers out of it for about 10 seconds" At about 5 seconds I was screaming at he screen: "Just use your fingers already"!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I try to practice self control...it doesn't always work. I have got used to having dried glue on my fingers :)

[@Miranda-cw9hq]

@@THEWORKSSHOP Dried glue on the fingers seem to be inevitable and a hazard of the job, I'm afraid. 😂😂 Great vid BTW!

[@gabby5965]

Hi thank you for the great vid! Do you think you could use this method to repair a desk leg that has broke in half??

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

If the leg is made of particle board then yes, but you could just paint the glue on both surfaces and if there's missing material sprinkle on a bit of sawdust, then press the two halves together. the glue will soak into the fibers and harden. You might not need much sawdust if it was a 'clean' split. If the leg is sold wood, you will only need wood glue, no sawdust at all. Good luck!

[@rebeccaelizabeth7610]

Great video what can I do to fix the actual vanity the drawer sits in? The vanity particle board ripped out of the staples on the inside on the top under the counter top…how would this be fixed?

[@lourias]

Gusty! I just try to avoid particle board because it is brittle and swells too easily for me. I am glad there is an option to fix it... just in case.

[@FerisThia]

This is great, thank you. One question, if painter's tape is not available immediately, what are the best alternatives?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Any tape with a smooth back that can be peeled off without damaging the panel will work. Clear packing tape would work too as long as it's not crazy sticky.

[@FerisThia]

@@THEWORKSSHOP Thank you! This video is really helpful for me to make restoration to my particle board furniture. Saving a lot of money! :)

[@gypsygem9395]

Thank you for the video, this is what I do! Although, I never thought to add glue to the particle board (chipboard as we call it in the UK) as well as the sawdust/glue mixture, I will definitely do that in the future. When I'm short of sawdust I get some wood pellets like those sold as kitty litter and dampen with a little water, they then revert back to being sawdust. Then I let it dry. Perfect for the job!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I never thought of using pellet type kitty litter, that's a great idea for people who don't have power tools that make sawdust. Thanks!

[@texasgemtree]

I clean up all my sawdust pretty quickly after cutting. I may go buy some kitty litter but it seems I could just cut up a lot of scrap would pretty easily and use that too. I save everything. It is surprising how often I use small pieces of wood! Now this is another option.

[@stevewerner5440]

Yea hell, if you used cooking pellets you can make oak or hockey sawdust. Probably stronger than the original particles.

[@stevewerner5440]

*hickory 😆

[@royavas]

thanks for taking the time to teach the common particleboard problems. i have even tried with wood pencil particle, match sticks, cigrette ash+glue. all worked well but your trick is classic. highly appreciated

[@abbysworld5232]

Sooo I’m super impressed!! I’ve always heard there isn’t any way to fix partical board! Thank you for making this video!!

[@abbysworld5232]

Is there a way to fix the matted, painted (?) covering on the sides/front?

[@aniljoshi2010]

I have done same thing before I watch this video and happy to say this idea works very well

[@msdominance]

thank you! you just saved me so much money

[@kathrynnewton8721]

Thanks, still hate the stuff with a passion though especially around water!

[@klerain5774]

Ive been searching for this information for 2 weeks. THANK YOU! Saved

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I'm glad it helped :)

[@texasgemtree]

I wish I had watched this last night. Of course, I did not have a lot of handy sawdust to use but I did get that great big hole a lot less. The edge is not straight but I think I can use wood putty to fix it. Then paint the heck out of the whole shelf.

[@marthaseneta1823]

Awesome video. No bullshit, just help. I was planning to watch several videos but I think I got what I need just from this one.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I'm glad you found it helpful, I try to provide more help than bullshit, sometimes I'm successful.

[@janX9]

Thanks, I'm going to give this a try.

[@marie.bydesign]

Great video! For the first repair, are you able to drill into it?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Yes, but if you're drilling a pilot hole for a wood screw, as with all particle boards there will be limitations. You'd need to drill a slightly larger hole than if you were just drilling a pilot hole into solid wood because particle board tends to split if there's too much pressure from a screw going in. If it's just a hole for a fastener to pass through the part then you're good to go!

[@marie.bydesign]

@@THEWORKSSHOP Thank you!

[@livingdeadgirl5796]

Also, how do you fix a clean break? Or not so clean break? I guess the same formula would work as well??? I am new to DIY. Sorry if my questions are lame!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

No question is lame except the one that wasn't asked. If it's something carrying load like a shelf that has snapped in half, I'd recommend drilling holes into both halves and using wood dowels with clue. That way the dowels transfer load into the remaining panel. If it's just a piece of particle board that has snapped off (like a corner of something) then this sawdust and glue method will work great.

