The Mistakes Everyone Makes
After assembling thousands of pieces, the same five mistakes show up in every botched build. Here's what they are and how to sidestep them.
1. Mixing Up the Cam Screws
IKEA includes two lengths of cam screw. The short one goes in thin panels; the long one in thick. Mix them up and the cam won't catch — or the screw pokes through the finished side. Sort screws by length before starting.
2. Forgetting a Dowel
Dowels align the pieces. A missed dowel means the piece goes together crooked, and you discover it three steps later when nothing lines up. Count the dowels at every joint.
3. Over-Tightening Cams
A cam lock turns 180° and clicks. Turning past the click strips the particleboard. Stop at the click.
4. Building on an Uneven Surface
Assembly on carpet or a rug racks the frame. Build on a hard, flat floor — or on the cardboard the piece came in.
5. Skipping the Back Panel
The back panel (the thin cardboard-nail piece) is structural. It triangulates the frame and stops racking. Nail every nail — a back panel with half its nails is why a bookcase wobbles.
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