Hello everyone,
I have noticed that the screws in some of my Billy shelves, especially those on the side panels and shelves, keep coming loose even though I tightened them properly with a screwdriver. I am curious why this seems to be a persistent issue with certain Billy shelves, even though the screws show no signs of overloading or visible damage.
Could this be due to material properties, assembly errors, or perhaps the type of screws used? Are there any experiences or recommendations on how to prevent this reliably over the long term without having to constantly check or retighten?
I look forward to your answers and tips!
I have noticed that the screws in some of my Billy shelves, especially those on the side panels and shelves, keep coming loose even though I tightened them properly with a screwdriver. I am curious why this seems to be a persistent issue with certain Billy shelves, even though the screws show no signs of overloading or visible damage.
Could this be due to material properties, assembly errors, or perhaps the type of screws used? Are there any experiences or recommendations on how to prevent this reliably over the long term without having to constantly check or retighten?
I look forward to your answers and tips!
I used to try just tightening the screws more, but that often damaged the material.
This actually worked well for me, and since then, very few screws have come loose. You just need a bit of patience and the right tools.
I also make sure to protect the shelves from extreme changes in humidity, which makes a difference.
Ramon4 schrieb:
If the hold weakens, you can unscrew the screws and insert a small piece of toothpick or wooden skewer with wood glue into the hole
This actually worked well for me, and since then, very few screws have come loose. You just need a bit of patience and the right tools.
I also make sure to protect the shelves from extreme changes in humidity, which makes a difference.
In summary, the main reason for the screws loosening in the material (chipboard) is its hygroscopic nature. Practically all recommendations focus on optimizing the connection between the screw and the engineered wood:
- Use wood glue or thread locker
- Refill and repair the hole
- Replace threads and screws with suitable alternatives
In cases of very frequent loosening, a combination of these measures may be necessary.
- Use wood glue or thread locker
- Refill and repair the hole
- Replace threads and screws with suitable alternatives
In cases of very frequent loosening, a combination of these measures may be necessary.
Resan schrieb:
Would it make sense to try professional furniture connectors instead of the original screws?Yes, I can recommend that if you have some basic DIY skills. For example, 15mm (0.6 inch) or 20mm (0.8 inch) cam connectors (screws with a rounded head and matching dowel) provide significantly more stability and prevent loosening better because the connection works mechanically better than simple screws in particleboard.
However, you will need to modify the existing construction for this, which requires more effort.
Otherwise, the suggested method of filling the hole again with wood glue and a wooden dowel before reinserting the screw also works well. This requires little effort and is effective for smaller issues.
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