[@YAYYEE]

This video is informative and hilarious. The Big chunk part lol

[@JohnFixes]

Good video, but for those cracks along the edge, I'd actually drill a hole and fill with glue and Sawdust (or cotton) instead of applying glue with a pin or nail to the surface of the crack as shown. It didn't look like the glue and Sawdust penetrated enough with the pin.

[@vincent-rf4hv]

this saved me thank you for your video gonna fix those torn part of the dresser

[@hermosasons1]

This stuff works. Your a money 💰 saver for me. Much appreciated 🙏

[@neurologicalworms]

Absolutely brilliant stuff here that I had know idea I would ever need to know..but then I found a mcm style veneer coffee table. One side of table has peeled veneer and the plywood from under it is damaged. I imagine that I can figure out how to fix some parts of it , thanks to your help here. I was curious though if I could possibly email you a photo of what I'm working with to see if you can lend advice.

[@reneecole6744]

I appreciate your video boh content and sound

[@mistered1397]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@justinswallow1072]

What’s a good alternative to sawdust??

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I've seen people use Ramen noodles for just about everything, although I don't recommend that. If you don't have power tools to get saw dust from, you can likely go to any Home Depot as they cut lumber for customers and would have saw dust around the cut table they'd likely let you take. Or you can get some cedar pet-bedding (for rodents) and throw it in your kitchen blender and blitz it up in to smaller particles. I do recommend keeping with a wood based material for best results.

[@alexbuckett8245]

I have a air hockey table that has a leg broken at the top that is made by this material of wood what type of glue and sawdust do you suggest?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Sawdust from a table saw or chop saw (the carbide tipped blade type) works great! Fine enough to fill gaps, but doesn't turn to mush like the really fine stuff from a sander can.

[@delilahcrigger5927]

Great video exactly what I was looking for thank you

[@tmacfadyen3160]

Good to fix the damage but it is better use the side screw holes to read install the runners far stronger

[@dianalujan5754]

Great video. Love the missing Chunk!😂

[@cecijimenez2002]

You don’t realize how much money you’ve made me save with just this one video alone

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Thank you so much! I'm glad it helped!

[@katiemurray5862]

My son's loft bed frame end broke off. I can definitely do this first one. My question is, will it be strong enough to hold my son up while he's playing/sleeping? I'd like to note: he's 6 and is crazy. He like to jump around lol.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I will default to no, although the glue/sawdust mixture can be as hard and strong as the original material, this type of panel should never be used as a structural member in the first place so it's unfortunate that so many pieces of furniture are made of it. It might be possible to repair it cosmetically with the glue/sawdust mixture and then add metal brackets with screws to offer additional structural support.

[@katiemurray5862]

@THEWORKSSHOP thank you so much for responding. Now I know ☺️ Wish I had the means and talent to make one with real wood!

[@Tchee2]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I Can't wait to go the HD tomorrow. I hope this will help fix my issue 🙏

[@andhirep5376]

Awesome and very helpfull and inspiring... tx alot from Indonesia

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Thank you!

[@megaraitei]

I had to break a lock on a drawer, the screw ripped a huge hole in the particle board . Wil this method work to seal the hole and re-screw a new lock in place ?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

It’s worth a try, it should work. When making your repair, make sure you have removed any lose pieces, and make sure you apply some wood glue to the area before you apply your sawdust mixture to ensure there is enough moisture to penetrate the original part. When you redrill your screw holes, use a bit that’s the same diameter as the shank of the screw so only the threads need to cut into the particle board. With real wood you can drill small pilot holes for screws but if you drill a small hole in particle board the fatter screw often splits the board. Good luck!

[@perlaargyle9343]

Thanks for the helpful video ! I need to start saving my sawdust

[@dwightl5863]

Easy to make more.

[@cyanred762]

This is very helpful!! I just have to figure out where am I going to get some sawdust :/ haha

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

A lot of building stores like Home Depot cut material down for you so they have saws in the back of the lumber section where you could get some free sawdust.

[@nicjamesify]

Thanks for this. Simple and perfect.

[@chanvindersingh8573]

Outstanding performance, thanks a lot, I have also to do today.

[@lisabaxter7786]

Sharing is caring shared this

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Thank you!

[@Shynesobright1211]

Great video!! Thanks for sharing with us all!!

[@kabraken]

Can you do another video about how to fix metal inserts in particle board once they're pulled out

[@MD-zp5dx]

Nice video. What type of glue and what type of saw dust?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Any white craft glue would work but wood glue will be best, it s available at any hardware store. I used sawdust from a circular chop saw, a table saw would also work. Dust out of a sander can work but the fibers are much smaller so it won't have the same texture.

