ᐅ Which types of screws are used for Ikea Hemnes?

Created on: 20 Aug 2020 17:36
K
kidopa
K
kidopa
20 Aug 2020 17:36
Hello everyone,

I’m currently trying to dismantle and modify some older Ikea Hemnes furniture, but I’m having trouble with the types of screws used. Since Ikea often uses quite specific connectors for this series, I wanted to ask directly:

What types of screws are standard for the Ikea Hemnes series? Specifically, I’m interested in which screws, dowels, or connector types are typically used in the different pieces of this series—such as cam lock connectors, wooden dowels, special screw sizes, or possibly unique forms.

My goal is to get suitable replacement screws and make sure I don’t damage anything during the modification or repair.

Looking forward to your experience and advice, thanks in advance!
T
Taylorsi45
20 Aug 2020 18:02
Hi kidopa,

Ikea usually uses the following screws for Hemnes:
- Phillips wood screws (mostly 4x50 mm (4x2 inches))
- Cam lock connectors (cam fittings)
- Beechwood dowels
- Metal pins for shelves

Most furniture uses a combination of these, and replacements can be found easily at any hardware store.
J
Juan31
21 Aug 2020 09:15
Addition to the initial overview:

The Hemnes series mostly uses the classic cam lock system (cam connector), which is a round screw with a beveled head that is screwed into a specially pre-punched hole. Standardized wooden dowels (ø 8 mm (0.3 inches)) are also used for positioning and stability.

Wood screws are mostly full-threaded and usually come in lengths between 35 and 50 mm (1.4 and 2 inches), depending on the component.

Small metal pins and thin nails are typically used for shelves and back panels.

If you are sourcing replacements, make sure the cam lock connectors fit exactly. The original Ikea parts are technically matched due to their special profile, which is not always the case with replicas.
K
kidopa
21 Aug 2020 14:38
Juan31 schrieb:
Small metal pins and thin nails are usually used for shelves and back panels.

That makes sense, thanks for the detailed information. I’m also curious whether the screws used in Hemnes furniture typically have a Phillips or Torx head? I noticed a Torx head screw on one piece, which surprised me a bit since I had mostly expected Phillips screws from Ikea.

Does anyone know more about this? Like, are different types of screws possibly combined depending on the component?
C
chen67
22 Aug 2020 08:47
kidopa schrieb:
Does anyone know more details? Like whether different types of screws might be used depending on the component?

Hey kidopa,

yes, Hemnes can actually have different drive types. Most of the visible screws are Phillips, that’s true. But for the cam lock connector screws, they sometimes use Torx drives because they tighten better and slip less.

I experienced this myself during assembly, where I had to switch from a Phillips screwdriver to a Torx bit at short notice.

So it’s not unusual to have different drive types in one piece of furniture – this increases the stability and strength of the connections.

In short: for Hemnes, it’s best to have both Phillips and Torx tools on hand.