I recently assembled several Billy shelves from IKEA and noticed that some of the drawers stick unusually much. I am particularly interested in why this happens with some drawers but not all, even though they all seem to have been assembled the same way.
Could this be due to manufacturing tolerances of the parts, or do assembly errors play a decisive role? Maybe environmental factors such as humidity causing the wood to swell?
I would like to hear about your experiences, which causes you suspect or have confirmed, and if you have any tips on how to effectively solve this problem.
Could this be due to manufacturing tolerances of the parts, or do assembly errors play a decisive role? Maybe environmental factors such as humidity causing the wood to swell?
I would like to hear about your experiences, which causes you suspect or have confirmed, and if you have any tips on how to effectively solve this problem.
Yes, I can only confirm that this is not an uncommon issue! 🙂
In my case, it was also slight misalignments when installing the rollers in the drawers that caused them to jam. Just remove the rollers again and check if they are properly seated, and adjust slightly if necessary – after that, everything worked almost like new!
Good luck, it’s doable, even if it’s frustrating 😉
In my case, it was also slight misalignments when installing the rollers in the drawers that caused them to jam. Just remove the rollers again and check if they are properly seated, and adjust slightly if necessary – after that, everything worked almost like new!
Good luck, it’s doable, even if it’s frustrating 😉
JAMESONB41 schrieb:
Silicone spray works well for that, it greatly reduces friction.I’ll definitely get some of that!
parbau schrieb:
With a bit of care and patience, you can manage it.Very motivating, thanks for the positive encouragement!
nesau3 schrieb:
Just remove the rollers again and check if they are properly seated.I’ll try that tomorrow. My next step will be to thoroughly check the guide rails and align them properly.
If anyone has suggestions on which silicone spray works best or how to apply it correctly, I’m all ears!
Regarding your question about sanding: It’s best to focus on the areas where the sides of the drawer come into direct contact with the sliding rails. This is especially true along the upper edges of the drawer’s interior sides or the lower edges in some models, where clearance can be tight.
Using fine sandpaper (grit 240 or finer) is usually enough to remove a minimal amount of material—avoid excessive sanding!
About the silicone spray: A pure, colorless, low-odor silicone spray from a hardware store works well. Before applying, be sure to remove any dust and dirt. Then apply a thin layer to the sliding rails and the contact surfaces of the drawer. This reduces friction and protects against wear.
If you haven’t done this yet: When installing, use a spirit level or a ruler to check that the sliding rails are perfectly parallel. Also, different screw lengths or over-tightened screws can cause the runners to misalign.
Feel free to reach out if you want more detailed information about these steps!
Using fine sandpaper (grit 240 or finer) is usually enough to remove a minimal amount of material—avoid excessive sanding!
About the silicone spray: A pure, colorless, low-odor silicone spray from a hardware store works well. Before applying, be sure to remove any dust and dirt. Then apply a thin layer to the sliding rails and the contact surfaces of the drawer. This reduces friction and protects against wear.
If you haven’t done this yet: When installing, use a spirit level or a ruler to check that the sliding rails are perfectly parallel. Also, different screw lengths or over-tightened screws can cause the runners to misalign.
Feel free to reach out if you want more detailed information about these steps!
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