How to Dismantle an IKEA Pax Wardrobe by yourself

IKEA Pax wardrobes are functional(ish) but a nightmare to move once they're assembled. In this video I'm going to give you a few tips to dismantle an IKEA Pax wardrobe so you can re-flat-pack it ready for a move.
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#IKEA #Pax #DIY

[@user-cm8ep5xd6u]

Can't thank you enough for this. I'm a 70 year-old 53kg woman and I've just dismantled an identical Pax wardrobe single-handed. Without your help I'd probably be flattened underneath it by now!!

[@kierand9410]

Love the morbid humour - ha!

[@nanciocello3115]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. My first move with 4 Pax, intact, was a nightmare. I searched for instructions on how to dismantle a Pax for my current move and your video popped up first. I'm so happy it did, your instructions were perfect, succinct, and saved me a lot of pain and misery. Again, thank you!!!

[@kimpreece9088]

Ahh this brings back memories of 6 house moves in last 10 years, never again! Always amazed me how resilient the ikea stuff actually is, every time I expected it to disintegrate but it never did. Must be the 99% glue 1% wood shavings combo, solid!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Oh wow - that's even more than us! As you say, mostly glue as opposed to wood. 😂👍

[@jill2132]

THANK YOU!!! Your tip about using the shelf as a battering ram to force the nails out of the back was a lifesaver! We were stumped, until we found you. 👍

[@SnackySnack-s7x]

Thank you, I couldn’t remember the half turn screw for the ones holding the frame and you gave so many good little tips to preserve the very fragile pieces when taking them off. This is still so very useful!

[@stevenc123]

I've moved loads of these for a moving/flatpack assembly business. One time saver we did was not to remove any of the brackets on the sides, but you can only get away with this if you have a van big enough to store everything and keep it apart and more than one person to carry the large side pieces. Do remove the cam screws however. Removing the backing was always the longest bit, and thankfully that wasn't my job. The guy who did do it got pretty quick at it and did minimal damage, but it was never perfect. We kept some white tape and markers to help cover up the damage. Photos of the wardrobes were taken at the start so we had a reference point when putting them back together and proof of any pre-existing damage. Wardrobes accumulate a lot of dust so have a damp rag handy to give it a clean otherwise you'll be choking on dust and leaving dirty hand prints on everything.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Great pro tips there! Especially the pics for reference. Yeah, white tape or a small bead can sort the damage from taking the back off. It's a challenge though as it's so thin and brittle. 👍👍

[@Ayns.L14A]

Oh one other thing, if you are really attached to a specific piece, (I've got a couple of Billy bookcases that I've had for years) you can replace the backboard with 3.5mm plywood, paint it up to match the frame, glue and screw it, it add years to the lifespan.

[@njuham]

Ah the memories are flooding back, bought my first Billy bookcases (cherry red with glass doors) in 1998. I always crease the backboard in the middle. moved those bookcases to two new houses.

[@andyaskins100]

@@njuham zzzzx

[@andyaskins100]

Zggzz@@njuham xx

[@ezracamilo425]

I realize it's quite randomly asking but do anyone know a good website to stream new movies online ?

[@eliasflynn8570]

@Ezra Camilo I would suggest flixzone. You can find it on google :)

[@lynnew5619]

I hate to hear people say they’re going to send something in perfectly good order to the tip! We live in such a throw away society it’s heartbreaking. I’ve had some of my Ikea stuff for years and it’s like a Volvo - never gives up, lol. We need to sell on or recycle more. Great tip for getting the backs off btw. 👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Sadly furniture like this is designed to be disposable. They're OK if you don't ever move them but chipboard just can't handle screws being removed and re-inserted. 'To the tip' was a joke - I generally take it to the local charity drop-off but even they've started turning down second hand IKEA furniture since it's often unsafe after a move. I've tried FreeCycle etc. many times but nobody wants this stuff - literally can't give it away. My fault for buying them in the first place. We need to get out of the mindset of buying disposable furniture - myself included. 👍😀

[@lynnew5619]

Gosforth Handyman I absolutely agree.

