ᐅ Which tools make repairing Ikea HEMNES furniture easier?

In addition to the basic equipment: Using felt pads or washers can help if drawer slides stick. Simply place a few of the supplied or suitable small pads to reduce friction.

Thanks for the tips so far, especially the advice about carefully using a cordless drill with torque control, which I found helpful. Currently, I’m using a classic Phillips screwdriver, which works, but I sometimes miss a bit of precision in certain spots.

I have one more question: Are there recommendations for the correct sizes of hex keys to specifically buy for drawer slides of the Hemnes series? At the hardware store, there are many sets – should I go for smaller keys (3,4 mm) or do I need larger ones (5,6 mm) for these repairs? I’m also curious whether using a torque wrench for the hex screws makes sense, or if it’s better to rely on feel.

dariodi schrieb:
Are there any recommendations for the right sizes of Allen keys that I should specifically buy for drawer slides of the HEMNES series?

For the Ikea HEMNES drawer slides, 4 mm (5/32 inch) and 5 mm (3/16 inch) Allen keys are most commonly used. These fit most of the connecting screws. Smaller keys like 3 mm (1/8 inch) are less common but may occasionally be needed for certain special fittings.

Regarding torque: a torque wrench is generally not necessary for Allen screws in furniture. The connections should be tightened carefully by hand without excessive force.

I recommend using tools with a good grip to avoid over-tightening and, if unsure, tighten in small increments. It’s better to re-tighten more often than to apply too much force at once.

Can you specify which repairs to the drawer slides you are planning? That way, the tool selection can potentially be narrowed down more precisely.

Thanks for the information, that already helps a lot. Specifically, one drawer slide is sticking slightly; I suspect it’s due to the guide rail, and some screws might no longer be tightened properly. I want to check the rails and, if necessary, adjust or lightly retighten them.

I might also need to remove the slides completely for a more thorough repair. Therefore, I wanted to make sure I have a set of hex keys with the correct sizes to be able to work with all the existing screws.

4 mm and 5 mm hex keys are usually sufficient for drawer slides. For occasional retightening, manual tools are enough; a cordless screwdriver is not necessarily required.

If you want to remove the drawer slides completely, use a small hex key (Allen wrench) with a comfortable grip and sufficient length. This makes it easier to screw them in and out and prevents slipping.