ᐅ The Malm dresser only squeaks under very heavy load – is this normal?
Created on: 20 Apr 2015 10:03
R
raban9Hello everyone,
I have an IKEA Malm chest of drawers and I noticed that it only squeaks under particularly heavy load. When I normally operate the drawers, everything is quiet, but as soon as I, for example, place a heavy load on the surface or pull hard on the drawer, this squeaking noise occurs.
Is this normal for the Malm model, or could it indicate an assembly error or material issues? I have screwed the chest together properly, so it shouldn’t be due to that, but a brief explanation of how this could be related mechanically would be appreciated. Thanks!
I have an IKEA Malm chest of drawers and I noticed that it only squeaks under particularly heavy load. When I normally operate the drawers, everything is quiet, but as soon as I, for example, place a heavy load on the surface or pull hard on the drawer, this squeaking noise occurs.
Is this normal for the Malm model, or could it indicate an assembly error or material issues? I have screwed the chest together properly, so it shouldn’t be due to that, but a brief explanation of how this could be related mechanically would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hello raban9,
Your description sounds like a common physical effect when moving parts operate under load. The squeaking usually comes from friction between metal or plastic components of the runners or between wooden surfaces that slightly rub against each other.
It is important to ensure there are no loose screws and that the drawers are fully aligned when pushed in. If the squeaking bothers you, you can treat the runners with a suitable lubricant, such as silicone spray. However, if the noise only occurs under heavy load, this is not necessarily a sign of a defect but rather an indication that the construction is approaching its load limit.
I hope this helps. 🙂
Your description sounds like a common physical effect when moving parts operate under load. The squeaking usually comes from friction between metal or plastic components of the runners or between wooden surfaces that slightly rub against each other.
It is important to ensure there are no loose screws and that the drawers are fully aligned when pushed in. If the squeaking bothers you, you can treat the runners with a suitable lubricant, such as silicone spray. However, if the noise only occurs under heavy load, this is not necessarily a sign of a defect but rather an indication that the construction is approaching its load limit.
I hope this helps. 🙂
Hello raban9,
first of all, a few questions to better understand the issue:
How long have you had the dresser, and what is the typical load pattern? Do you use it heavily every day, or does the heavy load occur only occasionally?
From a technical perspective, squeaking under heavy load usually happens due to tiny movements or friction at the connection points. MALM dressers are made of particleboard with a laminated surface; if the screws are too tight or too loose, the material can shift slightly and cause noise.
Please also check if the floor where the dresser stands is completely level. Even slight twisting of the carcass parts can lead to noises.
If possible, you can try tightening the screws slightly and lubricating the drawer slides. Be careful not to use too much lubricant, as it attracts dust and can cause drawers to stick.
What type of drawer slides does your dresser use? Standard slides or soft-close?
first of all, a few questions to better understand the issue:
How long have you had the dresser, and what is the typical load pattern? Do you use it heavily every day, or does the heavy load occur only occasionally?
From a technical perspective, squeaking under heavy load usually happens due to tiny movements or friction at the connection points. MALM dressers are made of particleboard with a laminated surface; if the screws are too tight or too loose, the material can shift slightly and cause noise.
Please also check if the floor where the dresser stands is completely level. Even slight twisting of the carcass parts can lead to noises.
If possible, you can try tightening the screws slightly and lubricating the drawer slides. Be careful not to use too much lubricant, as it attracts dust and can cause drawers to stick.
What type of drawer slides does your dresser use? Standard slides or soft-close?
Noahlu schrieb:
How long have you had the dresser and what kind of load does it usually bear?Thanks for the detailed questions! I’ve had the dresser for about 6 months. It’s a standard MALM model with a soft-close feature. The dresser stands on a smooth, solid laminate floor, which appears completely level.
Regarding the load: normal drawer use is not an issue, the drawers operate perfectly. The squeaking only occurs when, for example, I place a very heavy bag (around 10-15 kg (22-33 lbs)) on top of the dresser or when I open the drawers with strong pulling force, for instance if I deliberately pull and apply weight on the drawer frame.
I haven’t rechecked the screws yet, but I will do that shortly.
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