[@cnsengineer]

Thanks-that saved me a lot of time and probably gave the PAX another life. Inspired by your trick of using the shelf to push out the nails, I used a piece of 2x4 that did the job beautifully in our constrained space.

[@parkwyatt]

I enjoyed the cheeky comments and how well lit the video is. I'm moving a much larger version of this atrocity for the 2nd time and your directions inspire me to flat-pack it again. . . instead of fleeing the country in despair.

[@gwenscoble6229]

I find screws etc eat holes in plastic bags. I tend to use margarine tubs, the ones with lids. They seem to wash in the dishwasher top shelf ok (on top of your proper crockery etc) and marker pen what is inside. I've always kept the back on but they were bookshelves so not as deep. MFI so much more flimsy but they survived 3 house moves and several redecorations. Useful demonstration of back removal. Thanks

[@hmscatman]

Wonder how many people will follow this video and then realise they don't have instructions to rebuild it! Need another video Andy😂

[@Gerry2210]

Very clever tip on getting the back off, saves making a total mess of it. Stay safe Andy.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Gerry! It still makes quite a mess of it 😂 but less mess than you'd make with a hammer. 👍

[@xO_oxDK]

This video should have been the very first video IKEA themselves should have made :) Thanks kind sir... that back piece has been a nightmare before, this made it a bit more easy to handle.

[@TheZZZbox]

This is the best video to teach us how to unlock cam locks - brilliant !!! Thank you

[@alirodgers3608]

Good advice but the shelf removing the back board is a very careless/lazy approach. I tried it initially but soon realised it is quite easy to remove the nails one by one. The ‘several hours’ quoted is nonsense. I did it in an hour and is much less damaging to the wardrobe

[@adriftinaboat3452]

Thanks for this. Really helpful. Can’t understand some people giving a thumbs down....they need a hobby.

[@alanjones3873]

Great idea shelf as battering ram. Done several in my time but missed that😃

[@AWorldWithoutShrimp]

30 seconds in and already some useful info

[@ilricettario]

The best way to do it is grab it and throw it out the window works every time!

[@sheeplad803]

and get some real quality stuff

[@lafemmelaMon]

@@sheeplad803 What real quality stuff will it be?

[@sheeplad803]

@@lafemmelaMon Some nice hardwood handcrafted furniture.

[@GosforthHandyman]

I would tend to agree! 😂🙄

[@lafemmelaMon]

@@sheeplad803 I have oak furniture downstairs and will do my floor next year. I will have to take it out into the garden. Bloody heavy. I have built the inside of a wardrobe with the ikea stuff and it's great as you can design it all yourself and fittings is easy. Just the lights needed slight redesign as they only lit up the top shelf. Everything has its place.

[@attlee1945]

I've just taken 3 billy bookshelves apart and found that using a bradawl to pull the nail/tack out slightly, then using a nail/tack remover gets the nails/tacks out really quickly and with little or no damage to the unit.

[@JiminyHCriquet]

Just disassembled one. For some reason it had staples in the back rather than screws. Either way - thank you so much. I was going absolutely mad over it

[@jimmcdonald6465]

Beautifully made video Andy, I did a similar job with a double width Ikea mirrored effort a few months ago (No fixings were harmed in transit). "Excuse the clobber" you say but that's my Sunday best in Derbyshire!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha cheers Jim! 👍👊

[@sammonigh4109]

I love you. I had no idea about the half turn on those arrow plastic bits. I've broken so much before by my pure foolishness and ignorance.

[@ratchriat1716]

I toatly agree I had a loft done about 6 years a go one thing I learned is any furniture I buy has to be from IKEA flat pack is the best solution when comes to narrow stairs case enjoyed the video.

