ᐅ Kallax shelving unit no longer stable after move – can new screws help?
Created on: 25 May 2024 19:34
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gujareoHello everyone,
I recently moved and took apart my IKEA Kallax shelf to rebuild it. Unfortunately, I noticed that the shelf is no longer as stable as before – it wobbles in several places and generally feels weaker. I suspect that the original screws may have been damaged during disassembly and reassembly or simply don’t hold as firmly anymore.
My specific question is: Can I use new screws to stabilize the Kallax, possibly ones that are stronger or thicker? Are there any screw recommendations that hold better or are especially suited for reassembly? Or are there other tips to make my Kallax shelf stable again after moving without having to buy a completely new one?
I look forward to your experiences and advice – thanks in advance!
I recently moved and took apart my IKEA Kallax shelf to rebuild it. Unfortunately, I noticed that the shelf is no longer as stable as before – it wobbles in several places and generally feels weaker. I suspect that the original screws may have been damaged during disassembly and reassembly or simply don’t hold as firmly anymore.
My specific question is: Can I use new screws to stabilize the Kallax, possibly ones that are stronger or thicker? Are there any screw recommendations that hold better or are especially suited for reassembly? Or are there other tips to make my Kallax shelf stable again after moving without having to buy a completely new one?
I look forward to your experiences and advice – thanks in advance!
Hello, yes, you can use stronger screws, but make sure they are not too thick, otherwise you will have problems when screwing them in. Original screws of type 4x30 mm (4x1.2 inches) fit well; if you use stronger ones, max 4.5 mm (0.18 inches) diameter. Otherwise, use wood glue in addition, as this increases stability.
Hello gujareo,
I am very familiar with this issue—moving and then having furniture wobble. Generally, it is true that the original screws often no longer hold as well after disassembly because the wood fibers in the carcass loosen or expand slightly.
Your idea to use new screws is sensible. However, you should try to choose screws that are of good quality (e.g., galvanized, not too soft) and have technical dimensions as close as possible to the originals to avoid damaging the material.
Alternatively, you can also improve stability at the joints by using dowels or wood glue. With Kallax, the wood is relatively thin, so you need to be careful to maintain long-term stability.
If you like, I can also recommend some suppliers and provide measurements.
I am very familiar with this issue—moving and then having furniture wobble. Generally, it is true that the original screws often no longer hold as well after disassembly because the wood fibers in the carcass loosen or expand slightly.
Your idea to use new screws is sensible. However, you should try to choose screws that are of good quality (e.g., galvanized, not too soft) and have technical dimensions as close as possible to the originals to avoid damaging the material.
Alternatively, you can also improve stability at the joints by using dowels or wood glue. With Kallax, the wood is relatively thin, so you need to be careful to maintain long-term stability.
If you like, I can also recommend some suppliers and provide measurements.
SETHBLA schrieb:
Make sure they are not too thick, otherwise you will have problems screwing them in.That makes perfect sense to me. I don’t want to cause any further damage to the shelf.
Jeanbar schrieb:
Alternatively, you can also increase stability by using dowels or wood glue at the joints.That’s interesting. Do you have any tips on where dowels work best or where I should apply the wood glue? I have some joints that especially wobble on the side panels. Is there a risk that dowels won’t fit properly if they are used too tightly during reassembly?
Hello gujareo,
I would like to address your issue in more detail, as the stability of the Kallax shelf can be quite complex, especially after transportation and reassembly.
First of all: The Kallax shelf is made of particleboard with a thin melamine coating. The screws primarily hold in the built-in metal fittings (connectors), which are screwed into pre-drilled holes. If these holes have widened due to stress or disassembly, the shelf loses stability.
Regarding the screws: It is important that the new screws fit precisely into the existing fittings; otherwise, you won’t be able to tighten the connection properly. If you want to fasten the wood directly with screws without the fittings, I do not recommend using thicker screws. Thicker screws can cause the particleboard to split.
Dowels can actually help; there are so-called knock-in dowels or wooden dowels that fit into the edges or joints of the wood. These increase friction between the parts. I would recommend using dowels together with wood glue at the joints. The wood glue hardens and creates a permanently strong bond – ideally, apply glue to all inner edges and clamp the shelf while it dries.
Important: Before inserting new dowels or screws, carefully check whether the joints still fit properly and show no damage. If not, you may need to perform minor repairs on the wood, for example with wood filler.
Could you please describe exactly where the shelf is wobbling? At a specific edge or corner?
I would like to address your issue in more detail, as the stability of the Kallax shelf can be quite complex, especially after transportation and reassembly.
First of all: The Kallax shelf is made of particleboard with a thin melamine coating. The screws primarily hold in the built-in metal fittings (connectors), which are screwed into pre-drilled holes. If these holes have widened due to stress or disassembly, the shelf loses stability.
Regarding the screws: It is important that the new screws fit precisely into the existing fittings; otherwise, you won’t be able to tighten the connection properly. If you want to fasten the wood directly with screws without the fittings, I do not recommend using thicker screws. Thicker screws can cause the particleboard to split.
Dowels can actually help; there are so-called knock-in dowels or wooden dowels that fit into the edges or joints of the wood. These increase friction between the parts. I would recommend using dowels together with wood glue at the joints. The wood glue hardens and creates a permanently strong bond – ideally, apply glue to all inner edges and clamp the shelf while it dries.
Important: Before inserting new dowels or screws, carefully check whether the joints still fit properly and show no damage. If not, you may need to perform minor repairs on the wood, for example with wood filler.
Could you please describe exactly where the shelf is wobbling? At a specific edge or corner?
Palenar schrieb:
Could you describe exactly where the shelf wobbles? At a specific edge or corner?Thank you for the detailed explanation!
The wobbling is mainly noticeable at the lower two compartments, especially where the bottom panel meets the side panels. When I gently move the shelf back and forth, I can feel some creaking at the joints. I suspect the screws at these points have loosened.
Also, the back panel feels not properly secured in some spots – the shelf is somewhat unstable there.
Would it make sense to completely remove the back panel, then apply wood glue and dowels at the main joints, and afterwards reattach the back panel? Or could the back panel of the Kallax also serve a stabilizing function that I definitely should not weaken?
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