IKEA MELLTORP Table: Variants, Critical Parts and Troubleshooting

A plastic clamp has broken. A table that is otherwise perfectly functional that you are about to throw away. This is the most common scenario on MELLTORP forums — and this is exactly what this guide seeks to avoid.

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What you need to know about the MELLTORP

The MELLTORP is the least expensive dining table in the IKEA catalog. This positioning explains both its price and its weaknesses.

The tabletop is not made of wood: it is overmolded polypropylene on a metal structure. Lightweight, waterproof, easy to clean. But susceptible to scratches and impacts on the edges. Do not place a burning saucepan directly on it.

The frame is made of epoxy steel — the robust part of the assembly. The Achilles' heel is the fixing clamp: a molded plastic part that assembles the tabletop to the frame at each corner. Invisible once assembled. Critical.

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The two variants: which size for which use

The MELLTORP is available in two dimensions, white only, without an extension version.

Model	Dimensions	Height	Typical use
MELLTORP square	75 x 75 cm	74 cm	Studio, kitchen, small space
MELLTORP rectangular	125 x 75 cm	74 cm	Dining room, family dining area

In both cases, the tabletop/frame fixing system is identical. Same part, same potential weak point.

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The clamp #131337: why it breaks

The clamp (reference 131337) is a plastic clip that simultaneously grips the edge of the tabletop and a bar of the frame. It absorbs stresses with each movement of the table. The plastic is not designed for intense repeated stress — it yields, most often at the base of the lugs.

Two typical scenarios: breakage during assembly due to excessive tightening, or gradual breakage on a table that is often moved.

If your MELLTORP "moves" abnormally, inspect the clamps immediately. A cracked clamp left untreated will always end up breaking.

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How to find a clamp: three options

IKEA Customer Service. First step: ikea.com > Customer Service > Order a spare part. For clamp 131337, this generally works. Free or almost free. Delay: one to two weeks.

Third-party retailers. eBay and Etsy offer clamp 131337 in lots. Price: 5 to 12 euros depending on the source. Check the photos before purchasing — it is often a compatible equivalent, not the original IKEA part.

3D printing. The clamp 131337 has been modeled and published on Thingiverse (thing:4236106, "Ikea Melltorp Table Clamp 131337 by DanielHit"). Downloadable for free. Recommended material: PETG or ABS. Avoid PLA — too brittle under repeated stress.

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Damaged tabletop: what solutions?

The tabletop alone is difficult to obtain via French Customer Service. What most users do is:

• Mask superficial scratches with an opaque white marker
• Place a custom-made protective glass on top (durable solution)
• Rebuy the complete table if the tabletop is structurally compromised — rarely necessary

The scratch is the main enemy of the MELLTORP tabletop. Use placemats. Do not put a knife directly on the surface.

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Assembly: three points of attention

The official instructions (reference 190.117.77 for the square version) are available on ikea.com and on manuals.plus.

Turn the table tabletop down on a protected surface for assembly. Engage each clamp progressively, by hand, without forcing. This is where the majority of breaks occur. Once the table is on its feet, press on each corner: none of them should flex or crack.

The legs do not have integrated pads. Add self-adhesive felt pads from day one — the epoxy steel legs will mark floors and tiles without difficulty.

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The MELLTORP instructions and spare parts are displayed below.