[@garstangterrier501]

I wish this video was done 6 months ago before I moved one of my pax wardrobes. Everything was easy apart from the back- Great tip with spreading the load. Can't get better than pax in my opinion unless your going fully fitted of course.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah there's no easy way unfortunately - either unpick each nail or destroy the back. 😂😭

[@mijalic1]

Great video. Thank you for your time and effort to do that and share with us. Greetings from Croatia.

[@Ayns.L14A]

One thing I've learned in my many years of moving around with the army, after a couple of moves you need to either add some wood glue when rebuilding or just bin them and buy new ones.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yup - sadly they're just not designed to be moved / touched after installation. 👍😂

[@paulcharman44]

Try a tack lifter or pincer pliers to remove the nails. At least they had a decent head to get hold of, the panel pin ones just pull through.

[@BenosTDG]

In my old house I managed to moved 1.5m worth of Pax wardrobes from the back bedroom to the front without taking the carcase apart. Had to take the doors off the hinges to get the clearance but managed it. Wardrobes were in use for another 3+ years after that. Gave it away to the buyer of our house when we moved because I didn't want to deal with them even again.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Probably the best move leaving it. In hindsight I'm starting to wish I just left these. 👍😀

[@twinc723]

Very helpful video! If you prefer, you can pop out the cam screws easily by dropping a screwdriver down the hole where the bolt would go and gently pry.

[@zaclal6496]

I assembled and disassembled my MFI wardrobes 4 times (that’s 8 in total) over 20 years. Does take a battering each time, so have some mitre bond glue/ spray adhesive around when those cam bolts screws enlarge.

[@holisticsapien7466]

why do you need to take things like draw runners off? surely saves times leaving them on? cheers

[@DIGITALidYOUTUBE]

To avoid the breakage, once you get a little bit of the back panel off even on one section you can easily wedge the rest apart with your fingers. The nails do not grip too well at all and it comes off like butter. 9:54

[@alittlesipofwine1345]

Thanks for making an awesome tutorial, super helpful 🙂

[@Qntrix]

Thank you for the tip on taking out the back plate

[@gbarth56]

It is well known that Ikea flat pack furniture has 3 lives. You'll be lucky to put that wardrobe up a fourth time.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Indeed - 3 is sometimes pushing it! 😂👍

[@fayeza5565]

Thanks for sharing buddy this is really helpful especially the back board bit I was wondering whats the best way to do that 👍

[@katherinewelch6496]

OMG you helped me so much with the PAX but also gave me tips about my other IKEA furniture! Thanks!

[@MrLampbus]

I had a massive wall length array of these with mirrored doors that came with the house we bought in the NE. SOld it all online to a chap who hired a van and drove up from Bradford...it mostly survived removal from the house in sections as the assembler had glued the joints!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Oh god! If the joints are glued it's very hard to dismantle without destroying it. Good sale! 👍😂

[@andrew5792]

Tools required - 1 lump hammer, Job done!

[@OktosELAsywal]

Sedikit tips dari saya, kamu bisa rekam video saat melepas semua bagian, tidak perlu rekam semua kegiatan, hanya rekam sedikit saja namun berurutan, dan nanti pas saat pasang tingga di balik videonya ditonton dari belakang, tips ini bukan buat tukang ya, kalau tukang sudah master, tips ini untuk org biasa.

[@danludlam1562]

Whenever I've done this, I always leave all the brackets on as you end up just screwing it all back exactly as it was anyway. Obviously there's a chance of scratching bits when transporting but if you're careful it saves a bunch of time.

[@danludlam1562]

Also, sometimes with this IKEA stuff, the screws don't go in as well the second time so I try and keep as much in as possible

[@Everyyoueverymiau]

Thank you very much!

[@PaulCrousePhoto]

Thanks a lot for this. It is really useful. Great video.

