ᐅ Why does the glue often come off at the edges of Malm furniture?

Created on: 13 Jul 2021 09:12
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NAR-SIEUR
Hello everyone, I have a question that has been on my mind for some time regarding my Malm furniture, and I’m hoping for well-informed opinions here in the forum: Why does the glue often come off at the edges of Malm furniture?

I have noticed that specifically at the visible edges, the veneer or laminate tends to peel off, even though the furniture is otherwise in good condition. Could this be due to the quality of the adhesive, or is it more a result of moisture, temperature changes, or mechanical stress?

I would like to understand whether this is a fundamental issue with Malm furniture or if I might be doing something wrong in terms of care or assembly. Thanks in advance for your insights and tips!
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Sebastianm
13 Jul 2021 10:30
Edge delamination often occurs due to mechanical stress, for example when moving furniture or bumping into edges. Some adhesives simply are not durable enough to withstand this.
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nera59
13 Jul 2021 11:10
A few additional tips if you want to repair this yourself on your Malm furniture:

1. Clean the edges thoroughly to remove old adhesive residues and dirt.
2. Use a high-quality contact adhesive or a special furniture glue with high flexibility.
3. Press the edge firmly with a roller or apply even pressure to avoid air bubbles.

Important: For laminate edges, the adhesive must be compatible with the material, otherwise it will come loose quickly.
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RICCARDO
13 Jul 2021 11:24
Clear case: Cost optimization at Ikea leads to cheaper adhesive and thinner foil material. Unfortunately, this is common with Malm.
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flo-Theres
13 Jul 2021 11:48
Another factor to consider is that after purchase and assembly, furniture is often exposed to new climatic conditions for an extended period. The film may expand less or more than the substrate, which puts stress on the adhesive.

If the components were not adequately conditioned initially, stresses can develop that may weaken the bonding.
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mabla
13 Jul 2021 12:05
flo-Theres schrieb:
The membrane may expand more or less than the substrate, which puts stress on the adhesive.

That's correct, material incompatibilities often lead to delamination. Ikea primarily uses inexpensive materials, which unfortunately cannot be changed.
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faso31
13 Jul 2021 12:17
RICCARDO schrieb:
Cost optimization at Ikea leads to cheap adhesive.

That is one point, but can you just leave it at that? Are there any concrete data on the types of adhesives used and their long-term performance in Ikea Malm?

Sometimes the storage and maintenance by the end user are also underestimated. There is hardly any official information on how the adhesives and laminates age in everyday use.