I have had an Ikea Malm bedside table for some time, and I’ve noticed that it starts to squeak under load. More specifically, when I place something heavy on it or even lean against it, I hear this annoying squeaking noise. It seems to come mostly from the connection between the drawer and the main body. Since I don’t want to just leave it as is, I’m wondering: What could be causing the squeaking of my Malm bedside table under load? Is it material fatigue, overly tight screws, or are there other mechanical factors involved? It would be great if someone with experience or knowledge could provide some insight.
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Peregrinel9 Jun 2017 12:20difepeo schrieb:
It’s interesting to know whether the squeaking occurs only under static load or also when moving the drawer. Good question. It actually mostly happens when I leave weight on the nightstand, so under static load, for example when I lean against it or place something heavy on it. I can open and close the drawer without any squeaking.
chenValeri schrieb:
Maybe you should also check if the feet are level and stable. The feet stand quite stable on a smooth laminate floor; I can’t detect any wobbling there.
So it really seems like there is some pressure point or material stress somewhere, as difepeo suggested.
That sounds to me like you’re working on a solution! 🙂 See if you can use felt pads or a thin lubricant for the joints. This often reduces friction really well and gets rid of squeaking.
I had similar problems with my bed. After some tinkering, everything was quiet, and I could finally lean back and relax again. Good luck!
I had similar problems with my bed. After some tinkering, everything was quiet, and I could finally lean back and relax again. Good luck!
Peregrinel schrieb:
So it really seems like there is some kind of pressure mark or material stress somewhereI always find it interesting how many people immediately assume mechanical causes. Honestly, have you ever considered that the squeaking in such furniture might simply be a design flaw?
The Malm series is cheaply made, and to keep the price low, material thickness and precision are compromised.
Maybe you should think about whether you really want to keep a squeaky piece of furniture or just opt for something more solid made of solid wood. Cheap versus quality is the issue here.
The squeaking can be really frustrating, especially when the device is in the bedroom. I had a similar experience with a desk, and it made me quite nervous at night.
Nikoan63 schrieb:That was the most important step for me, and after that, it was quiet. Just go through everything carefully, but be cautious not to overtighten anything.
It’s best to check all the screws and tighten them if necessary.
Henry schrieb:
Just go through everything carefully, but be cautious not to overtighten. This is important because overtightening can damage the material or strip the screws in certain areas, especially with particleboard or soft wood. Therefore, finding the right balance is crucial.
Personally, I could also imagine that micro-movements under load create stresses that lead to micro-cracks, which cause the squeaking. This would then indicate more of a structural issue.
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