Hello everyone,
I have a question that’s been bothering me while assembling Malm furniture from IKEA: Why do the dowels in Malm dressers tend to come loose so easily? I don’t mean that they can just be pulled out, but rather that over time, through constant stress or movement, they gradually lose their grip, become loose, and eventually make the furniture unstable.
I have already tried different types of dowels, some made of wood, others of plastic, but the problem keeps occurring. Is this due to the quality of the wood used in the Malm series, the design concept, or is it perhaps a known issue that’s hard to avoid with the fastening method used?
I would really appreciate professional opinions or practical experiences, as I haven’t encountered this kind of dowel instability with other furniture. Thanks!
I have a question that’s been bothering me while assembling Malm furniture from IKEA: Why do the dowels in Malm dressers tend to come loose so easily? I don’t mean that they can just be pulled out, but rather that over time, through constant stress or movement, they gradually lose their grip, become loose, and eventually make the furniture unstable.
I have already tried different types of dowels, some made of wood, others of plastic, but the problem keeps occurring. Is this due to the quality of the wood used in the Malm series, the design concept, or is it perhaps a known issue that’s hard to avoid with the fastening method used?
I would really appreciate professional opinions or practical experiences, as I haven’t encountered this kind of dowel instability with other furniture. Thanks!
DULIS schrieb:
The main issue with the dowels is usually the quality of the particleboard in Malm.That is certainly a factor, but do you have evidence that the wood quality alone causes the dowel failure? One could also argue that the dowel itself, especially if made of plastic, has a poor fit or that the construction does not create sufficient bonding.
Furthermore: Are there cases where the furniture remains stable despite using the same dowels? Then another factor must be at play, such as incorrect assembly or overloading.
There are several factors that can cause the dowels in Malm furniture to loosen:
1. Material: Malm is made of particleboard with a melamine coating. Particleboard is sensitive to moisture and mechanical stress, which can lead to the dowel connections becoming loose.
2. Dowel type: Traditional wooden or plastic dowels provide limited holding strength because they rely on friction and compression. Under stress, especially tilting or shear forces, the material can give way.
3. Construction method: Malm is produced with relatively simple snap-fit assembly systems designed for mass production, not for long-term stability under repeated loads or frequent moving.
4. Assembly: Errors in alignment, excessive torque when tightening screws, or incorrect dowel insertion reduce holding strength.
My recommendation: For greater stability, switch to metal fasteners and cam locks, and use glue whenever possible. Anyone with more precise advice on types of stress and assembly techniques is welcome to share.
1. Material: Malm is made of particleboard with a melamine coating. Particleboard is sensitive to moisture and mechanical stress, which can lead to the dowel connections becoming loose.
2. Dowel type: Traditional wooden or plastic dowels provide limited holding strength because they rely on friction and compression. Under stress, especially tilting or shear forces, the material can give way.
3. Construction method: Malm is produced with relatively simple snap-fit assembly systems designed for mass production, not for long-term stability under repeated loads or frequent moving.
4. Assembly: Errors in alignment, excessive torque when tightening screws, or incorrect dowel insertion reduce holding strength.
My recommendation: For greater stability, switch to metal fasteners and cam locks, and use glue whenever possible. Anyone with more precise advice on types of stress and assembly techniques is welcome to share.
Domau0 schrieb:
Material: Malm is made from particleboard with a melamine coating.That's correct, the furniture is indeed made from coated particleboard. This also explains why I had the impression that the material was brittle at the end of assembly. It’s not just about the dowels themselves, but also how the material reacts to screws and stress.
Domau0 schrieb:
Assembly: Mistakes in alignment, excessive torque when screwing, or inaccurate insertion of dowels reduce the holding strength.Could you please explain in more detail how to optimize the insertion and tightening of screws to avoid loosening? I have heard that you shouldn’t overtighten, but I find it difficult since there is no over-torque protection.
Certainly, this is an important point. When screwing into chipboard, it is essential to proceed carefully:
- Do not tighten the screws too much, as this can crush the material and reduce the strength of the chipboard.
- It is best to use a torque wrench or a cordless drill with a torque limiter.
- Dowels should fit precisely; they must not wobble. If the drill holes are too large, the hold will be poor.
- Applying glue around the dowel can significantly improve the connection.
- Avoid frequent disassembly, as each removal weakens the material further.
The most important thing: do not just “screw in all the way” blindly, but work with care and the correct technique.
- Do not tighten the screws too much, as this can crush the material and reduce the strength of the chipboard.
- It is best to use a torque wrench or a cordless drill with a torque limiter.
- Dowels should fit precisely; they must not wobble. If the drill holes are too large, the hold will be poor.
- Applying glue around the dowel can significantly improve the connection.
- Avoid frequent disassembly, as each removal weakens the material further.
The most important thing: do not just “screw in all the way” blindly, but work with care and the correct technique.
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