ᐅ Kallax squeaks after temporary repair – what could be the cause?

Hello everyone, I recently made a temporary repair to an IKEA Kallax shelf that was damaged in one spot. I reglue the damaged joint and secured it with screws. However, the shelf now squeaks whenever I move it slightly or apply minimal pressure. I assume the noise is coming from the repaired area.

Can someone explain what might be causing this squeaking? Could it be due to the wood, the screws, or the way I repaired it? And how can I permanently eliminate this squeaking using the simplest possible methods? Thanks in advance for your advice!

Squeaking usually occurs due to friction between wooden surfaces. Check if the screws are tightened properly, and lightly sand any rough spots if necessary. A bit of lubricant (e.g., wax or some soap) can also help.

The squeaking is usually caused by mechanical stress at the repaired joint. Since you glued and screwed the parts together, the different expansion properties of wood and screws can lead to micro-movements that produce noise.

One possible solution is to loosen the screws, apply a suitable lubricant (e.g., paraffin wax or beeswax) to all contact surfaces, and then tighten them securely again. This reduces friction permanently.

Giagau schrieb:
the different expansion behavior of wood and screws can lead to micro-movements that cause noises.

That is certainly an important point, but I wonder if the cause might also be that the repaired area is not perfectly flush. Even small gaps or tensions can cause this type of squeaking under load.

Have you checked whether the glued surfaces are truly aligned and connected without any gaps? The elasticity of the glue joint might also play a role.

Tinaneo schrieb:
Have you checked if the glued surfaces are really flush and connected without gaps?

Thanks for the tip! I pressed the surfaces together quite carefully, but the surface wasn’t completely smooth. There is probably a slight unevenness or gap remaining.

Could this be evened out with fine sandpaper or something similar, or would that affect the stability? Also: Should I tighten the screws more firmly or leave them a bit loose to prevent squeaking?

Hey, that sounds like a good approach 🙂 If there is still a small gap, gently sand the area until the surfaces fit better! Then tighten the screws and apply a small drop of wood glue for extra stability.

In my experience, everything can be fixed – this almost sounds like a DIY project that’s really fun! Keep at it, and you’ll get that squeak-free Kallax shelf! 🙂