Hello everyone,
I recently ordered a Billy shelving unit from IKEA with doors and am now facing the problem that the doors cannot be aligned straight. The issue is that the doors, in some places, either stick out too far forward or sit too far back, preventing them from closing flush. I’ve read that using spacer washers can help adjust the distance and position of the doors more accurately.
My question is: Has anyone had experience with using spacer washers on BILLY unit doors to achieve a clean, straight alignment? What thickness and placement of the spacer washers are recommended, and are there particular points to watch out for to ensure an easy and long-lasting solution?
Looking forward to tips and advice!
I recently ordered a Billy shelving unit from IKEA with doors and am now facing the problem that the doors cannot be aligned straight. The issue is that the doors, in some places, either stick out too far forward or sit too far back, preventing them from closing flush. I’ve read that using spacer washers can help adjust the distance and position of the doors more accurately.
My question is: Has anyone had experience with using spacer washers on BILLY unit doors to achieve a clean, straight alignment? What thickness and placement of the spacer washers are recommended, and are there particular points to watch out for to ensure an easy and long-lasting solution?
Looking forward to tips and advice!
Genevieve schrieb:
Wouldn't it be more practical to first completely loosen all screws, roughly align the door, and then insert shims only if needed?Thanks for the advice. That’s exactly how I have been doing it so far: first loosening a bit, aligning, then trying to adjust the doors as best as possible. Unfortunately, this is not sufficient when the misalignment is significant. The doors rub against the edges and are noticeably out of alignment in some areas. That’s why I am specifically looking for a solution to precisely compensate with shims without damaging the hinges.
lorena schrieb:
The thickness of the shims should compensate for the door’s tilt.That sounds reasonable. What is the best method to measure how thick the shims should ideally be? Simply measuring on-site with a ruler and protractor, or is there a better approach?
To measure the required thickness of spacer shims:
It is best to use a simple feeler gauge or a thickness gauge to determine the gap between the door and the frame at the problematic points. It helps to secure the door in the closed position and use a thin feeler gauge set to check exactly where and how much clearance is missing.
Measuring in several areas (top/center/bottom) helps to identify differences.
Alternatively, a simple folding rule can be sufficient, but accuracy is crucial to avoid the shims being too thick or too thin.
If necessary, use multiple thinner shims to gradually reach the correct thickness.
It is best to use a simple feeler gauge or a thickness gauge to determine the gap between the door and the frame at the problematic points. It helps to secure the door in the closed position and use a thin feeler gauge set to check exactly where and how much clearance is missing.
Measuring in several areas (top/center/bottom) helps to identify differences.
Alternatively, a simple folding rule can be sufficient, but accuracy is crucial to avoid the shims being too thick or too thin.
If necessary, use multiple thinner shims to gradually reach the correct thickness.
kinnar schrieb:
What is the best way to measure how thick the panels should ideally be?It’s simple: always start with thin panels and gradually increase the thickness until the door fits perfectly! This makes adjustment a breeze :-)
For my BILLY, I got spacer shims from the hardware store, tried different thicknesses, and voilà, the door fits like new! Don’t get discouraged, it works great!
retau schrieb:
Start with thin washers, then gradually increase thickness until the door fits perfectly!Exactly! And another tip from experience: Avoid washers made of overly hard materials, as they can cause cracking when used with wood screws. Plastic or rubber washers are often more suitable.
Also, check at the end that the hinge still closes without any play, otherwise it will affect the door alignment. Good luck with the adjustments! :-)
PRA64 schrieb:
Place spacer washers between the hinge and the side panel to move the door either further out or inwards.I want to add one more point: If the door protrudes too far at the front, simply place washers under the hinge screws on the shelf side.
If it sits recessed instead, you can try adjusting at the hinges on the door itself, if possible.
This way, you can precisely control the direction in which the door is adjusted.
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