Hello everyone,
I have an IKEA Kallax shelf at home, and there is a really annoying problem that has been bothering me: the doors of the Kallax slam shut quite loudly. This is unpleasant for the ears, especially when searching the shelf at night, and I’m also concerned that the doors might get damaged over time. Therefore, I would like to know how to make these doors close much more gently without having to constantly slow them down by hand.
Does anyone know of practical and long-lasting solutions for this? Should I install dampers, or are there special hinges or softer closing mechanisms that I can retrofit? Any tips on materials or technical terms I should research would also be very helpful. Thanks in advance for your advice!
I have an IKEA Kallax shelf at home, and there is a really annoying problem that has been bothering me: the doors of the Kallax slam shut quite loudly. This is unpleasant for the ears, especially when searching the shelf at night, and I’m also concerned that the doors might get damaged over time. Therefore, I would like to know how to make these doors close much more gently without having to constantly slow them down by hand.
Does anyone know of practical and long-lasting solutions for this? Should I install dampers, or are there special hinges or softer closing mechanisms that I can retrofit? Any tips on materials or technical terms I should research would also be very helpful. Thanks in advance for your advice!
Rashadmeo schrieb:
Those things cost almost nothing and are installed in no time.That may be true, but is purely mechanical softening with felt always sufficient?
One should also consider that with repeated impact, there is no permanent relief for the hinges, which could affect their durability.
Danabla schrieb:
Door readjustment: Often overratedI wouldn’t dismiss it entirely, as optimal adjustment reduces impact speed, which plays a huge role when the door closes.
At the same time, I wonder if the door thickness and material in Kallax are inherently limited, making permanent solutions more difficult?
dinano schrieb:
At the same time, I wonder whether the door thickness and material in Kallax are limited anyway, making permanent solutions difficult?That’s a good point! Since the doors are not solid, it would be unfortunate to warp or damage them with too strong dampers.
Therefore, I lean towards gentle solutions that do not require extensive modifications – but as mentioned, if a soft-close system proves reliable and feasible, I would be open to that as well.
Do you have any recommendations for soft-close hinges (brands, models) that work well with thin doors and are also easy to install? Thank you!
A good question regarding the material! Kallax doors are often thinner and coated with melamine, which means the surface is quite delicate.
I recommend the brand "BLUM" for soft-close hinges, specifically the "BLUM CLIP Top" system, which is suitable for lightweight doors. These hinges require 35mm (1 3/8 inch) diameter holes for installation, which can be done on most IKEA doors, provided the laminate does not chip.
If you don’t have the right drill, this kind of work can be more challenging. Installation requires precise measuring and drilling; otherwise, the closing function won’t work properly.
Alternatively, there are push-to-open solutions without handles, which can sometimes be combined with dampers.
For testing, you can also install bumpers first before attempting to fit hinges.
I recommend the brand "BLUM" for soft-close hinges, specifically the "BLUM CLIP Top" system, which is suitable for lightweight doors. These hinges require 35mm (1 3/8 inch) diameter holes for installation, which can be done on most IKEA doors, provided the laminate does not chip.
If you don’t have the right drill, this kind of work can be more challenging. Installation requires precise measuring and drilling; otherwise, the closing function won’t work properly.
Alternatively, there are push-to-open solutions without handles, which can sometimes be combined with dampers.
For testing, you can also install bumpers first before attempting to fit hinges.
N
NICOLELIS21 Feb 2016 09:34Felt or rubber buffers are the simplest and most cost-effective method and are usually sufficient.
Soft-close mechanisms are, of course, more elegant but more complex to install.
First, adjust the doors. If necessary, simply use some foam rubber strips as buffers.
Soft-close mechanisms are, of course, more elegant but more complex to install.
First, adjust the doors. If necessary, simply use some foam rubber strips as buffers.
Hey, I’m familiar with the Kallax doors issue too – in the end, I found a combination that works really well. 🙃
First, as I mentioned, I attached felt pads at the contact points. Quieter, cheaper, and quick to do.
Then I spent some time adjusting the doors for optimal fit – giving them a bit more clearance from the frame edge so they close more gently.
I also think small soft-close dampers that clamp between the door and frame without needing major drilling are quite clever. It doesn’t always have to be an expensive full hinge system! Just search for “door damper clamp soft-close” at online stores.
This way, everything stays more flexible and reversible. I’d recommend giving it a try! 🙂
First, as I mentioned, I attached felt pads at the contact points. Quieter, cheaper, and quick to do.
Then I spent some time adjusting the doors for optimal fit – giving them a bit more clearance from the frame edge so they close more gently.
I also think small soft-close dampers that clamp between the door and frame without needing major drilling are quite clever. It doesn’t always have to be an expensive full hinge system! Just search for “door damper clamp soft-close” at online stores.
This way, everything stays more flexible and reversible. I’d recommend giving it a try! 🙂
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