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PINRAMIRO25 Aug 2024 17:23Hello everyone,
I recently assembled a MALM chest of drawers from IKEA and noticed that the drawers are not firmly fixed despite correct assembly—they wobble slightly. I tightened all the screws properly and followed the instructions exactly.
Now I’m wondering why the MALM drawers wobble even after assembly. Could this be due to design tolerances, or is it a problem with my assembly?
I would like to know if the wobbling is normal, if it can be improved, and if there are specific assembly steps that are especially important to avoid this issue.
Thank you for your insights and experiences!
I recently assembled a MALM chest of drawers from IKEA and noticed that the drawers are not firmly fixed despite correct assembly—they wobble slightly. I tightened all the screws properly and followed the instructions exactly.
Now I’m wondering why the MALM drawers wobble even after assembly. Could this be due to design tolerances, or is it a problem with my assembly?
I would like to know if the wobbling is normal, if it can be improved, and if there are specific assembly steps that are especially important to avoid this issue.
Thank you for your insights and experiences!
Hi,
your question about the wobbling of the MALM drawers is very understandable and can be explained well from a technical perspective. The MALM series uses standardized metal drawer slides, which are sturdy but have certain built-in tolerances due to their design. These tolerances mean that the drawers can have a slight noticeable play even when installed correctly – a completely rigid fit is rare.
It is important that the drawer slides are mounted perfectly parallel. The drawers are attached using a clip mechanism that doesn’t create a rigid pin connection but rather provides guidance with some slight play. This can cause a bit of wobbling when moving the drawer.
This point is exactly correct. Additionally, when assembling, make sure that no screws are overtightened, as this can reduce the holding strength of the drawer slides. It might also help to gently move the drawer back and forth after hanging it in order to wear in the guide rails. Have you checked whether all locking mechanisms are properly engaged?
Could you also clarify whether the wobbling happens with empty or fully loaded drawers? Sometimes the load affects the amount of play.
In summary: some degree of play is normal, but careful inspection of the installation and alignment of the drawer slides as well as proper fastening can reduce this wobble.
your question about the wobbling of the MALM drawers is very understandable and can be explained well from a technical perspective. The MALM series uses standardized metal drawer slides, which are sturdy but have certain built-in tolerances due to their design. These tolerances mean that the drawers can have a slight noticeable play even when installed correctly – a completely rigid fit is rare.
It is important that the drawer slides are mounted perfectly parallel. The drawers are attached using a clip mechanism that doesn’t create a rigid pin connection but rather provides guidance with some slight play. This can cause a bit of wobbling when moving the drawer.
PINRAMIRO schrieb:
Warum wackeln die MALM Schubladen trotz Montage? Gibt es eventuell konstruktionsbedingte Toleranzen, die das verschulden
This point is exactly correct. Additionally, when assembling, make sure that no screws are overtightened, as this can reduce the holding strength of the drawer slides. It might also help to gently move the drawer back and forth after hanging it in order to wear in the guide rails. Have you checked whether all locking mechanisms are properly engaged?
Could you also clarify whether the wobbling happens with empty or fully loaded drawers? Sometimes the load affects the amount of play.
In summary: some degree of play is normal, but careful inspection of the installation and alignment of the drawer slides as well as proper fastening can reduce this wobble.
As a supplement, I would like to point out that MALM drawers, due to their design with thinner side panels made of MDF, tend to have slight play. This is caused by the material’s flexibility and manufacturing tolerances.
Furthermore, the drawer slides are equipped with plastic rollers that allow a certain amount of movement to facilitate smooth opening and closing while also preventing damage from misalignment.
This is the most important point. Completely wobble-free operation is usually not realistic for furniture in this price range and manufacturing method. To optimize stability, it is recommended not to overload the drawers and to tighten the screws evenly during assembly using a torque wrench (or carefully by hand).
Precise alignment of the drawer slides is also essential. If significant wobbling persists, filing or slight adjustment of the slide edges may help reduce sticking or play.
Conclusion: Some play is normal due to design, but careful assembly and minor adjustments can improve performance.
Furthermore, the drawer slides are equipped with plastic rollers that allow a certain amount of movement to facilitate smooth opening and closing while also preventing damage from misalignment.
Palenar schrieb:
dass es konstruktionsbedingte Toleranzen gibt
This is the most important point. Completely wobble-free operation is usually not realistic for furniture in this price range and manufacturing method. To optimize stability, it is recommended not to overload the drawers and to tighten the screws evenly during assembly using a torque wrench (or carefully by hand).
Precise alignment of the drawer slides is also essential. If significant wobbling persists, filing or slight adjustment of the slide edges may help reduce sticking or play.
Conclusion: Some play is normal due to design, but careful assembly and minor adjustments can improve performance.
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