Best way to reattach stair glue blocks

[richards1978]

Hi everyone,

I recently removed the boarding from underneath our staircase as it was starting to sag.

The reasons seems to be that most of the small glue blocks have detached from the underside of the stairs, together with some larger triangles that acted like a "spine" down the middle of the stairs to mount the board to.

The glue blocks look like they were originally stuck in place with some kind of brown gum that has dried out and gone brittle - presumably as the house was built in the 1920's, this is is the infamous glue that old Dobbin got turned into.

It looks like an easy fix, but need some advice on:
- how is best to remove the old glue?
- what is the best modern glue to use in reattaching the blocks?

Thanks

 

[Wayners]

I used pink grip 20 years ago. Been fine.
There are some fantastic wood glues that would also work just as well.

My father in law built stairs back in early 50s as a lad. He had to boil the glue on stove. I assume it was bone glue?
I remember him saying something about it but I can't remember details. PVA was a brilliant invention.

If bone glue you can soften with heat

 

[opps]

My father in law built stairs back in early 50s as a lad. He had to boil the glue on stove. I assume it was bone glue?
I remember him saying something about it but I can't remember details. PVA was a brilliant invention.

I recall my stepfather boiling up rabbit glue on the stove. It stank.

From memory, he used it for veneer work.