Hey everyone! I recently picked up a vintage teak dresser from the thrift store, and I'm looking to upgrade it by swapping out its pedestal base for some stylish angled legs I found online. I chose these 12" angled wooden legs but after attaching them, I noticed the dresser sways quite a bit, especially front to back. The wobble seems to come from the legs where they meet the metal mounting plate. I've tried adding some nuts and washers, plus a rubber piece for better grip, but it hasn't helped much. I really don't want to add braces between the legs since I like the clean look of other dressers from the same era that have standalone legs. Does anyone have advice on how to fix this racking issue? Should I consider different mounting plates, or is there a better way to attach the legs directly to the dresser?
3 Answers
You might need sturdier mounting hardware if the metal plate is too thin for the weight. Also, it might help to ditch the rubber piece that was added. Try a more robust coupling nut that goes beyond the flat of the mounting cup and use something like JB Weld to secure it solidly. That way, you can unscrew the leg if you need to but still get that strong bond.
It sounds like the wobble is related to the leg design and how they're attached. I’m not sure if there's a fix for the mounting plate itself, but you might want to try using a larger washer or fender washer to give more surface area. If possible, consider directly mounting the legs to the dresser's base instead of using the metal plate—this could help eliminate the play you're experiencing! But first, make sure the bottom of the dresser is thick and solid enough to handle the weight and pressure. You don’t want it flexing when the legs are attached.
Have you thought about just removing that rubber piece? Instead of adding it, focus on using a bigger washer which can help prevent wobbling. If you're still finding the metal too flimsy, consider options like thicker metal cups or coupling bolts for a more stable fit.
Yeah, I tried a rubber piece thinking it would help make the connection tighter, but that might not be the right approach. The bottom of my dresser is hardwood, like yours, but I still feel movement at the joints. Direct mounting sounds intimidating but might be necessary to really fix the wobble!