6/7

Glue the Joints

This step creates a permanent assembly, ensuring you’re building a sturdy, long-lasting piece of IKEA furniture that can withstand daily use and moves. Just be sure the fully-assembled item will fit through doorways and down tight stairs!

Another option is gluing selectively. This increases strength yet allows for easy disassembly when moving — one of the main benefits of IKEA furniture, after all. Think gluing a cabinet, but not the shelves.

I like to glue drawers together when I assemble them since they take the greatest force and wear. And when moving, I leave things in the drawers anyway.

One of the nice things about gluing up IKEA furniture is not needing to clamp anything. All the parts have fast and easy fastening methods, so when the glue is drying, the factory-designed fasteners will hold them firmly.

The type of glue you use depends on what you’re deciding to glue. Similar materials are more straightforward, but dissimilar materials might need some research. A few good choices are standard wood glue for dowels, Loctite for plastics and two-part epoxy for metals. Allow all glued joints to dry to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Note: Gluing may void a warranty, so weigh this against your needs.

7/7

Step, Then Check

Resist the temptation to jump ahead or skip steps. Steps build upon each other. Deviating from the recommended order can lead to confusion, mistakes and time wasted disassembling, only to then do things the way you should have to begin with.

One time I was putting together the Malm high bed frame with drawers and accidentally skipped putting in the center supports before attaching the two sides together. There was no way I could squeeze them in, and had to take the now-mostly-assembled bed apart. Checking along the way to make sure would have saved me, especially on this somewhat larger build.

As each step leads to a completed sub-assembly, double-check your work. Ensure all pieces are secure, and compare your work to the diagram. Orient your work the same way as the diagram so you can more easily see whether or not they’re the same. Only move forward once you’re confident on the match.

When you get to the end, take a seat, put your things in it, test it out. Make sure you check the functionality and sturdiness of your new piece of furniture. I think this quote rings true: “Nothing lasts longer than a temporary solution.”

Now is the time to fix things if you’re not happy. Your tools are out and ready. Go back and tighten it down more if anything wiggles. If you realize you have a few extra pieces left over that should be attached, do it. You can even go back and glue some of the joints to add stability. Once you call the project done, the likelihood you will go back after the fact is near zero.