ᐅ IKEA MALM chest of drawers damaged – how quickly can it be repaired?
Created on: 8 Sep 2024 10:27
O
ovesi
Hello everyone, I unfortunately discovered a quite noticeable damage on my IKEA Malm dresser: the top decorative trim on the front has split and is slightly warped, probably due to an impact or excessive pressure. Now I’m wondering how quickly something like this can be repaired without having to completely disassemble the dresser? Are there proven methods to properly adjust and secure the trim again, possibly using suitable adhesives or small screws? My goal is to carry out the repair promptly within a time frame of 1-2 hours, without it being comparable to a full rebuild of the furniture. Does anyone here have experience with a quick and lasting approach to Malm dresser damage? Thanks in advance!
The decorative moldings on Malm dressers are usually either clipped on or attached with small nails. In most cases, they can be removed by carefully inserting a plastic spatula or a flat screwdriver under the molding and gently prying it loose bit by bit to avoid damaging the joints.
If the dresser is fully loaded, you should first make sure not to overfill the interior so the walls are not stressed, and second, it is best to place the furniture on a support that allows easy access to the edges. Generally, the molding can be removed, but this requires a delicate touch to prevent breakage.
If the dresser is fully loaded, you should first make sure not to overfill the interior so the walls are not stressed, and second, it is best to place the furniture on a support that allows easy access to the edges. Generally, the molding can be removed, but this requires a delicate touch to prevent breakage.
It’s interesting that so many rely on the classic clamping and gluing method. I wonder why small, invisible mounting hooks or hinges aren’t used directly to prevent such damage from the start.
In my opinion, people often underestimate the effort involved in disassembling parts. The question is whether the effort is really worth it or if it’s better to get a replacement right away – especially if the chest of drawers is already several years old. But I understand the desire for a quick repair!
ovesi schrieb:
Removing the piece seems a bit tricky to me since the chest of drawers is already fully furnished.
In my opinion, people often underestimate the effort involved in disassembling parts. The question is whether the effort is really worth it or if it’s better to get a replacement right away – especially if the chest of drawers is already several years old. But I understand the desire for a quick repair!
Replacing is not really my first option at the moment, since the dresser is still in good condition and the issue only concerns the decorative trim.
So I would prefer to repair rather than replace, also for sustainability reasons. Although I wanted to estimate the effort, I thought a small repair like this could be done within a few hours—without, as mentioned, taking the entire piece of furniture apart.
GALEO4 schrieb:
The question is whether the effort is really worth it or if it’s better to just get a replacement—especially if the dresser is already several years old.
So I would prefer to repair rather than replace, also for sustainability reasons. Although I wanted to estimate the effort, I thought a small repair like this could be done within a few hours—without, as mentioned, taking the entire piece of furniture apart.
Good morning, ovesi. 🙂 I completely understand your wish for a quick repair and have a practical tip for you: wood glue doesn’t always need a long time to dry – if you gently warm the glued area with a hairdryer set to low temperature right after applying the glue, you can speed up the curing process significantly. Be careful not to use too much heat, or the glue will be damaged! After 30–45 minutes, you can often start using the item again – a good option if you want to keep the timeframe as short as possible. Although this method is not as strong as the full drying time, it is usually sufficient for decorative moldings that won’t experience heavy stress.
juMira46 schrieb:
Wood glue doesn’t always take forever to dry – if you gently warm the glued area with a hairdryer set to low temperature right after application, it speeds up the curing process significantly.That’s a brilliant tip, thanks! It really helps to optimize the schedule. I’ll try it out this weekend and report back on how well it worked. 🙂 If anyone has additional suggestions, feel free to share!
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