ᐅ Which types of screws are suitable for assembling the Ikea BRIMNES furniture?

Created on: 5 Jan 2022 08:22
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Tar-peo
Hello everyone, I am currently facing the problem of looking for replacement screws or suitable screw sets for my Ikea Brimnes furniture set. It concerns the wardrobe with drawers, specifically the white version. I no longer have the original screws completely, or some are partially damaged, and I would now like to know which types of screws are actually compatible to fully ensure stability and functionality. Does anyone know the exact measurements, thread types, lengths, or screw heads that are suitable here? Are there universal set recommendations, or is it better to rely on specific Ikea original spare parts? I also want to avoid having loose or unsuitable screws that could make the furniture unstable. I would be very grateful for any help!
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klo61
5 Jan 2022 12:34
Hello Tar-peo, I understand your questions well, as spare parts from Ikea are not always easy to obtain.

The Brimnes wardrobe usually uses galvanized steel, not stainless steel screws, which is perfectly sufficient for indoor use. Stainless steel is more commonly used by Ikea for kitchen furniture. Galvanized screws are a bit cheaper and well protected against corrosion.

Regarding tools: Besides a Phillips screwdriver (usually PH2), you often need an Allen key (hex wrench), typically 4 mm, for the connecting screws. This is important because these screws can be damaged otherwise. You can buy a screwdriver with interchangeable bits or a set of Allen keys at a low cost.

If you use screws from third parties, make sure the thread pitch and length are exactly right, otherwise they won’t sit flush and may damage the wood. It’s better to spend a few dollars more and buy screws similar to the original ones.
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koduga
5 Jan 2022 13:07
klo61 schrieb:
This is important because otherwise these screws can get damaged.

That actually happened to me once when I was in a hurry and used the wrong screw. The screw heads quickly got stripped, and then there was nothing I could do. So be really careful with the choice of tools.

I know that Ikea also offers replacement sets, but their prices are often quite high. Recently, I put together a small screw set with M4 and M5 screws along with some Allen keys and bits. It didn’t cost much and helps when something gets stuck or breaks.
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Tar-peo
5 Jan 2022 13:42
koduga schrieb:
Recently, I put together a small screw set with M4 and M5 screws, including some hex keys and bits.

That sounds like a practical solution. I wanted to avoid buying too many different screws, but maybe that’s a good idea—a small set specifically for flat-pack furniture and similar items.

By the way, I have a question here in the thread: The drawer components that slide in—how exactly are they fixed? What type of screws are used there?

Do I need to consider different sizes for those, or are they the same M4 Phillips screws?
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islaron
5 Jan 2022 14:11
The drawer slides are usually attached with small M3.5 screws, typically Phillips flat-head. No M4 screws. For the drawer fronts, use M4 or M5 screws with an Allen key, but this varies depending on the model.
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tinau
5 Jan 2022 14:35
For the drawer slides on BRIMNES, I have always used M3.5x16 flat head screws. They usually have a Phillips head. Simply get a replacement of the same length.
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Tar-peo
5 Jan 2022 15:02
islaron schrieb:
The drawer slides are usually fastened with small M3.5 screws, typically Phillips flat head.

Thank you! That’s very helpful, so I know I need to order smaller screws.

I have another question: Are there special types of screws that Ikea uses to prevent them from being replaced with regular screws? For example, a unique thread or a special head design? Or can you always use a standard Phillips screw with a matching metric thread?