ᐅ How do I properly repair cracks in Malm furniture?

Created on: 22 May 2023 08:17
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dufako
Hello everyone, I have noticed cracks in the wood of one of my Malm dressers, probably due to aging or slight material tension. My question is: How can I properly repair these cracks so that they become as invisible as possible while maintaining stability? Which materials and tools should I use, and what is the best step-by-step approach? I want to avoid the repair negatively affecting the appearance of the furniture or damaging the surface. Thanks for your advice!
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tyson51
22 May 2023 10:45
I would add that depending on the extent of the crack, the stability of the piece of furniture should also be checked. If it involves a load-bearing area, simply filling the crack may not be sufficient. In such cases, reinforcing the inside with wooden battens or glued joints might be advisable to maintain functionality.
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dufako
22 May 2023 11:09
tyson51 schrieb:
If it’s a load-bearing area, simply filling the crack might not be sufficient

That’s a good point. In my case, the crack is on one of the drawer fronts, so it’s not a load-bearing part. Is using filler fully recommended in this situation?
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Elijah42
22 May 2023 11:37
Yes, with drawer fronts, repairing with wood filler or a glue-wood dust mixture is usually sufficient. Afterwards, sand smooth and color match, and the crack will hardly be noticeable.
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Jensson
22 May 2023 12:21
In addition to repairing cracks in IKEA Malm furniture, I would like to share a few tips:

1. You can easily obtain matching wood dust by lightly sanding the piece of furniture with fine sandpaper—this ensures the color tone is exactly right.
2. The glue and wood dust mixture should be thick enough so it doesn’t run out of the crack, but not too dry.
3. After drying, be sure to sand carefully with fine grit to avoid damaging the veneer surface too much.
4. For touch-ups on the surface, water-based furniture markers are preferable because they dry faster and cause less swelling.

Overall, repairing Malm furniture is quite feasible if you work carefully.
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Mufato
23 May 2023 07:49
Good morning, one more question: How long should the filler be left to dry before sanding? I don’t want the repair to crumble later.
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Tevin
23 May 2023 08:12
Mufato schrieb:
How long should you ideally let the filler dry before sanding?

I recommend allowing at least 24 hours drying time, preferably 48 hours if the layer is a bit thicker. This helps prevent the filler from crumbling or coming loose during sanding. Humidity and room temperature naturally also have an impact.