ᐅ How to Secure Loose Screws on a BILLY Shelf?

Created on: 31 Mar 2015 14:22
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Daryl39
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Daryl39
31 Mar 2015 14:22
Hello everyone,

I have a somewhat specific issue with the Billy shelf from IKEA: the screws in my shelf have become a bit loose, which affects its stability. I want to secure the screws so that the shelf sits firmly again and no longer has any wobbly spots. Does anyone have experience or tips on the best way to secure the screws without damaging the material or making major modifications? Thanks in advance for your help!
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Teonon
31 Mar 2015 14:39
Hey Daryl39, that’s great that you want to secure the shelf properly again! 🙂

I’ve had the same issue before and can only recommend removing the screws completely first and then stabilizing the holes with some wood dowel glue or wood cement. After that, you can screw the screws back in – it will hold really firmly! If the space isn’t too large, you can also use small wooden shims or washers to help fix the screws better. Good luck, you’ll definitely manage it! 🙂
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liren
31 Mar 2015 14:45
Loosen the screws, apply wood glue into the hole, then reinsert the screws. If that does not hold, insert dowels and then screw in the screws.
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baelku
31 Mar 2015 14:52
I would recommend considering the use of larger anchors. Small holes can be sealed quickly this way.
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Guyju
31 Mar 2015 15:10
Hi Daryl39,

to secure the screws on a BILLY shelf permanently, it is important to follow a systematic approach:

1. Completely loosen and remove the screws.
2. Check the drill holes – are they widened or stripped?
3. For tight holes, you can apply some wood glue and reinsert the screws.
4. If the holes are too large, it helps to cut wooden dowels to size and glue them in. After drying, you can screw the screws back in.
5. Avoid overtightening, as this can damage the screw heads.

A common mistake is tightening the screws too much without reinforcing the holes first – this can weaken the material over time.

If you follow these steps, you should be able to fix the loose screws securely.
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Daryl39
31 Mar 2015 15:45
liren schrieb:
Loosen screws, apply wood glue into the hole, then reinsert screws.

Thanks for the tip, liren! That sounds logical and easy to do. However, I noticed that some holes are quite worn out, and I'm concerned that glue alone might not be enough.
Guyju schrieb:
If the holes are too large, it helps to cut wooden dowels to size and glue them in.

Do you have a recommendation for the best dowel size for BILLY shelves? Also, what should I pay attention to when cutting them exactly?