Both rear legs are broken where the screw goes into the seat. I don't want to turn new ones because they are bent. The only way I know to try to make a good repair is to cut a section out, drill holes in them and glue dowels in. What would your suggestion be? I really want to repair rather than throw away. Suggestion will be greatly appreiciated.

Thanks in advance!

got a picture???

Are they completely separated at the screw hole?

 

What Stick said about the pictures.

Oldwoodie, I had a similar repair for a friend a few years ago. I cut the leg off below the break and turned a new stub piece that was stepped.  I bored the leg to accept the stub and glued it into the leg.  Then I bored the seat to accept the stepped stub.  This may not make sense but the turned stub had two diameters and the larger diameter went into the seat. 

to borrow a line from Star Trek:  "it's dead Jim, it's dead.  let it go"

 

if it's a real antique, then any value it had is now mostly gone.  collectors value originality, not refinished and not repaired.

 

look at this as an opportunity to buy or make a new chair.

as they say on the web....pictures or it didn't happen... 

I really resent that remark! No apology expected. Topic can now be considered dead.

 

 

 

 

 

depending upon the break you may be able to drill out the centers and epoxy in a dowel. this would be a situation where a little slop around the dowels is acceptable as the epoxy will fill the gaps. If this does work I recommend using slow-set epoxy thickened with sawdust.

 

I think I will try what John is suggesting. I think I will drill both ends of both back  legs as thinly as possible, epoxy it for strength, and also make a mix of epoxy and sawdust to fill in around the outside to try to blend in as much as possible.

 

 

Yep, can't really give any advice without a photo.

 

I can highly recommend this book for a variety of repair options.  https://www.amazon.com/Furniture-Refinishing-Ultimate-Creative-Homeowner/dp/1580110061/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1484273531&sr=8-3&keywords=hingley

14 hours ago, oldwoodie said:

I think I will try what John is suggesting. I think I will drill both ends of both back  legs as thinly as possible, epoxy it for strength, and also make a mix of epoxy and sawdust to fill in around the outside to try to blend in as much as possible.

 

 

As long as you don't overload it, you should be fine.  Good luck.

23 hours ago, DAB said:

 

if it's a real antique, then any value it had is now mostly gone.  collectors value originality, not refinished and not repaired.

It's not always about money DAB. Ol woodie loves this piece, or it just needs to to be there for whatever reason. 

then it's just old, and apparently worn out.  it happens (see the poem of the one horse shay), don't lose too much sleep, it you can fix it, do so.  if not, learn from what failed and don't repeat that design element again.