IKEA Kallax - DIY Shelves, Help Needed for a Non-Diyer

[Deactivated] on 16/08/2021 - 11:37
Last edited 16/08/2021 - 11:45

Heya peeps, good day, hope you're all well :)

I recently grabbed an IKEA Kallax 2x4, and would like to split each pigeon hole in two horizontally (https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/kallax-glass-shelf-70377382/ best describes it).

I've got a bunch of 80cmx80cmx4mm mdf and 10mm glass lying around the garage and was wanting to make the shelves myself for no other reason than to keep sane. A couple of questions:

1) I've never worked with mdf before, tried cutting it with a razor but it was hard to keep a straight line against a metal ruler, what's the cheapest piece of equipment I can nab off marketplace to cut them straight? Would it be a drop/band saw? As the mdf I have to work with are 80cmx80cm most of them don't remotely accommodate that?

2) For cutting glass of 10mm, would a normal eBay glass cutter do? Do I just score and ninja chop and the glass will fall free?

3) Say by the grace of baby Jesus I get the above two done and I'm ready to mount either mdf or glass onto the shelf, what are those nipple things called where you rest the divider on top? I don't need the fancy thing that sandwiches the glass, I'm more referrign to those plastic clip like things that you push into a pre-drilled hole so a shelf can rest on top, hope this makes sense?

Many thanks in advance!

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Comments

  • scrimshaw on 16/08/2021 - 11:48
    +1

    Can't answer Q1/Q2 but those shelf support things are called Shelf Support pins. you can buy them from Bunnings https://www.bunnings.com.au/prestige-5mm-pin-brass-shelf-sup…

    • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2021 - 13:51

      Oh sweet, thank you good sir :)

  • iamherenow on 16/08/2021 - 11:49

    I'd use a jigsaw, because that's what I have.

  • bradl822 on 16/08/2021 - 11:58

    1) Due to the size you would be best with a circular saw. But yes a knife won't get you anywhere except probably losing a finger.
    4mm thick isn't really suitable to hold anything though.
    Cheap Saw
    2) Yeah should be fine, best to I can give us commit to the etch, don't start and stop.
    Don't karate kid the glass… Sit a piece of wood under the etch line then gently push with gloves on to evenly break away.

    Other has been answered

    • iamherenow on 16/08/2021 - 12:08

      Don't think I'd touch 4mm MDF with a circular saw. Unless able to secure it really well.

      • bradl822 on 16/08/2021 - 13:15

        Have you ever used a circular saw?
        I use 4-6mm boards to level out flooring before laying floor boards and we mainly use a circular saw.
        In fact a thin product is far safer to cut as you virtually have no chance of kickback!
        A clamp wouldn't hurt to be safe I guess.

        • iamherenow on 16/08/2021 - 13:32

          Got two of them, so would hope I have used them! I'd cut it on my bench mounted one, but not without bench which OP isn't going to buy.

          • bradl822 on 16/08/2021 - 13:39

            @iamherenow: But you would use a jigsaw for a straight cut over a circular saw?

            • iamherenow on 16/08/2021 - 13:45

              @bradl822: Yeah clamp a guide and all good.will get straighter that handheld circular saw.

              • bradl822 on 16/08/2021 - 13:49

                @iamherenow: I agree but if you add the clamp and guide that you are taking about to a circular saw and it will win.
                Hence most trades will use a circular saw and not many actually have jigsaws

    • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2021 - 13:54

      Can I ask you eloborate #2? I was thinking if I need to trim 10cm off the length, I score 10cm off the edge, move the said 10cm so the score line lines up with the edge of a table, the chop to break top downwards. Are you saying to rest the entire piece of glass on the table, prop up the excess (10cm) and break from bottom upwards?

      • bradl822 on 16/08/2021 - 14:04

        I have always done pretty much exactly that but I usually push it down. I would probably read a few comments down where they talk about the types of glass. I have loads of old off cuts I have but I have no idea the age or even type of glass. I just measured and it's a lot thinner then yours. Mine is 5mm.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2021 - 14:24

          Gottcha, never worked with glass before and these 10mm thickness ones are all that I have. Cheers for the info buddy, appreciate it :)

  • apsilon on 16/08/2021 - 12:02

    You could cut it with a handsaw though if you're inexperienced you may have trouble keeping a straight square cut. Otherwise a circular saw or jigsaw but for something so thin you'll want a finer blade than most come with. TBH, for a one off project, by the time you buy a tool to do the cutting, paint/finish the MDF, buy the shelf pins, measure and drill the holes (do you have a drill?) you may find it just as cheap and more convenient to just buy the Ikea shelves.

    As for cutting glass, I've only done it once and yes, just score and snap though 10mm is rather thick so no idea how easy it'll be. Remember to wear gloves and safety glasses.