[@inkydinkydottieglue8919]

AWESOME!!!!!!! Great Video!!!!!!

[@slo205]

For some reason the mixture is sticking to the tape and part of the mixture comes off. Do I have the wrong ratio of glue to sawdust or is there something else I should be doing? I left the clamp on for around 5 hours before removing it.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

If it's thick, it can take 24+ hours to dry.

[@vinman5432]

I have the same problem but my particle Board is my countertop in the kitchen and the dishwasher was attached where it has broken apart. Any suggestions? I was thinking to cut out the broken area and replacing it w/a piece of wood and gluing the wood to the underside of the countertop.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

That is definitely what I would do, plywood is great stuff and has WAY more structure than particle board. Laminating a piece of ply under that section of counter should add some strength back in. Good luck!

[@roshonsboo94]

Is there something that you can use other than sawdust?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Good question! Sawdust or some other form of wood particles is the best thing to use because that’s what the particle board is made from. If you don’t have power tools to collect sawdust from, you could get creative with making your own…maybe throw some cedar pet bedding used for hamsters and guinea-pigs into the kitchen blender to mince it up into smaller pieces. OR if you live near a high school, some high schools have a woodshop that has lots of sawdust they’d give away for free. Let us know if you try any alternatives how it turned out!

[@gypsygem9395]

@@THEWORKSSHOP I use those bags of wood pellets that are sold as kitty litter. I dampen down some of the pellets till they become sawdust again, then let them dry before mixing with the wood glue.

[@deborahbills3912]

This is so helpful. Thank you for your thorough explanation and demonstration.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@VidarrKerr]

How do you fix the fronts of the cabinet after the MDF expands and pushes out the veneer?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I don't think there is a way to fix that short of sanding the area flat and laminating new veneer or laminate to the front. If I come across a panel like that I will experiment, might be able to inject glue in from the bottom and then clamp the panel on both sides really tight to make it 'flat' again until the glue dries? That's assuming the veneer is not damaged already.

[@VidarrKerr]

@@THEWORKSSHOP I just tried the clamping method the other day. It is a no go and I have huge, powerful clamps. You need an industrial amount of pressure to reform the shape. What I am trying now, is to saw out a sawblade width of material, about the amount the panel has swollen. Then, glue and clamp. I don't know if I can get a perfectly flat surface. It is tricky because it is swollen more at the edge and less as it moves in, so you have to carefully remove the inside to the amount of the swelling, or backfill if you take too much. edit: If the first panel works, I'll take video of the 2nd and send you a link.

[@SpicyWife4Life]

great video and easy to follow!! I subscribed right away!!!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Thank you!

[@Theearthtraveler]

Great video!!!!

[@eduardoml1024]

great video! Cheers from Brazil

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Thanks!

[@ilyasmohammed4970]

What glue did you use ? Thank you for the video.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Just regular carpenters glue (wood glue) but even white craft glue would work as it's made for paper which is made of wood, craft glue might not be quite as strong as carpenters glue, but particle board isn't that strong to begin with.

[@3ammoH2O]

great job man!

[@Theprince92]

i use wood filler. any idea what kind of glue use to stick wood veneer or pvc sticker on particle board?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I would try carpenters glue, it will work on veneer and particle board. Stickers and decals can be applied and then use a clear finisher over top to seal it to the wood piece and prevent it from peeling off.

[@SKT293]

Perfect! Simple! My kinda guy!

[@JaneAtwellRobinson1825NY]

It looks a lot like tuna salad! Great idea!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

It does look the same but they're not interchangeable, tuna salad just doesn't have the structure you'd think it would.

[@londondoha]

Any tips on how to replace the veneer on a particle wood cabinet door and cabinet frame. The door hinges came right off and the board cracked

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

That's a tricky one, if the piece of veneer can be removed and saved you might be able to use the sawdust & glue mixture to re-attach it, and then drill new screw holes for the hinge. Otherwise you'd have to cut out the broken edge of the veneer on the door/cabinet and try to apply a patch of matching veneer if you can find one the same.

[@livingdeadgirl5796]

Excellent video! Now does the sawdust have to be particle board as well?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

No it can be any wood sawdust, particle board is made of large wood fibers similar to what you'd get from a rough cut saw. The particle size can vary, as long as it's wood. I'd stay away from the wood dust you get from a sander though as it's too fine and doesn't have any structure.

[@piercesplayground3578]

This is very helpful thank you!