[@1957blaine]

Great video Andy, I have disassembled and assembled those units for moving companies, it’s always a challenge to get them back together , but if they were well labeled it was fairly easy to do, time consuming but not to hard. One thing I did notice was things coming from the UK and Europe was generally well labeled and packed and had less damage but things coming other parts of the world would just be a jumble with parts missing and badly damaged panels and all sorts of problems Hope your move went well have a great day.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Wow - I can imagine that being a challenge if they're coming from all over the world! Great work! 👍

[@frankybuzby2851]

super helpful, I had no idea what to do, thank you!

[@roberttoews2775]

Looks like it might have been easier to pick up and move the whole house with it inside.

[@ToniSkit]

For the nails I used a small spoon and was able to get them out

[@marionmillermiller]

Incredible, thank you so much for this!

[@Group51]

The tip? Mine’s proper wood veneer/ solid wood. It’s coming with me!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yours will last. 👍😀

[@rachelmorgan-smyth5593]

Brilliantly done, thank you so much. Extremely useful video.

[@faithwilliams5813]

Thank you, just what I needed!

[@mootsiee]

I just need to reposition my wardrobe in my room do I need to flat pack it , I can take the insides out but I’ve got the double wardrobe with sliding doors

[@kierand9410]

Your craic is as good as your tips, sir.

[@davejones2500]

Very useful but why take the drawer runners and pole supports off? Surely they can be left on to save time when reassembling at the other end?

[@mariafernandaporto9512]

Thank you. You helped me a lot.

[@mariajensen6437]

God bless you. You are an angel. I hope you will win the lottery.

[@Syeda08788]

Hi! I'm considering buying a PAX wardrobe, but we're currently renting. Some people have advised against it since we plan to buy a house next year. They mentioned that disassembling and reassembling it might weaken the wardrobe. How was your PAX wardrobe after you reassembled it?

[@michaelplays2449]

Great video thanks

[@bigwill4978]

Loved the way you removed the back panel!

[@hkrumble]

Very helpful, thanks

[@georgettevandijk6945]

Thank you so much! Very useful!!

[@melodysunman6104]

Legend! Thank you! 😘

[@aannia8269]

Thanks. Very helpful.

[@kierand9410]

If you plan on erecting it back as was in the new location, why would you need to remove the internal bits other than the screws that connect the walls to floor? Are you just being (unnecessarily) thorough or am I being unfair and there's a point in removing the shelf brackets etc?

[@carolekimberley-xg4tm]

Brilliant, thanks 🙂

[@saritamobron]

Thanks a lot! Very helpfull!! 😃

[@doublerazmoket6742]

Thanks a lot bro ! You saved my day 🤙🏻

[@456or]

Thank you sooo much , this helped A LOT :)

[@prduguid]

The mistake I made more than once is to not jack up the stupid adjustable feet at the front before moving the wardrobe. I also found that the nailed in backing can be literally peeled off, the nails pull out pretty easily, just take it slow, no damage. Any banging action will cause damage

[@benhersko2830]

Actually, IKEA started using ringed names a few years ago, so no, u can't just push them out anymore, it won't go, u need to dig each one out individually

[@prduguid]

Perhaps, but I thought I had ringed nails. Can't be sure now

[@cassiedunford6101]

How in the good heavens did I randomly stumbled across this when in a week I have to dismantle several pieces of ikea furniture including a wardrobe

[@DK-mr4ll]

They're watching and listening...

[@evasmum9707]

I’d did that turned in on the side and it collapsed onto me. Really injured me I called Ikea as it would not be able to be replaced at all. They refunded it immediately

[@verralculton520]

Thank you sooo much!

[@dydaaame7011]

What if there's no space to tilt? Is it ok to remove the back part standing?

