ᐅ What should I do if IKEA HEMNES screws break?

Hello everyone, I recently assembled a Hemnes wardrobe from IKEA, and during the process, one of the screws broke off. The screw is located quite deep in the threaded insert, and it’s not possible for me to simply pull it out. My question is: what is the best way to proceed if an IKEA HEMNES screw breaks during assembly or regular use? Is there a special technique for removing such screws, or do you recommend other methods to repair the damage without harming the furniture? Any detailed advice or experience with broken screws in HEMNES furniture would be very helpful.

uselgla schrieb:
My question is: What is the best way to proceed if an IKEA HEMNES screw breaks during assembly or regular use?

That is a good and quite relevant question. If a screw breaks and is deeply stuck, you should proceed carefully to avoid damaging the material. First, check if it’s possible to grip the broken screw piece with needle-nose pliers and turn it out of the thread. If that doesn’t work, it’s worth trying a screw extractor. These are small tools that are screwed into the broken piece to remove it. It is important to work very straight and steadily to avoid damaging the threads.

Another option, if the furniture needs to remain strong under load, is to consider replacing the threaded insert or installing a larger replacement insert. Finally, with HEMNES furniture you can also contact IKEA customer service—sometimes they replace defective or damaged parts, especially if the screw broke due to a material fault.

Jukin schrieb:
If a screw breaks off and is deeply embedded, you should proceed carefully to avoid damaging the material.

I completely agree with this. I would like to add that especially with HEMNES furniture, the wood used is relatively soft, so caution is necessary when removing broken screws. I recommend checking the exact diameter before using a screw extractor kit to avoid enlarging or damaging the thread or hole.

If the screw breaks crosswise and it is not possible to remove it without causing damage, you can carefully remove small, suitable wood shavings using fine sandpaper or a wood filler spatula, then stabilize the area by inserting a new dowel and replacement screw. This way, the sofa can be reinforced at the affected spot.

I would quickly check if the remaining part of the screw still sticks out enough to grip it. If so, use pliers and turn it slowly. If it is too deep, use a screw extractor. If that doesn’t work, replace the thread with a wooden dowel and a new screw.

Regarding broken screws in IKEA HEMNES furniture, the following structured approach is recommended:

- First, determine the position of the screw: is the screw fragment deep inside or partly accessible?
- For a visible screw fragment: slowly and steadily turn it counterclockwise using locking pliers (needle-nose pliers).
- For a deeply embedded screw fragment: use a specialized screw extractor tool matched to the screw diameter.
- To avoid damaging the threads: use slow, precise movements to prevent removing the surrounding wood.
- If the threads are damaged, use wood filler or a larger wooden dowel with an appropriate replacement screw.
- Optionally, IKEA customer service can be contacted for replacement parts or personalized support advice.

These steps help minimize damage and maintain the furniture’s stability as much as possible.

Hey, I had exactly the same problem last week while assembling the HEMNES wardrobe! At first, I was really frustrated, but with patience, it got resolved. I used a locking plier to carefully grip the leftover screw. It’s important not to apply too much pressure, otherwise the wood can get damaged more easily. If that doesn’t work, try using a screw extractor – that works great! And if nothing else helps, IKEA is very accommodating and sent me a replacement screw quickly. So keep at it and don’t give up!