ᐅ Why do the screws in my BILLY shelves keep coming loose?

Loctite is the standard, yes.

Just apply a small amount to the screw and screw it in normally. Not too much, otherwise it will become sticky in places where you don’t want it.

Neben50 schrieb:
Is it due to the type of screws, the material, or am I fundamentally making a mistake during assembly?

I think this question deserves a more detailed analysis.

The issue is less about the quality of the screws themselves and more about the design of the shelving unit. Billy shelves are relatively affordable furniture made from plywood panels and particleboard with a melamine finish, which are not the best materials for heavy loads or permanent joints.

Additionally, the screw connections often rely on compression fittings that depend on tension and allow slight movement of the components. Under mechanical stress or changes in temperature and humidity, these tensions can relax.

I would recommend considering reinforcing the structure, for example with additional brackets or using wood glue at appropriate points. While thread locking compounds can be helpful, they do not address the fundamental weaknesses of the joints in this type of material.

BLAKEO schrieb:
Threadlocker is helpful, but it doesn’t fix the fundamental weaknesses of the joint in the material.

There is a lot of truth in that! 🙂

However, if you need a quick and practical solution, threadlocker offers a good compromise between effort and effectiveness. If you also make sure that the shelves are not permanently overloaded or shifted, everything will stay stable.

For hardcore basics, of course, other measures are necessary, but in most cases, this is sufficient for everyday use.

BLAKEO schrieb:
The technique with the screws is often more of a pressure connection, which relies on tension and allows for slight movement.

I would even go further: BILLY shelves are modular furniture pieces that are often reassembled or modified. This leads to repeated loosening and tightening of the screws – which wears out the screw hold in the particleboard.

Additionally, I wonder how much impact the assembly instructions have and whether the user always tightens the screws in the recommended order and with the specified torque. This is rarely checked but can make a big difference.

It would be interesting to know if Neben50 followed the assembly exactly as instructed, or if there were any deviations.

Natan schrieb:
It would be interesting to know if Neben50 installed it exactly as described, or if there were any deviations.

Good question. I followed the installation instructions quite closely, even using a screwdriver bit that simulates a torque wrench. The only exception was when tightening the screws; I tried to apply only enough force to avoid putting too much pressure on the material—especially to prevent cracking the panels.

I only loosened and re-tightened the screws once during setup to adjust the position of the shelves. After that, I didn’t turn the screws anymore but only checked and retightened them.

Additional information: The shelf actually stands on a screed floor that is slightly uneven, so minor vibrations are likely. Also, as mentioned before, the room is relatively humid, which can affect the panels.

Neben50 schrieb:
Screed floor that is slightly uneven; minor vibrations are therefore likely.

Hey, this is often an invisible factor that gets underestimated.

Shelves that stand "wobbly" on an uneven surface experience much more micro-movement. This causes screws to gradually loosen.

I would recommend placing small carpet pads or felt glides under the shelf feet. This will stabilize the shelf and reduce movement.

And be careful: felt glides don’t always help with vibrations since they are quite soft – in this case, use a more durable material or a base that provides proper stabilization.