[@kerrigarcia2338]

How do u make it sturdy again? I have a bookshelf that is wobbly and needs something to make it sturdy again. Also it has some type of paper covering like it’s not paint it literally looks like the manufacturer covered it with large white sticker paper of some short and it peeing looks just like when u try to rip a sticker price tag off of something. How do I get that off to be able to paint it

[@Teralorane]

Is this easier to do than using wood filler? Or are you using this method so that it matches?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Wood filler doesn't have much strength, it's typically used to patch small nicks and cracks in solid wood where the goal is to match colour and hide the damage. Particle board isn't solid at all so patching it with more particles and glue is closer to how it was made originally, you get a harder, more structural result.

[@pgpc6448]

Where can I get sawdust if I don’t have in my garage or shop?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

A lot of building stores like Home Depot cut material down for you so they have saws in the back of the lumber section where you could get some free sawdust. Alternatively, if there's a high school with a shop class near you, or any construction sites, there would be saws with sawdust, so you could likely ask someone for some. Good luck!

[@joemartinez8626]

Great video!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Thanks!

[@shmootube5000]

hashtag every time you order furniture online... just came to see if other people do what I do, thank you confirmed glue+sawdust is what I do too.

[@stacyp2062]

What type of glue did he use? Just wood glue? Can you put a screw in it once it dries?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I used common wood glue. Yes can you can put a screw through after, but like with all of these types of materials, make sure you drill a adequately sized pilot hole first, or the screw will just split the 'wood'.

[@ricardocervantes7203]

Super cool video! Thanks

[@rt-qe9xw]

Great video! I was updating my bathroom cabinet but it had this really old ceramic toilet holder. me being a novice pulled it out. now the side panel of the vanity is damaged. how do I repair it? I can see the particle board inside. if I try this method how do I get the shiny surface outside? please help.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Not sure what the shiny surface is that you mention, if it's melamine or laminate it can't really be fixed other than gluing the piece back in that was pulled out, but the edges would be noticeable. You can use the sawdust and glue method to fill in the damage, sand it smooth, and then repaint the entire panel.

[@rt-qe9xw]

@@THEWORKSSHOP thank you for replying. I don't know what the side panel of bathroom vanity is made of. My guess is it's particle board with veneer. But I used the wood glue with wood dust to fill the area and smoothed it with wood filler and primed and painted. It is noticeable but I will reinstall a new toilet holder to cover it up. Hopefully it lasts. Thanks for your video. Saved me from buying a new vanity. 😀 Next I want to replace the toekick but can't find any good videos.

[@pateramat]

Why are you using the metal in one scene, as opposed to the block sander in the other? Also, I clicked subscribe when Chunk flashed on the screen. It's all about subtlety.

[@joanneyoung1081]

Nicely done. Thank you.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

You're very welcome!

[@batvanio]

Better to use a thread instead of a nail. This will allow the glue to penetrate much deeper. I saw this idea on a site and it is very good. Too bad I didn't know her befor

[@debbievaters4386]

Great Video. Thanks for posting

[@Katinka3]

Can the split in the backing be glued without stardust? I have a similar situation where the backing of an ikea bests unit cannot be attached because there is a long split in the side piece that is supposed to hold the back part. I was thinking to just use wood glue… will that hold?

[@Katinka3]

Great video by the way

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Yes, if it's just a crack and there's no missing material you can just use wood glue and make sure it's clamped, or pressed under some weight, if it's a flat piece, stack books on it or something until the glue is dry. I add some sawdust for additional structure at the point of the split, but it's not required for simple cracks.

[@Katinka3]

@@THEWORKSSHOP Thanks so much! I will test it out!

[@NicoleHerrickDIY]

Awesome tip! I’m sure I will need this in the future.

[@RX-wx1pj]

Can wood glue + sawdust be replaced with super glue + sawdust?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

You can try but I suspect it won't work as well. Superglue tends to be a bit more watery and better for creating bonds between solid parts. It's also significantly more expensive than wood glue by volume. If you're repairing a small crack it might work fine, but for larger chips and missing chunks I think you'll be better off with wood glue.

[@adingcondesa2243]

What tools you used those 2 holding adjustable?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I added links to the video description for clamps like the ones I use :)

[@ntxhixyooj3556]

Great idea. What kind of glue do you use?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I just used wood glue you can get at any hardware store. You could likely use white craft glue as well but it might not have the same strength as wood glue.

[@magnuswootton6181]

i want to see someone make a board of this stuff!!!

[@Medaya14]

What about a rounded edge of a countertop? We are moving and it seems as there may have been laminate that chipped away along with particle board underneath. Its not squared away but a rounded edge. I want to get a peel and stick to cover the damage but i know those spots would show through and im really not sure how to go about it

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

That sounds like a bit of a challenge getting it to match aesthetically. The sawdust and wood can fix the chip but to match a laminate will be tricky.

[@emanuelemonti7]

A very great job.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Thank you!