[@cavevendit2649]

A solution for this: Get 1) packing tape 2) long piece of wide cardboard somewhat longer than your cabinet is tall 3) a heavy object. Tape the cardboard to the top of the PAX back panel, at least two long strips. Drape the cardboard (might need to crease it a lot so it curves readily) over the TOP of your cabinet to the other side so that a foot or two of the other end of the cardboard is touching the floor (flat on the floor)). Put the heavy weight on that end of the cardboard. Now as you remove nails, the weight of the backing will be supported by the heavy weight and the cardboard pulling upwards on the back panel. When all of the nails are removed, peel off the tape carefully from the back and you're done. You can do this also to nail a back panel ONTO a PAX frame that has to be assembled vertically, which is how I figured this technique in the first place.

[@user-qt1tt3ys7l]

Thank you!!!

[@sleepdeficit2]

Thanks!

[@mlowenberg84]

Hi, I'm trying to adjust the shelves and am struggling to get the pegs out. They appear to be screwed it, but don't loosen when I turn them, even with some pressure coming out. Any pointers?

[@davescorpion]

depends on how much time you have to fanny on with it...........pmsl!!

[@user-ck8pb5jw4f]

How do u click back the hinges?

[@berryboo5390]

Hi I’ve just moved my ikea wardrobe and the backs popped out so the wardrobes are swaying everywhere are can I repair it … kerry 😳

[@davebarnes1742]

I moved several times ,i use pan head screws to fit back no damage once fitted

[@GosforthHandyman]

Good plan! You need very small screws to avoid splitting the chipboard but it can be done with a bit patience. 👍

[@pham4041]

How height is your ceiling?? My room looks like your but I couldn’t raise the wardore up because it hit the ceiling. Maybe I should do it on the side way like what you did

[@farheenhussain3237]

The backing of my IKEA wardrobe has come loose is there any way I can fix it. I have 2 wardrobes fitted next to it.

[@mnhmgadka4421]

thanks profesional

[@skogsmats]

Är a swede I learn that you always screws the back of most all ikeafurniture........

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha - good tip! 👍👊

[@PinkDiamond7777777]

If it's just to the other side of the room, it's a bit of a nightmare to disassemble & reassemble. Can you use something to lift it or something or can you really not just move it under a few metres ?

[@M9Diry]

Surely you could wiggle it

[@michaelbright9162]

Did I miss something? Why does the Gosforth Handyman have Ikea wardrobes in his house?

[@jamesrodgers3132]

He's answered that question actually: kzbin.info/www/bejne/amqYeJWums6Ip7c

[@Lyndalewinder]

Hi Andy - Whatever happened to the podcasts with Peter Millard?

[@TheMo0307]

Merci ! 🙏🏻

[@Pilot-ud3yj]

I would have used some small screws instead of nails for the back when it was first assembled

[@paddypete1]

i don't know why you had to take of the runners and hinge plates and hinges off the doors,more work assembling it,but good vid

[@GosforthHandyman]

For storage and transport. They invariably either get smashed off or end up scratching other parts of the wardrobe. 👍

[@paddypete1]

@@GosforthHandyman who's moving it,the chuckle brothers

[@lunapauwaert1882]

Sorry but your method doesn’t really work. The back of my closet is completely ripped. And I completely did it as you showed it in the video. 😢

[@benslater5419]

I need to move of these from 1 room across a hall to another room. Presumably I should just take off the doors and internals and move as a whole unit?

[@sugarsweet8598]

Gliders will help.

[@MoranGuyVideos]

Why not putting masking tapes and write on it then pill it out?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Certainly can do! Light pencil is very easy to get off though. 👍

[@Monsieur405]

Yep, you'll destroy it alright.. As I found out.

[@bvttle]

Broke the back panel doing that..

[@ukhottubs]

Just asking, why o why did the new owners not wantit?

[@GosforthHandyman]

I do potentially need them and the new owners will probably have proper built-ins installed. 👍

[@M9Diry]

Why is IKEA stuff so heavy? It’s a cconsoiracy

[@njuham]

Not sure you used enough cling film there.

[@ricos1497]

To be fair, he addressed in his last video. You do need a decent amount if you're holding items together like this. Once round and it'll just come loose.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yup - especially when the pieces aren't flat. 👍😂