ᐅ Why does Ikea HEMNES sometimes come apart, and how can this be prevented?
Created on: 29 Jul 2022 18:37
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Duke34I would like to discuss a topic that many IKEA Hemnes owners are probably familiar with: Why does the IKEA HEMNES wardrobe or similar furniture sometimes fall apart or show significant stability issues after a certain period of use?
I am less concerned with general quality issues and more interested in the specific mechanical or structural weaknesses that lead to these problems, and of course, even more importantly: How can the disintegration or instability of the HEMNES be prevented as effectively as possible? Which joints are vulnerable, which assembly mistakes can contribute to this effect, and are there any special tips for maintenance or tightening screws?
I am fundamentally interested in the technical aspects of the construction, but also in practical everyday solutions to make the furniture more durable and stable. Tips that go beyond simply “regularly check the screws” are especially welcome.
I am less concerned with general quality issues and more interested in the specific mechanical or structural weaknesses that lead to these problems, and of course, even more importantly: How can the disintegration or instability of the HEMNES be prevented as effectively as possible? Which joints are vulnerable, which assembly mistakes can contribute to this effect, and are there any special tips for maintenance or tightening screws?
I am fundamentally interested in the technical aspects of the construction, but also in practical everyday solutions to make the furniture more durable and stable. Tips that go beyond simply “regularly check the screws” are especially welcome.
Hello Duke34,
a very good and precise question about a piece of furniture that is frequently used. The HEMNES series is traditionally made from solid wood, which is appealing in terms of quality but also presents some challenges regarding wood deformation and joint stability.
The main reason why HEMNES furniture sometimes falls apart is largely due to its construction using so-called dowel and screw joints in combination with wood slats and panels. Wood naturally expands with moisture and contracts when dry. This causes the joints to loosen over time.
In addition, the usually press-fitted joints are vulnerable if they were assembled incorrectly or if the screws were not tightened enough.
What can be done to prevent this?
- Regularly check and tighten all screws and dowels, but do so carefully to avoid damaging the wood.
- Assembly should be done exactly according to the instructions. Especially alignment and pre-drilling are important to prevent wood fibers from splitting.
- Additionally, some wood glue can be applied to the joints to increase stability.
- Moisture in the room strongly affects the wood, so maintain a consistent indoor climate to minimize deformation.
- Some users replace the original screws in particularly stressed joints with longer or thicker ones, but this should be done cautiously to avoid splitting the wood.
In short, careful assembly plus regular tightening and maintaining a stable moisture balance in the environment help a lot.
Are there any particular usage conditions you find problematic?
a very good and precise question about a piece of furniture that is frequently used. The HEMNES series is traditionally made from solid wood, which is appealing in terms of quality but also presents some challenges regarding wood deformation and joint stability.
The main reason why HEMNES furniture sometimes falls apart is largely due to its construction using so-called dowel and screw joints in combination with wood slats and panels. Wood naturally expands with moisture and contracts when dry. This causes the joints to loosen over time.
In addition, the usually press-fitted joints are vulnerable if they were assembled incorrectly or if the screws were not tightened enough.
What can be done to prevent this?
- Regularly check and tighten all screws and dowels, but do so carefully to avoid damaging the wood.
- Assembly should be done exactly according to the instructions. Especially alignment and pre-drilling are important to prevent wood fibers from splitting.
- Additionally, some wood glue can be applied to the joints to increase stability.
- Moisture in the room strongly affects the wood, so maintain a consistent indoor climate to minimize deformation.
- Some users replace the original screws in particularly stressed joints with longer or thicker ones, but this should be done cautiously to avoid splitting the wood.
In short, careful assembly plus regular tightening and maintaining a stable moisture balance in the environment help a lot.
Are there any particular usage conditions you find problematic?
I would like to go into more detail regarding the mechanical aspects of the issue:
The HEMNES furniture is made of solid pine wood, but the connecting elements are mostly metal fittings (brackets, dowels, screws) combined with glue, which, however, is often used minimally or not at all. This is a weak point because wood furniture is subject to dimensional movement.
An important aspect is that screws in wood can lose holding power over time when the wood fibers shrink or loosen or become worn out due to constant stress. This makes the joints especially vulnerable in furniture pieces that are frequently moved or loaded—such as cabinet doors, shelves, or drawer fronts.
An effective solution, as sarlo already mentioned, is to use wood glue in addition to the screws without replacing them. This creates an adhesive bond that holds the wood together and relieves the screws. It can also help to insert precisely fitting wooden dowels into screw holes if the old holes have become worn, to restore a better grip.
Additionally, during assembly, the sequence and firm adjustment are important: the screws should not all be tightened fully right away but gradually with light torque—this evenly distributes tension and prevents uncontrolled deformation.
The question of how to keep the furniture stable in the long term can also be answered by proper care: a room climate that is too dry or too humid accelerates wood deformation, so a balanced indoor climate (ideally around 40-60% relative humidity) is important.
Overall, the material (pine wood) itself is susceptible to fluctuations, which creates the biggest issue. Plastic trims or metal furniture do not have this problem but are not comparable in appearance and partly also in perceived quality.
How much strain or use do the furniture experience on your end? Are they moved frequently, or are they mostly static pieces?
The HEMNES furniture is made of solid pine wood, but the connecting elements are mostly metal fittings (brackets, dowels, screws) combined with glue, which, however, is often used minimally or not at all. This is a weak point because wood furniture is subject to dimensional movement.
An important aspect is that screws in wood can lose holding power over time when the wood fibers shrink or loosen or become worn out due to constant stress. This makes the joints especially vulnerable in furniture pieces that are frequently moved or loaded—such as cabinet doors, shelves, or drawer fronts.
An effective solution, as sarlo already mentioned, is to use wood glue in addition to the screws without replacing them. This creates an adhesive bond that holds the wood together and relieves the screws. It can also help to insert precisely fitting wooden dowels into screw holes if the old holes have become worn, to restore a better grip.
Additionally, during assembly, the sequence and firm adjustment are important: the screws should not all be tightened fully right away but gradually with light torque—this evenly distributes tension and prevents uncontrolled deformation.
The question of how to keep the furniture stable in the long term can also be answered by proper care: a room climate that is too dry or too humid accelerates wood deformation, so a balanced indoor climate (ideally around 40-60% relative humidity) is important.
Overall, the material (pine wood) itself is susceptible to fluctuations, which creates the biggest issue. Plastic trims or metal furniture do not have this problem but are not comparable in appearance and partly also in perceived quality.
How much strain or use do the furniture experience on your end? Are they moved frequently, or are they mostly static pieces?
Surela schrieb:
The screws should not all be tightened fully at once, but gradually with light torque – this way, the tension is distributed evenly and uncontrolled deformation is prevented.A very important note, which is unfortunately often overlooked.
Additionally, I want to point out that the IKEA HEMNES cabinet is often equipped with chipboard back panels that are only fixed with small nails.
This thin back panel acts as a cross brace for stabilization and prevents the furniture from wobbling or twisting. If this back panel is not properly or not at all installed, it results in an unstable overall structure that can fail under load.
So here is the tip:
- The back panel must be properly seated with no gaps.
- It’s better to make adjustments afterwards and, for example, reinforce the fastening with stronger small screws or additional battens.
- Assemble the furniture on a level surface to avoid distortion of the structure.
In summary: Stability mainly suffers when either the main joints are not tight or when the back panel is not sufficiently secured. Both points should be checked regularly after assembly.
Has anyone here already reinforced or completely replaced the back panel on the HEMNES? What was the result?
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