Hello everyone,
I’m having an issue during the assembly of my Ikea Hemnes wardrobe where several screws have broken while being screwed in. This mainly involves the small wood or particleboard screws used to connect the parts.
My question is: What is the best way to handle screws that break during the assembly of this furniture? Are there specific tools or techniques to safely remove broken screws without damaging the wood? And how can I reduce the risk of further screws breaking when I replace them?
I have already tried carefully gripping the screws with pliers, but this doesn’t work well for screws located deep inside the wood.
I would appreciate any advice or experiences that could help me with my Hemnes wardrobe. Thanks in advance!
I’m having an issue during the assembly of my Ikea Hemnes wardrobe where several screws have broken while being screwed in. This mainly involves the small wood or particleboard screws used to connect the parts.
My question is: What is the best way to handle screws that break during the assembly of this furniture? Are there specific tools or techniques to safely remove broken screws without damaging the wood? And how can I reduce the risk of further screws breaking when I replace them?
I have already tried carefully gripping the screws with pliers, but this doesn’t work well for screws located deep inside the wood.
I would appreciate any advice or experiences that could help me with my Hemnes wardrobe. Thanks in advance!
Hello Bouwe34,
Your issue sounds really frustrating, but it happens more often during furniture assembly than you might think.
There are several options for removing broken screws:
- If the end of the screw is still sticking out a bit, you can try to unscrew it with a pair of needle-nose pliers or a small screwdriver.
- If the screw head is completely broken off and the screw is deep inside, a special screw extractor works quite well. This is a tool that grips the screw end and, using a left-hand thread, turns the screw out.
- If the broken screw remains embedded in the wood, please be very careful not to damage the wood. It’s better to have small holes or cracks than completely ruined panels!
To prevent screws from breaking again, it often helps to pre-drill the screw holes slightly if needed, or to avoid applying too much force. Sometimes the screws are a bit brittle or the wood is rather thin, and too much torque can quickly lead to breakage.
If the screw has completely broken off but the cabinet is still stable, you can, if necessary, use a stronger screw inserted slightly offset.
If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
Your issue sounds really frustrating, but it happens more often during furniture assembly than you might think.
There are several options for removing broken screws:
- If the end of the screw is still sticking out a bit, you can try to unscrew it with a pair of needle-nose pliers or a small screwdriver.
- If the screw head is completely broken off and the screw is deep inside, a special screw extractor works quite well. This is a tool that grips the screw end and, using a left-hand thread, turns the screw out.
- If the broken screw remains embedded in the wood, please be very careful not to damage the wood. It’s better to have small holes or cracks than completely ruined panels!
To prevent screws from breaking again, it often helps to pre-drill the screw holes slightly if needed, or to avoid applying too much force. Sometimes the screws are a bit brittle or the wood is rather thin, and too much torque can quickly lead to breakage.
If the screw has completely broken off but the cabinet is still stable, you can, if necessary, use a stronger screw inserted slightly offset.
If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
Hey Bouwe34,
I’m all too familiar with the problem of broken screws! But don’t get discouraged – there are often solutions that DIYers can handle well!
I would definitely recommend getting a screw extractor. Trust me, that’s the best solution! With it, you can almost always remove the damaged screws without causing much damage to the wood. Alternatively, sometimes a small drill bit with a slightly smaller diameter can help by basically drilling the screw out.
For new screws, you can do the following:
- Pre-drill the screw holes with a thin drill bit – yes, even if the original wasn’t pre-drilled
- Tighten gently, step by step, applying little force
- Sometimes a drop of wood glue in the hole can give a bit more grip.
You can do it! Every time it’s like a little adventure assembling furniture! Keep at it! 🙂
I’m all too familiar with the problem of broken screws! But don’t get discouraged – there are often solutions that DIYers can handle well!
I would definitely recommend getting a screw extractor. Trust me, that’s the best solution! With it, you can almost always remove the damaged screws without causing much damage to the wood. Alternatively, sometimes a small drill bit with a slightly smaller diameter can help by basically drilling the screw out.
For new screws, you can do the following:
- Pre-drill the screw holes with a thin drill bit – yes, even if the original wasn’t pre-drilled
- Tighten gently, step by step, applying little force
- Sometimes a drop of wood glue in the hole can give a bit more grip.
You can do it! Every time it’s like a little adventure assembling furniture! Keep at it! 🙂
angel schrieb:
- If the screw head is completely broken off and the screw is recessed, a special screw extractor works quite well. This is a tool that is applied to the end of the screw and, using a left-hand thread, turns the screw out.That is correct, but I would like to add that using a screw extractor set should be done with great caution. Ikea often uses particleboard for Hemnes furniture, which is quite delicate.
My recommendation in such cases:
- First, remove the damaged furniture part to gain full access.
- Work carefully and patiently. Inserting the extractor usually requires a pilot hole drilled with a thin metal drill bit of about 3-4 mm (1/8-5/32 inches).
- Turn the extractor slowly and steadily with the appropriate wrench (do not use an impact driver!) to avoid cracking the wood.
If the screw is broken off and recessed, it can help to apply wood glue (e.g., Ponal) into the screw hole and then reinforce the hole with wooden dowels before inserting new screws.
Finally, a question for Bouwe34: Are you using the original Ikea screws, or have you tried replacement screws with different properties (such as stainless steel or higher-quality material)?
Nakar33 schrieb:
Finally, a question for Bouwe34: Are you using the original Ikea screws, or have you tried replacement screws with different properties (such as stainless steel or better material)? Thanks for the tip and clarification, Nakar33.
I have only used the original Ikea screws. I hadn’t considered using replacement screws of higher quality before. I was unsure whether the issue is due to the construction itself being "imprecise" or simply the screws causing the problem.
Overall, I find the material used to be quite soft. My main problem is that the screws break in the area of the joints, so it probably requires more force. I didn’t pre-drill because the instructions don’t recommend it.
How would you proceed if original parts are damaged and replacements aren’t immediately available? Would you opt for high-quality replacement screws or try to repair the original ones?
Looking forward to hearing about your experiences.
Bouwe34 schrieb:
How would you proceed if original parts are damaged and direct replacements are not available? Would you opt for high-quality replacement screws or rather try to repair the original parts? In such cases, I recommend a targeted, pragmatic approach:
- Fundamentally, it is important to use screws that match the original specifications in terms of dimensions and material. Replacement parts should have the same size and thread type whenever possible, as the construction is designed for these parameters.
- If original screws are not available or are of inferior quality, high-quality screws (e.g., galvanized steel or stainless steel, with the same thread size) are a sensible alternative.
- Pre-drilling is especially advisable with particleboard to prevent splitting or cracking. The drill hole depth should not exceed the screw length.
- If the screw hole is damaged, stability can be restored using wood glue and wooden dowels or repair wood filler.
- Never tighten screws with excessive torque to avoid breakage. A torque wrench can be helpful in this regard.
- If the load is significant (e.g., load-bearing connections), replacing the damaged parts and using appropriate replacement components is essential.
This is the most efficient procedure recommended for furniture such as Hemnes.
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