Assembling the MIKEL Chest of Drawers — Step-by-Step Guide

The MIKEL chest of drawers is a flat-pack storage unit made of melamine-faced chipboard, designed for assembly by one person in roughly 90 to 120 minutes using cam lock fittings and pre-fitted drawer runners.

Proper assembly is crucial for the stability of the unit and the smooth running of its drawers. The MIKEL series features a modular design. Whether you are assembling a slim 30 cm deep version for a hallway, a wide 100 cm model, or a classic bedroom chest of drawers, the core assembly principle remains identical.

This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough of the assembly process, from sorting your hardware fittings to the final wall anchoring.

Package Contents and Preparation

Before picking up your screwdriver, a thorough check of all components is essential. Flat-pack furniture parts are typically delivered in flat cardboard boxes.

1. Sort wooden panels: Lay out the side panels, top panel, bottom panel, and drawer components (drawer fronts, sides, backs, and base inserts) systematically. Use the opened cardboard box as a soft underlay to prevent scratches on the surface finish — especially important for delicate finishes like a black chest of drawers or a dark-stained wood chest of drawers.
2. Check hardware and fittings: Empty the fittings bag into small trays. You will find wooden dowels (usually 8 x 30 mm), cam lock fittings (consisting of connecting bolts and cam lock housings), chipboard screws, back panel nails, and drawer runners.
3. Keep instructions to hand: Have the included exploded-view diagram ready to double-check the exact positioning of all pre-drilled holes.

Tools Required

Assembling the MIKEL range requires no specialist tools. The following basic toolkit is sufficient:

• Cross-head screwdriver: A PZ 2 (Pozidriv) profile is strictly required for most furniture assembly screws and fittings. A PH 2 (Phillips) will slip easily in these screw heads and damage the metal.
• Wooden or rubber mallet: For gently tapping in the wooden dowels. A standard claw hammer can also be used, provided you place a scrap piece of wood over the fittings to protect the edges.
• Cordless screwdriver: Optional for driving in screws, but must be set to a low torque setting to avoid stripping the chipboard core.
• Tape measure or folding ruler: Crucial for checking carcass diagonals.
• Spirit level: For final levelling at the installation position.
• Drill (for wall fixing): Including a suitable masonry drill bit (usually 6 mm or 8 mm) for anti-tip safety brackets.

Step-by-Step Assembly

Assembly is much like a three-dimensional puzzle where hardware fittings act as the connecting pieces. Work systematically and only tighten fixings fully once all components of a step are properly aligned.

Step 1: Preparing the Carcass Side Panels

Place the left and right side panels flat on the floor. Tap the wooden dowels into the pre-drilled holes (typically 8 mm diameter) along the edges. If desired, apply a small drop of wood glue into the hole to significantly increase overall structural rigidity. Next, screw the bolts of the cam lock fittings into the corresponding 5 mm pre-drilled holes. Ensure each bolt sits upright and is driven home flush with the thread collar.

Step 2: Installing Drawer Runners

A common mistake is assembling the outer carcass first and then attempting to screw the runners into the cramped interior. Always install the ball bearing runners or roller runners onto the side panels while they are lying flat.

• Note the orientation: the open end of the runner must face the front edge of the cabinet.
• Use the supplied short Euro screws (often 6.3 x 13 mm) or chipboard screws (3.5 x 15 mm).
• Ensure screw heads sit flush inside the runner channel; otherwise, drawers will rub or catch during opening and closing.

Step 3: Assembling the Carcass

Connect the bottom panel and any cross rails to one of the side panels. Insert the pre-fitted bolts into the end holes of the panels. Insert the circular cam lock housings (the round metal discs) into the large 15 mm holes on the panels. Ensure the small arrow on the housing points toward the incoming bolt. Turn the housing approximately 180° clockwise with your screwdriver until it pulls the joint firmly tight. Attach the second side panel and finally the top panel using the same method.

Step 4: Securing the Back Panel (Crucial for Stability)

Turn the carcass face down onto the floor. The back panel (typically a thin HDF board) provides the furniture unit with its shear and racking strength.

1. Lay the back panel in position.
2. Measure diagonals: Use your tape measure to check from the top-left to bottom-right corner, and compare this against the opposing diagonal. The carcass is truly square only when both diagonal measurements match to the millimetre.
3. Secure the panel using the back panel nails. Drive a nail every 10 cm to 15 cm, starting at the corners.

Step 5: Assembling the Drawers

The drawer assembly process is identical across models, whether building a 4-drawer chest or a larger 8-drawer chest.

• Join the drawer side panels to the drawer back panel.
• Slide the drawer bottom board into the grooves along the sides.
• Secure the drawer front panel to the sides using cam lock fasteners.
• Screw the matching drawer profile runners to the bottom outer edges of each drawer box.

Step 6: Inserting and Aligning the Drawers

Place the carcass in its final position. Insert the drawers starting from the bottom upward. With ball bearing runners, guide the mechanisms precisely into one another. Push the drawer in firmly until an audible click indicates that the catch has engaged. Inspect the drawer front gaps. If the gaps appear uneven, check the level of the unit using a spirit level and pack underneath the feet or base to correct for uneven floors.

Wall Mounting and Anti-Tip Protection

A chest of drawers shifts its centre of gravity forward dramatically when several loaded drawers are opened simultaneously. Units with a shallow depth (e.g. 30 cm or 35 cm) present a serious tipping hazard.

Always install the supplied anti-tip safety bracket (usually a small metal angle bracket or fabric restraint strap).

• Position the bracket along the upper rear edge of the unit.
• Mark the drill hole location on the wall.
• Use appropriate wall plugs matched to your wall construction (brick, concrete, or plasterboard) and a sufficiently long screw (at least 50 mm).
• Fasten the bracket securely to the wall and fix it to the top panel of the chest of drawers.

Tips & Common Pitfalls

• Stripped screw holes: Chipboard cannot withstand excessive torque. If a screw strips the wood and spins freely, fill the hole with a matchstick and wood glue, allow it to dry thoroughly, and re-drive the screw.
• Sticking or rubbing drawers: Stiff movement is almost always caused by screw heads protruding from the runner channels or a carcass that is out of square.
• Care after assembly: Wipe down the surface with a slightly damp cloth. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners to protect the edge banding. This applies equally to matt surfaces like a grey chest of drawers as well as high-gloss finishes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long does it take to assemble the MIKEL chest of drawers? An experienced DIYer usually takes around 90 minutes for a standard four-drawer model. If you assemble furniture infrequently, allow 120 to 150 minutes. Units with eight or more drawers will naturally take longer.

Can I dismantle the chest of drawers later for moving house? Yes. The use of cam lock fittings allows non-destructive disassembly. Only the nailed back panel requires careful removal. The main panels of a white chest of drawers or any other finish in the range will remain undamaged if taken apart correctly.

What should I do if the gaps between drawer fronts are crooked? This is almost always caused by an uneven floor. Place a spirit level on top of the unit. Place packers or felt pads under the front or rear base corners until the carcass is completely level. In most cases, the drawer alignment will correct itself automatically.

If you are looking to upgrade or replace your furniture hardware, browse our wide selection of replacement drawer runners, cam fittings, and cabinet brackets suitable for every chest of drawers.