Work out why a table rocks, tighten or reglue loose joints, then level it with glides or pads.
WT-01Work out why it wobblesMove the table onto a flat, hard floor such as a kitchen or hallway. Gently rock it corner by corner and watch which leg lifts first. If it still wobbles on a floor you know is flat, the fault is in the table itself, not the room.
WT-02Rule out an uneven floorLay a small spirit level on the floor under the table, checking in a couple of directions. If the floor itself slopes noticeably, that explains some wobble and you'll fix it with an adjustable foot rather than by tightening anything. If the floor reads level, move on and treat the table as the problem.
WT-03Turn the table over and check every fixingStand the table upside down on an old blanket to protect it and the floor. Check every corner bracket, leg bolt and screw with a screwdriver or hex key, tightening anything that turns. Loose fixings are the single most common cause of a wobbly table, so do this before anything else.
WT-04Reglue any loose wooden jointsIf a leg-to-rail joint has visible play or creaks under load, pull it apart as far as it will safely go. Sand off any old, flaking glue, apply a thin coat of PVA wood glue to both surfaces, push back together and clamp. Leave clamped for at least 30 minutes and avoid using the table for 24 hours so the glue fully cures.
WT-05Find the short leg and level itSlide a folded piece of card under each leg in turn until the wobble stops, to find which leg is short and by roughly how much. Fit an adjustable levelling glide to that leg if it has a threaded socket, and wind it down until the table sits flat. If there's no socket, build up the leg instead with stacked self-adhesive felt pads cut to size.
WT-06Test and tidy upTurn the table back over and push down firmly on each corner in turn to check it no longer rocks. Wipe away any glue smears with a damp cloth and let any glued joint sit undisturbed for the full 24-hour cure time before loading it. Put tools away and bin any offcuts.
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