ᐅ Kallax screws loosening after a short time – would thicker wood be a better solution?
Created on: 16 Jun 2024 08:17
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BATUHAN
Hello everyone, I have a Kallax shelf from IKEA that I mainly use for books and some decorative items. Unfortunately, I have noticed that after a short time, the screws holding the back panels and shelves become loose. This causes the shelf to wobble slightly, and the overall stability doesn’t seem very strong. My question is: from a technical perspective, would it make sense to build a similar structure using thicker wood or reinforce it to avoid the problem with loose screws? The standard Kallax wood seems quite thin and perhaps not sturdy enough for long-term use. Does anyone have experience with using thicker wood boards for shelves like this or tips on how to keep the screw connections permanently stable? Looking forward to your opinions and suggestions!
Thanks for the very helpful contributions so far!
A brief note on the use: The shelf is mainly intended to hold books, including some heavy volumes. The dimensions are about 147 x 147 cm (58 x 58 inches), corresponding to the classic 5 x 5 Kallax, and I have tightened the screws several times using a screwdriver. I have noticed that the material gradually gives way, especially around the screw holes.
I am also wondering: Would it make sense to replace only the load-bearing parts with thicker panels and keep the side walls original? Or does the Kallax design only work properly if all panels have a uniform thickness?
It would be great if someone could share insights regarding the combination of different panel thicknesses.
A brief note on the use: The shelf is mainly intended to hold books, including some heavy volumes. The dimensions are about 147 x 147 cm (58 x 58 inches), corresponding to the classic 5 x 5 Kallax, and I have tightened the screws several times using a screwdriver. I have noticed that the material gradually gives way, especially around the screw holes.
I am also wondering: Would it make sense to replace only the load-bearing parts with thicker panels and keep the side walls original? Or does the Kallax design only work properly if all panels have a uniform thickness?
It would be great if someone could share insights regarding the combination of different panel thicknesses.
BATUHAN schrieb:
briefly about the usage: The shelf is mainly intended to hold books [...] and I have tightened the screws several timesRetightening can further weaken the material, especially with thin back panels or MDF. A targeted approach would be to use thicker wood for the load-bearing shelves and possibly the vertical center supports, as they directly carry the load. Side panels can be thinner since they usually bear less weight.
BATUHAN schrieb:
only replace the load-bearing parts with thicker boardsThis works, provided the joints are well matched. The difference in thickness should not be too large, as this can cause misalignment. At the edges, I would use reinforcements to ensure everything fits properly and the loads are distributed.
How exactly is your screw connection made? What type of screws are normally used to fix the shelves?
BATUHAN schrieb:
Would it make sense to replace only the load-bearing parts with thicker panels and keep the side walls original?Yes, that is a good compromise. Load-bearing parts require more stability, while others need less. It is important to have a proper connection between panels of different thicknesses to avoid creating weak points.
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