Hello everyone,
I have an IKEA Malm chest of drawers with several drawers that I would like to make more stable, as the drawers often sag or warp slightly under heavier loads. My question is: How can I reinforce the drawers of the Malm chest to make them stronger and more durable? I am looking for a simple but effective method to strengthen, for example, the drawer bottoms or side panels. Who has experience with reinforcing Malm drawers? I am interested in materials, tools, procedures, as well as possible pitfalls. Thanks in advance for your tips!
I have an IKEA Malm chest of drawers with several drawers that I would like to make more stable, as the drawers often sag or warp slightly under heavier loads. My question is: How can I reinforce the drawers of the Malm chest to make them stronger and more durable? I am looking for a simple but effective method to strengthen, for example, the drawer bottoms or side panels. Who has experience with reinforcing Malm drawers? I am interested in materials, tools, procedures, as well as possible pitfalls. Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hello NEPINON,
It is important to understand that the MALM drawers are made from thin particleboard material, which can reach its load limits during normal use. A common method to reinforce them is to install an additional base structure made of plywood or MDF. For this, you can have a thin panel cut to size and attach it underneath the existing base, for example with small screws and wood glue.
Alternatively, metal brackets can be mounted inside the sides to stabilize the entire construction. If you often load the drawers with heavy items, such reinforcement is very helpful.
A tip: Remove the drawers completely before starting any work; this gives you more space and allows for more precise handling.
If you like, I can write you a detailed instruction.
It is important to understand that the MALM drawers are made from thin particleboard material, which can reach its load limits during normal use. A common method to reinforce them is to install an additional base structure made of plywood or MDF. For this, you can have a thin panel cut to size and attach it underneath the existing base, for example with small screws and wood glue.
Alternatively, metal brackets can be mounted inside the sides to stabilize the entire construction. If you often load the drawers with heavy items, such reinforcement is very helpful.
A tip: Remove the drawers completely before starting any work; this gives you more space and allows for more precise handling.
If you like, I can write you a detailed instruction.
funon5 schrieb:
A common method for stiffening is to install an additional subfloor made of plywood or MDF.Thank you for the tip; that sounds exactly like what I’m looking for. How thick should the MDF or plywood panel ideally be to ensure it’s sturdy enough but not too heavy? What thickness is the original floor? Also, is it sufficient to simply glue the panel underneath, or should I also screw it in place? Thanks as well for the offer of the instructions—I would be happy to receive them.
Hello NEPINON and all interested,
I can add a bit more from my own experience regarding the question:
1. Material thickness: The original bottom panel thickness for MALM drawers is about 6 mm (1/4 inch). I recommend using an 8 mm (5/16 inch) MDF or plywood board. This provides enough stability without making the drawer significantly heavier.
2. Procedure:
- Completely empty and remove the drawer
- Measure the bottom surface very precisely
- Have the board cut to size (wood specialty store, home improvement store)
- Apply glue to the old bottom panel
- Place the new board on top and secure it with small screws to the lower drawer panel (screws should be as flat as possible, about 13 mm (1/2 inch) long, and only as deep as necessary)
- Afterwards, sand any edges so that nothing sticks out sharply
3. Common mistakes:
- Screws that are too long, damaging or piercing through the drawer bottom
- Only using glue without screws: often, glue alone does not hold long-term
- Inaccurate measurements causing stress and warping
Reinforcing the bottom this way has worked very well for me, even with heavy books.
Hope this helps 🙂
I can add a bit more from my own experience regarding the question:
1. Material thickness: The original bottom panel thickness for MALM drawers is about 6 mm (1/4 inch). I recommend using an 8 mm (5/16 inch) MDF or plywood board. This provides enough stability without making the drawer significantly heavier.
2. Procedure:
- Completely empty and remove the drawer
- Measure the bottom surface very precisely
- Have the board cut to size (wood specialty store, home improvement store)
- Apply glue to the old bottom panel
- Place the new board on top and secure it with small screws to the lower drawer panel (screws should be as flat as possible, about 13 mm (1/2 inch) long, and only as deep as necessary)
- Afterwards, sand any edges so that nothing sticks out sharply
3. Common mistakes:
- Screws that are too long, damaging or piercing through the drawer bottom
- Only using glue without screws: often, glue alone does not hold long-term
- Inaccurate measurements causing stress and warping
Reinforcing the bottom this way has worked very well for me, even with heavy books.
Hope this helps 🙂
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