collapsing wardrobe!

[Misty9]

We bought a lovely cream and wood wardrobe and chest of drawers from a local furniture place a couple of years ago. The shop assembled them in our then rented house, but the wardrobe had to be dismantled for a couple of house moves.

It now concertinas when you open the doors and generally appears very unstable! The back consists of wooden slats, each nailed into place.

Any ideas what we can do to stabilise it? The shop aren't interested...

I'd buy some triangular plastic cabinet corner fixings, and some KD joining blocks and a cheap substitute no-more-nails. Also some small screws and an electric drill.

Take the doors off and lie it face down on the floor.

Look at the existing fixings. I expect they have all gone loose because it is made of chipboard. Assume that you need to re-fix all the panels together.

www.hafele.co.uk/shop/c/cabinet-fittings/surface-mounted-kd-fittings/8239 modesty blocks and mini corners will allow you to fix the panels together. There is what I call a triangular pyramid block that joins three pieces (top, back, side for example) but I can't find a link.

After drilling the screw holes, but before screwing together, run a thin bead of the adhesive along all the mating surfaces. After screwing together, rub off all the excess with a moist sponge before it goes hard. Leave overnight to set before moving it.

If you can screw the top back corners of each cab to the wall, it will prevent the cab from waving about.

found them

triangular corner joint

Thank you pigletjohn you're a legend in our household!

That sounds a little bit...complicated, for two DIY phobes. I think it's made of solid pine, if that makes a difference? Maybe we should get a carpenter to have a look. Seems such a shame to get rid of it.

even if it is timber, I still expect the trouble is that the nails or screws have come loose in their holes by being moved.

You could drill new holes and fit new screws. Screw from thin piece (e.g. the back slats) to thick (e.g. the sides). The drill you use for the pilot hole should be no bigger than the shank of the screw, not as big as the thread that bites into the wood. With a soft timber like pine you can even use a drill that is only half the width of the shank.

If you don't drill a pilot hole at all, you may split the wood or the screw may go in crooked.

If you use round-headed screws rather than countersunk, they will look less neat (it doesn't matter round the back or inside) they will be less likely to pull through.

Fixing the top corners to the wall will still make a wardrobe much steadier.

Drilling holes and driving screws can be your intro to the world of DIY.