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Perhaps foolishly our 13yo has one of our "spare" MCM dining chairs at his desk for ps5 keyboard/mouse gaming.
Overenthusiastically in either win or loss he threw himself back on the chair and snapped the curved plywood clean through.
3/8th" 3-ply, assume teak but could easily be something cheaper as the matching table is veneered.
Any suggestions as to repairing this?
I've already done a doweled repair to a broken leg where the original owner had previously wrapped it in fiberglass. Worked out rather well so I'm game for trying to solve this one too.
Butterflies?, thin biscuits?
Obviously no dessert
Yes. We are mid renovation though so deferring buying largeish things that well have to move and store.Â
I've been sat on the same chair for a couple of years and a stokke trip Trapp before that once the kids outgrew it.Â
Been making do until the project is finished.Â
Just glue it.
No need for reinforcement unless he plans to do it again.
It's an odd break for plywood I would expect more jagged edges from the central core where the fibres have snapped
I'd just glue it too.
If the crack still annoyed you, you could look for a matching piece of veneer on ebay. PVA and iron carefully, thoroughly and firmly into place. Trim the edges flush. Then drill the dowels partway and sand and refinish the whole thing.
Happy to give more detailed advice if you go down this route
I agree it does look an odd break for plywood. Particularly in that position below where the top leg joint is and nothing like along the grain 🤔
Is it more like a laminated, 3-ply construction? Same wood running in the same direction in 3 layers? (Technically still plywood but without tangential grain direction)
Got any better pictures of the construction and break at the front, rear and top?
It does look like you could just bring it back together with glue and clamps. Difficult to say without a decent look.
Just glue it with Titebond. cramp it up and use 1 or 2 temporary battens at 90 deg to keep it flat.
As a furniture restorer it's glue and cramp job, and tidy any surface damage with wax/colouring.
it sounds like its' actually just veneered wood rather than true ply.
There's not really enough material there to do anything else without it being visible. Â It probably won't be as strong as the others so put it in the position it gets used least and be a bit careful with it. Â Having the right cramps to get it tight and flat is key.
"sounds like its’ actually just veneered wood rather than true ply."
Which would be fortunate, as broken ply would be a mess inside.
Any pics of the edge?
As an uneducated and only partially skilled wood basher I'd do exactly as already suggested. Glue, clamps, some batons to keep it lined up. If you clamp it properly it'll be nearly as strong as an unbroken one.
Fancy gaming chairs have springs for good reason...