  • FLICKIT on 16/08/2021 - 12:10
    +2

    (I believe) Glass shelves are usually toughened/tempered glass so they shatter when broken, they're not normal household window glass which breaks into shards… Using household window glass for shelves probably isn't a good idea…

    You cant cut toughened/tempered glass with a diamond score cutter, it will just shatter…

    Normal household glass cut with the diamond score method has sharp edges which you'd need to smooth off if you did want to use it for shelves…

    • netjock on 16/08/2021 - 12:50

      Glass shelves are usually toughened/tempered glass so they shatter when broken, they're not normal household window glass which breaks into shards… Using household window glass for shelves probably isn't a good idea…

      OP is hilarious.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2021 - 14:04

      I picked up a bunch of glass that someone removed from their shop shelf, approx 50cmx40cmx1cm a piece. I thought I could just score and snap and then go over the edges with 120 grit sandpaper. The weight bearing on each shelf is 1.5kgs max.

      Is there an easy way I can identify what sort of glass I have without pre-booking an ambulence?

      • FLICKIT on 16/08/2021 - 14:15

        If it came from a shop it is most likely some form of tempered/toughened/safety glass… You can try scoring and cutting it (with gloves and safety glasses/goggles on), the worse that will happen is it will shatter into a million pieces…

        If you have a few and you don't mind sacrificing one, maybe hold one in a wheelie bin and give it a tap with a hammer lol, (with gloves and safety glasses on), you'll soon find out if it's some form of safety glass or just regular glass that can be cut… Safety glass will shatter like a car window, glass that can be cut with break into shards and big chunks… (do it in your garbage bin not your recycling bin)

        • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2021 - 14:20

          Oh yeah I've got loads, that's a pretty eay way to tell so I shall michelin man up and give it a go, cheers man :)

          • FLICKIT on 16/08/2021 - 14:24

            @[Deactivated]: Be careful, I don't want to see a new thread "just slashed my wrist testing glass" lol…

            Maybe lay it in the bottom of the bin and drop a brick in at arms length, lol….

            Edit: Let us know how you go… My bet is that it's toughened and it shatters…

      • apsilon on 16/08/2021 - 14:35

        then go over the edges with 120 grit sandpaper

        This reminds me, make sure you have a good mask, preferably a proper respirator rather than a simple dust mask. Glass dust can't be good for you but also MDF dust is nasty stuff as well full of chemicals.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2021 - 14:41
          +1

          Ah shit dang it, I did watch a YT video about mask for mdf, I don't have one of those either, at this rate I need another job to do this project at home, maybe I'll just cave and Ikea it :-/

  • Master Bates on 16/08/2021 - 12:40
    +4

    For $40 (8 glass shelves) I would just buy the Ikea ones and find something else to make out of the MDF.

    • netjock on 16/08/2021 - 12:51

      You know time is money until you have too much of it and nothing to do.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2021 - 13:59
      +1

      Yeah I know, not about the money, locked up and ain't got nothing to do and I just happen to have the materials lying around, at the moment I'd probably weave the shelves out of grass if I knew how.

    • SBOB on 16/08/2021 - 19:21
      +1

      No brainer.
      Perfect fit, already finished edges, tempered glass, and comes with mounting hardware

      IKEA is already diy..
      I get ikea hacking when they don't sell the solution you need, but in this case you'll end up spending more $ to make a worse end result than something they already sell.

  • jellykingdom on 16/08/2021 - 13:22

    i'm sorry i don't quite understand why you aren't just going to buy the correct piece from Ikea…?

  • slknv on 16/08/2021 - 13:40
    +1

    Circular saw or jigsaw to cut the MDF. Make sure you use a clamped straight edge to use as a guide. 4mm MDF is gonna be about as strong as cardboard in terms of weight bearing.

    Wouldn't try to cut 10mm thick glass unless you like cleaning up glass shards for a few weeks.

  • BertieBrown on 17/08/2021 - 14:42

    As others have said, it depends on what you want to actually use the shelves for. 4mm MDF is thin as, it will warp very easily, but if it’s just for cosmetics then it might be okay. I personally can’t stand MDF.

    Best bet with thin material cutting is to put a sacrificial piece under the cut piece, and you set your depth on your circ saw to go through the MDF and then just into the sacrificial piece underneath by say 3mm. This will reduce splintering to give you a nice crisp edge.

    Also, use a fence to get a nice straight edge on your cut, and you run the saw along the side of the straight edge. Best bet is to use a piece of angle, or even a spirit level, measure the distance between the inside of the blade to the outside of the saw frame, add that onto your cut line and then clamp the straight edge. (There’s YouTube vids to help).

    Best tools I would say is a decent circular saw, a high tooth blade (the more teeth the cleaner the cut basically), somewhere to work, a piece of ply underneath as a sacrificial piece, some clamps, a straight edge. With larger pieces you’re better off using a tool on the work piece as opposed to trying to manipulate the work piece in something like a bandsaw as you’ll not get a clean straight edge.

    You could use a table saw, but anything cheap and portable is going to be shit.

    As for glass, I don’t know sorry.

    Good luck, and take your time. Enjoy. :)

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