ᐅ Where can I find building plans or assembly instructions for MALM furniture?
Created on: 8 Dec 2021 07:34
S
sinleHello everyone, I have been looking for blueprints for the MALM furniture line from IKEA for some time. I am especially interested in technical drawings or scaled plans that would allow me to either build my own MALM chest of drawers or replicate a similar piece of furniture. Does anyone have an idea where to find such detailed construction plans? I am not only looking for general measurements but precise details including drill hole locations, material thicknesses, and connection methods. It would be great if someone could also share their personal experiences with building a replica. Thanks in advance for your tips!
Finding detailed construction plans for MALM furniture is challenging because IKEA does not officially provide this information. The exact technical drawings are the property of IKEA and are protected by copyright.
What you can do, however, is take precise measurements of the furniture yourself if you already own a piece or can examine it in the store. From these, you can create your own plans. There are also some CAD models available online, but these are unofficial and often inaccurate.
If you plan to replicate the furniture, I recommend paying close attention to the material thicknesses and fittings used, as MALM, for example, uses thin particle boards and special hinges that are often not easy to source.
What you can do, however, is take precise measurements of the furniture yourself if you already own a piece or can examine it in the store. From these, you can create your own plans. There are also some CAD models available online, but these are unofficial and often inaccurate.
If you plan to replicate the furniture, I recommend paying close attention to the material thicknesses and fittings used, as MALM, for example, uses thin particle boards and special hinges that are often not easy to source.
Hello sinle, I’d like to organize a bit how you can best obtain construction plans for MALM furniture – at least approximately:
1. Official sources: IKEA does not publish such details – as Garry already mentioned.
2. Community models: Platforms like SketchUp Warehouse or Thingiverse offer modeled furniture pieces, but often without detailed plans or exact drilling measurements.
3. Measuring yourself: As recommended, this approach allows you to record exact dimensions yourself. You should proceed systematically: component dimensions, hole spacing, connection points, and so on.
4. Using software: CAD programs like Fusion 360 or SolidWorks can help you create your own construction plans.
Common mistakes include inaccurate measurements and ignoring tolerances. It’s best to use calipers instead of a tape measure.
Finally: Do you have specific parts you’re unsure about? Then we can try to help you more precisely.
1. Official sources: IKEA does not publish such details – as Garry already mentioned.
2. Community models: Platforms like SketchUp Warehouse or Thingiverse offer modeled furniture pieces, but often without detailed plans or exact drilling measurements.
3. Measuring yourself: As recommended, this approach allows you to record exact dimensions yourself. You should proceed systematically: component dimensions, hole spacing, connection points, and so on.
4. Using software: CAD programs like Fusion 360 or SolidWorks can help you create your own construction plans.
Common mistakes include inaccurate measurements and ignoring tolerances. It’s best to use calipers instead of a tape measure.
Finally: Do you have specific parts you’re unsure about? Then we can try to help you more precisely.
Guyju schrieb:
Typical mistakes are inaccurate measurements Thank you very much for your structured reply; it is really helpful. Currently, I only have a MALM chest of drawers with 3 drawers available to measure. I notice that some of the components are very thin, so I have to be careful when measuring to avoid distorting the dimensions.
Are there any officially accessible, legally safe schematics or drawings that IKEA has released somewhere? Or is that generally not available? I ask because I have already asked the original question in quite some detail and want to make sure I am not overlooking anything.
Basically, there will be no official, freely available construction plans for MALM furniture. IKEA closely protects their design and technical details.
One possible approach I recommend if you want to go into detail is the following:
1. Measure the piece of furniture precisely and take photos to visually capture all components.
2. Identify the materials (e.g., chipboard, veneer thickness, fittings).
3. The connection points are important: IKEA often uses dowels, tenons, and metal screws with special fittings – all of which have their own installation depth and diameter.
If you are aiming to replicate or build furniture inspired by MALM, I can also create a sketch showing how such a piece is typically constructed. For that, I would need some more information: Do you want to build it using chipboard, engineered wood, or solid wood? What tools or machines do you have available?
Without these details, it is difficult to give a precise answer, as the devil is always in the details.
One possible approach I recommend if you want to go into detail is the following:
1. Measure the piece of furniture precisely and take photos to visually capture all components.
2. Identify the materials (e.g., chipboard, veneer thickness, fittings).
3. The connection points are important: IKEA often uses dowels, tenons, and metal screws with special fittings – all of which have their own installation depth and diameter.
If you are aiming to replicate or build furniture inspired by MALM, I can also create a sketch showing how such a piece is typically constructed. For that, I would need some more information: Do you want to build it using chipboard, engineered wood, or solid wood? What tools or machines do you have available?
Without these details, it is difficult to give a precise answer, as the devil is always in the details.
Parbo schrieb:
Without this information, it is difficult to provide an accurate answer Thank you for the offer. My plan is to rebuild the furniture using particle board or MDF, as I only have basic woodworking tools (circular saw, router, cordless screwdriver). My biggest concern is the precise adjustment of the drill holes and fittings, since I cannot purchase the original IKEA fittings directly.
I want to recreate the dresser as accurately as possible because I really like the style. If you or others have any sketches or tips on how to best implement the joinery by myself, I would be very grateful.
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