ᐅ After painting, my KALLAX unit no longer closes properly on both sides – any tips?
Created on: 4 May 2021 09:37
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NizihanHello everyone,
I recently repainted an IKEA KALLAX shelf unit, carefully sanding all the wooden parts and then applying acrylic paint. Unfortunately, I now have a problem where the doors on both sides of the KALLAX unit don’t close properly. Specifically, the doors don’t close flush, and in some places there is a gap, causing them to wobble or not fully "click" shut. Before painting, everything was fine, and the hinge and door system was not altered.
I have already tried adjusting the hinges, but without success. Could the paint be causing these issues, or is it perhaps due to the thickness of the paint affecting the door dimensions? Are there any tips on how to best fix doors that stick or don’t close properly after painting?
Thanks for your help!
I recently repainted an IKEA KALLAX shelf unit, carefully sanding all the wooden parts and then applying acrylic paint. Unfortunately, I now have a problem where the doors on both sides of the KALLAX unit don’t close properly. Specifically, the doors don’t close flush, and in some places there is a gap, causing them to wobble or not fully "click" shut. Before painting, everything was fine, and the hinge and door system was not altered.
I have already tried adjusting the hinges, but without success. Could the paint be causing these issues, or is it perhaps due to the thickness of the paint affecting the door dimensions? Are there any tips on how to best fix doors that stick or don’t close properly after painting?
Thanks for your help!
Nizihan schrieb:
Could the paint be causing the problems, or could it be the thickness of the paint affecting the door dimensions?That is indeed the most likely cause. Layers of paint, especially if applied thickly or unevenly, can increase the door’s thickness and thus affect how it closes.
My advice: Check if the paint has created uneven spots or build-ups along the edges. These can be carefully removed using fine sandpaper. Afterwards, you should rehanging the doors and readjust the hinges. It is important to apply only very thin layers of paint in the future to avoid changing the measurements.
Lorukeo schrieb:
Layers of paint, especially when they are multiple or applied unevenly and thickly, can increase the door thickness and thus affect its closing.Additionally, wood absorbs paint at different rates, so some areas may accumulate more paint depending on the surface.
It can also help to subtly recess the spots where the door rubs by using a fine abrasive pad or sanding fleece to fine-tune the hinges.
Also, make sure to allow sufficient drying time: if the paint is still slightly tacky, it can interfere with the door closing properly.
Thanks for the initial information!
The doors are actually painted on the inside; the paint could be slightly thicker there since I didn’t carefully sand the edges because I thought no one would notice. It sounds like I should completely remove the doors and sand the edges again, especially around the hinges?
Also, I tightened the hinges a bit, but that didn’t solve the problem. Would it be necessary to remove them completely and reposition them if the door is now thicker? Is that generally manageable or more complicated?
I’d appreciate any experiences, as the shelf is really important to me.
The doors are actually painted on the inside; the paint could be slightly thicker there since I didn’t carefully sand the edges because I thought no one would notice. It sounds like I should completely remove the doors and sand the edges again, especially around the hinges?
Also, I tightened the hinges a bit, but that didn’t solve the problem. Would it be necessary to remove them completely and reposition them if the door is now thicker? Is that generally manageable or more complicated?
I’d appreciate any experiences, as the shelf is really important to me.
Hello Nizihan,
yes, it makes sense to remove the doors and carefully sand the edges with fine-grit sandpaper (grit 220 or finer), especially where the paint is too thick or transitions are noticeable. This reduces the additional thickness that has formed.
If you completely remove the hinges, you can check whether you can slightly reposition them. Usually, it is possible to adjust by a few millimeters to close the gap. The screw holes on the KALLAX are generally flexible enough to allow some offset without compromising stability.
Tip: If you want to drill new holes, make sure they are not too close to the old ones to avoid weakening the wood. Using new anchors can also help ensure stability.
yes, it makes sense to remove the doors and carefully sand the edges with fine-grit sandpaper (grit 220 or finer), especially where the paint is too thick or transitions are noticeable. This reduces the additional thickness that has formed.
If you completely remove the hinges, you can check whether you can slightly reposition them. Usually, it is possible to adjust by a few millimeters to close the gap. The screw holes on the KALLAX are generally flexible enough to allow some offset without compromising stability.
Tip: If you want to drill new holes, make sure they are not too close to the old ones to avoid weakening the wood. Using new anchors can also help ensure stability.
Summary of the procedure:
1. Remove the doors and place them on a workbench.
2. Use fine sandpaper to sand the edges and paint transitions, especially around the hinge areas, until the door dimensions roughly match the original.
3. If necessary, slightly deepen the edges of the recesses for the hinges to allow room for additional paint.
4. Remove the hinges and inspect the wood for any damage.
5. Re-adjust the hinges or mount them slightly offset by enlarging the screw holes or drilling new, shifted holes.
6. Re-hang the doors and check their functionality.
7. If needed, do a fine sanding after drying.
Often, simply sanding off the layers of paint is enough to allow the door to close properly again. If you don’t have power tools, use sandpaper and a sanding block for an even finish.
Hope this helps!
1. Remove the doors and place them on a workbench.
2. Use fine sandpaper to sand the edges and paint transitions, especially around the hinge areas, until the door dimensions roughly match the original.
3. If necessary, slightly deepen the edges of the recesses for the hinges to allow room for additional paint.
4. Remove the hinges and inspect the wood for any damage.
5. Re-adjust the hinges or mount them slightly offset by enlarging the screw holes or drilling new, shifted holes.
6. Re-hang the doors and check their functionality.
7. If needed, do a fine sanding after drying.
Often, simply sanding off the layers of paint is enough to allow the door to close properly again. If you don’t have power tools, use sandpaper and a sanding block for an even finish.
Hope this helps!
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