ᐅ Are there any screws that tend to break frequently in the IKEA Brimnes furniture?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled an IKEA Brimnes piece of furniture and noticed that some screws got damaged or broke very quickly during the assembly. I’m curious if there are any commonly known screws in the Brimnes range that frequently cause problems, such as breaking when being screwed in, wearing out fast, or being difficult to handle.

It would also be helpful to know if IKEA uses a specific type of screw in this series, and if anyone has experience or tips on how to best avoid or fix such issues.

Thanks for your feedback!

lauko schrieb:
I am therefore interested to know if there are any commonly known screws in the Brimnes series that frequently cause problems, such as breaking when being screwed in, wearing out quickly, or being difficult to handle.

Yes, the small threaded metal dowels are often problematic. Especially when tightened too much, they tend to break easily.

With my Brimnes dressers, the so-called eccentric cam connectors are often the weak points. Sometimes they screw in at an angle and then damage the wood.

Genuan schrieb:
The small metal bolts with threads are often problematic. Especially when tightened too much, they break off easily.

I can confirm this. Additionally, in the Brimnes system, the combination of particleboard and inexpensive screws causes these issues. The screws are usually made of basic material, which leads to failure when too much torque is applied.

- Recommendation: Tighten screws by hand, do not fully tighten with a power drill
- Pre-drill if possible, or use screws with a larger diameter

This usually prevents premature breaking or stripping of the screws.

I actually had similar issues with my Brimnes bed. The rear screws for the slatted frame suspension tend to be quite sensitive; they often break or bend if you apply too much force.

But don’t worry! If you take your time and screw them in slowly, nothing bad will happen.

Juan31 schrieb:
Tighten screws firmly by hand, don’t fully tighten them with a screwdriver

That’s definitely advice I agree with. Otherwise, in the worst case, you might end up with a screw stuck in the bed that won’t come loose.

In addition to the previous notes, I would like to point out that the Brimnes system often uses screws that are relatively soft and are fastened into comparably soft particleboard.

Under these conditions, mechanical stress is critical. The cam locks and typical connecting screws on side panels are particularly vulnerable due to the material properties, especially if installed incorrectly.

A preventive measure is to use a torque limiter or to insert the screws into pre-drilled holes.

This can significantly reduce wear and at least lower the risk of breakage. In general, it is worthwhile to consult the assembly instructions regarding the sequence and the recommended tightening torque.