ᐅ My dog has chewed the corners of the KALLAX unit – is it possible to repair them?

Hello everyone, I have a somewhat unusual question and hope to benefit from your experience: my dog seems to have chewed on the corners of my KALLAX shelf unit — these are the typical white ABS plastic edge protectors that IKEA uses. The corners are partially gnawed and look damaged. Since I don’t want to replace the entire shelf right away, I’m wondering if there are any ways to repair or replace these chewed corners without having to dismantle the whole KALLAX? Maybe someone has a practical tip for fixing or modifying such damage, ideally in a way that is durable and visually appealing? I’m open to all ideas, thanks in advance!

Hey Oralklo, this is definitely a problem that dog owners know all too well! 🙂 It’s great that you don’t want to throw away the shelf right away – often these can be repaired quite well! I would definitely try to reshape the chewed corners using a specialized plastic adhesive or epoxy resin. This way, you can basically rebuild the missing parts and sand them smooth! Then, you can apply a matching paint to approximate the color of the plastic. It won’t look brand new, but it will look neat and hold up, I promise! Good luck, you can do it!

Hello Oralklo, in general, the ABS corners on KALLAX units are quite durable, but of course, they are sensitive to mechanical damage. A permanent repair is possible if you remodel the material, for example, using a two-component plastic filler. It is important to sand and clean the surface thoroughly beforehand to ensure the filler adheres well. However, if the shelf is older and the plastic has yellowed, it can be difficult to match the color exactly. Alternatively, you could use suitable plastic edge protectors that can be slipped over the corners. This would look the cleanest and be quicker. It’s a pretty good solution if the damage is too severe.

I always wonder with these repair attempts whether it really makes sense to aim for perfect appearance in the end, or if it’s better to accept wear and tear that’s pet-friendly.

Declan55 schrieb:
shaping with special plastic adhesive or an epoxy resin

sounds practical, but does it hold up in the long term? What about the durability of the corners if a dog starts chewing on them again? Wouldn’t it be better to use more durable materials, like metal edging, instead of repairing the fragile plastic corners? Especially since a shelf like that is relatively inexpensive and replacement is easy to get. Just asking, so it doesn’t turn out that you spend more effort on repairs than on buying new.

Thanks in advance for the quick and detailed responses! Regarding Victor54’s question: The idea of metal edges is interesting and something I’ve considered, but I want to preserve the original look of the KALLAX as much as possible, and metal would definitely stand out. Also, I don’t want to alter the shelf completely since it’s leaning against the wall and partly fitted in. Replacing it is not an option at the moment. Fortunately, my dog currently has no health issues and no longer chews on it (he now seems only interested in his own toys). So, I’m thinking of a long-term solution using plastic filler and paint. Does anyone have experience with suitable paints that adhere well to ABS plastic?

Use epoxy filler, sand it well, and prime with a plastic primer. Then apply spray paint in a matching color. It adheres well and looks neat.