ᐅ Kallax unit disassembled and reassembled multiple times after moving – any damage?

Hello everyone,

I have a specific question regarding the Kallax shelving unit from Ikea. After moving, I have now taken apart and reassembled my Kallax unit three times, each time to make it easier to handle during transport. I have noticed that some of the connectors and corner joints seem a bit loose or show minor signs of wear after repeated disassembly and assembly.

My question is: Can repeated disassembly and reassembly of the Kallax system cause damage, for example to the dowels or joints due to stress? Or is the furniture generally designed to withstand this without any issues?

How about its stability in particular when it is frequently transported and rebuilt? Are there any known weak points to watch out for?

I would really appreciate any experiences and opinions, especially from those who have moved used Kallax units multiple times. Thanks in advance!

Hello Elpubi,

your question is very well formulated and important, especially if you move frequently and take the Kallax shelf with you. Basically, the Kallax unit from Ikea is designed to withstand multiple disassemblies and reassemblies. The wooden components themselves are sturdy, as they are made from a combination of engineered wood and veneer.

What actually tends to suffer are the connectors, mainly the wooden dowels, biscuits, and — if installed — metal fasteners. These can become somewhat loose over time with repeated assembly and disassembly, especially if you don’t pay close attention to proper fit and handle them carefully.

If you notice that a corner wobbles or parts no longer tighten properly, it is advisable to replace the dowels with suitable new ones or, if necessary, add additional reinforcement with screws or corner brackets.

The surface finish can also suffer at the edges from frequent handling, but this mainly affects appearance. In terms of stability, the Kallax is solid as long as you treat the connections with care.

Summary: Repeated disassembly and reassembly is possible, but the connection points are the weak spots to watch out for.

In short: Over time, wall plugs tend to become looser. If the shelf is wobbly, it's better to replace the wall plugs or secure it with screws.

I have had to disassemble my Kallax several times as well. The stability mainly suffers when the shelves are assembled incorrectly or when too much force is applied to the joints. Otherwise, no problem.

PeoDaniel schrieb:
What actually suffers are the connecting elements, mainly the wooden dowels, biscuits, and—if installed—the metal connectors.

This brings me to another question: What is the best way to replace the dowels in the Kallax? Do you have to completely disassemble everything to do this? Or is there an easy way to insert new dowels without having to hammer them out, which would damage the wood?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

A good question!

To replace dowels, it is usually necessary to completely disassemble the respective shelf section, as the dowels are fitted into the holes and cannot be simply pulled out without damaging the hole.

You should carefully remove the old dowels – sometimes wire cutters or pliers can help to pull them out piece by piece without widening the hole.

Then you can tap in new dowels, ideally using a small amount of glue beforehand to make the joint more stable. Glue should only be used sparingly and precisely, otherwise the furniture may not be possible to disassemble later without damage.

My tip: If you plan to reassemble the shelf frequently, it might be worth considering more durable connection methods, such as screws with metal brackets, which you can easily loosen if needed.