1. Twist out damaged screws with an extractor Major furniture repair often involves disassembling the piece and putting it back together. Sounds simple enough: knock things apart and glue them back together. But anyone who’s tried this knows that it never goes that smoothly. This article will show you some slick ways to deal with the most common and frustrating aspects of the job. Plus, we’ll show you some shortcuts that might help you avoid disassembly altogether. Just keep in mind that these methods aren’t meant for fine antiques. If you suspect that a piece of furniture is especially old or valuable, have an expert take a look (see “Antiques-Repair & Restore” in the Yellow Pages). 2. Drill holes to get a grip on nails Some nails are easy to deal with. Sometimes you can separate the parts and then remove the nails. Other times you might be able to drive a nail right through the part and out the other side. If you can’t get hold of the nail’s head, drill holes just large...