Dowel Joint repair Arts and Crafts chair

[JKimel]

I have an antique mission style chair I am repairing.  Old enough for the wood and glue in the joints to dry out, shrink and become loose over the course of time.

Problem.  The dowels are slightly less than 5/16".  The holes are larger, but definately not 3/8".  I want to clean the old glue out of the holes and buy new dowels so I don't have to clean off the old dowels as well.

These sizes are not standard that I'm aware of.  Is it because they are from a time without a standard size or partly due to shrinkage over time for both the dowel and the holes?

Should I just clean what I have instead of risking damage trying to bore new 3/8" holes with now dowels?

[JGrout]

bore to the next size (3/8")  you will not hurt anything doing so as long as the bores are true to the old holes  

Joe

[Phil Thien]

Leave the old glue in the holes and on the dowels, and epoxy it all together.

[JKimel]

What the best epoxy to use that's commonly available?

I was concerned it woulnd't stick to the old glue.

[JKimel]

bore to the next size (3/8")  you will not hurt anything doing so as long as the bores are true to the old holes  

I don't think I can, that's my concern with re drilling.

[Phil Thien]

I use Loctite syringes I get at the local hardware store.

It sticks to the old glue, but more importantly the old glue provides teeth and a sort of interlock that keeps the joint from pulling apart again.

[Bill Holt]

I would use epoxy from the big box stores.  It is easy to mix and you can do small batches.

[Phil Thien]

I would use epoxy from the big box stores.  It is easy to mix and you can do small batches.

This is the stuff I use:

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/tds/EPXY_5MIN_tds.pdf

If it is older than a year old, I do a test to make sure it cures properly.

[JGrout]

I don't think I can, that's my concern with re drilling.

Drill the glue out with the properly sized bit then follow up with 3/8 

or just use epoxy after you drill out the glue it will not be as strong but suffice

[JKimel]

Thanks for the suggestions.