ᐅ Kallax holes too large for screws – how to fix?

Hello everyone,

I have the following issue: the holes for the screws in my Kallax shelf are noticeably too large, so the screws don’t hold properly and the shelf parts wobble. This happens especially at the joints between the shelves and the side panels. The screws almost slide through, which of course is neither stable nor safe.

Does anyone have experience with how to fix this problem effectively without having to replace the entire shelf? I’m mainly looking for practical and long-lasting solutions that are relatively easy to apply.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

kimfe schrieb:
The screw holes are clearly too large, so the screws do not hold properly

Hello,

If the screws have too much play in the holes of the Kallax shelf, this could be due to improper drilling or material fatigue. A proven method to fix this is to use wood filler or repair putty to reduce the size of the hole or reinforce it.

Alternatively, you can insert wooden dowels or small wooden cylinders with wood glue into the hole, let them cure, and then drill new holes. This restores a firm grip. It is important that the screws are not too coarse, as this could further enlarge the material.

You can also try using thinner screws if the current ones are too thick. Make sure to consider maximum tensile strength when selecting screws.

If the wood in that area is severely damaged, it may be worth considering replacing the panel or the entire shelf in the long term, as stability might not be ensured otherwise.

kimfe schrieb:
The screws practically just fall through, which of course is neither stable nor safe.

That sounds really frustrating, especially if you want to use the shelf regularly. I had something similar with an old piece of furniture, and it was quite annoying because everything was so wobbly.

What helped me was filling the oversized holes with wood chips mixed with wood glue. After letting it dry thoroughly, I carefully pre-drilled, and the screws were able to grip again.

You just need to be patient while everything dries, but the hold was much better afterward. Maybe give it a try? It’s often cheaper than buying new parts, and it feels really satisfying when you manage to fix it yourself. 🙂

Layla schrieb:
Bonding wood chips with wood glue

Exactly, this approach is a classic and effective repair method. I would like to add that the quality of the wood glue is crucial: it is advisable to use a high-strength variant that cures to a hardness similar to the original material.

Also, you should avoid overpacking the hole to make later pre-drilling easier. After drying, sand the material smooth to avoid any unevenness during assembly.

The step of re-drilling is important because screws do not grip well in overly tight or untreated filler material.

This method can be applied regardless of the specific screw type, as long as the material remains load-bearing.

kimfe schrieb:
Problem: Kallax holes too large for screws – how to fix?

I would like to suggest a simple alternative if you don’t have suitable wood glue or filler material on hand:

Take some toothpicks or small wooden sticks, lightly coat them with wood glue, and insert them into the oversized holes until they are well filled. After everything has dried, you can cut the wooden sticks flush and then pre-drill again for your screws.

This works very well because it reduces the hole size to the correct diameter and allows the screws to grip properly again.

Additionally, you should choose screws with threads designed to grip wood well – for example, special furniture screws with sharp threads.

This method does require some drying time but is very inexpensive and easy.