Hello everyone,
I recently bought a KALLAX shelf unit from IKEA and want to change the door hinge so that the door opens from left to right. However, I’ve had repeated issues when removing the hinges and mounting them on the opposite side – the screw holes don’t seem to align perfectly on the new side, and dry screwed connections don’t feel stable enough.
I’m interested if anyone has experience with this and how to best change the door hinge on the KALLAX unit without the door becoming wobbly or misaligned afterwards. Are there any tips to keep in mind? Or perhaps alternative methods that IKEA doesn’t directly suggest?
Looking forward to your advice and experiences!
I recently bought a KALLAX shelf unit from IKEA and want to change the door hinge so that the door opens from left to right. However, I’ve had repeated issues when removing the hinges and mounting them on the opposite side – the screw holes don’t seem to align perfectly on the new side, and dry screwed connections don’t feel stable enough.
I’m interested if anyone has experience with this and how to best change the door hinge on the KALLAX unit without the door becoming wobbly or misaligned afterwards. Are there any tips to keep in mind? Or perhaps alternative methods that IKEA doesn’t directly suggest?
Looking forward to your advice and experiences!
dan_ka schrieb:
the drill holes apparently don’t align exactly on the new side This is because IKEA does not prepare the drill holes as mirror images on both sides. You will need to make new holes, preferably with a drill bit slightly smaller than the screws.
dan_ka schrieb:
that the door wobbles or sits crooked later This is usually caused by uneven spacing when attaching. It’s best to use a spacer (e.g., a small piece of wood) when screwing the hinges in place.
Hello dan_ka,
I had a similar issue with my KALLAX and changing the door hinge side. The most important thing is to first remove all the hinges completely and carefully fill the old holes to maintain stability and prevent cracks.
After that, you can fit the hinges on the opposite side. It helps to mark the position of the new holes precisely – a square or a template can assist with this. If the holes on the new side become too large, you can repair them with wooden dowels or wood filler to ensure a secure hold again.
Also, unfortunately, IKEA does not provide a mirror-image pre-configuration for KALLAX, so you need to measure and align everything very carefully. Avoiding a crooked door will make the unit look much higher quality.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask again!
I had a similar issue with my KALLAX and changing the door hinge side. The most important thing is to first remove all the hinges completely and carefully fill the old holes to maintain stability and prevent cracks.
After that, you can fit the hinges on the opposite side. It helps to mark the position of the new holes precisely – a square or a template can assist with this. If the holes on the new side become too large, you can repair them with wooden dowels or wood filler to ensure a secure hold again.
Also, unfortunately, IKEA does not provide a mirror-image pre-configuration for KALLAX, so you need to measure and align everything very carefully. Avoiding a crooked door will make the unit look much higher quality.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask again!
I know how frustrating it can be when small inaccuracies in the drill pattern cause everything to hang crooked or wobble. I experienced this myself when relocating the door hinge on a KALLAX and can only say: patience is really the key.
That helped me a lot because without a stable screw spacing, the door kept coming loose. I also noticed that it’s helpful to mark the spot again with a thin nail or center punch before the first new hole – this prevents the drill bit from slipping.
If the look of the old holes bothers you: I filled them with wood filler and then sanded lightly, which gives a neat finish. Good luck, and don’t get discouraged! 🙂
tanhau schrieb:
It’s best to use a spacer
That helped me a lot because without a stable screw spacing, the door kept coming loose. I also noticed that it’s helpful to mark the spot again with a thin nail or center punch before the first new hole – this prevents the drill bit from slipping.
If the look of the old holes bothers you: I filled them with wood filler and then sanded lightly, which gives a neat finish. Good luck, and don’t get discouraged! 🙂
J
JEREMIAH3823 May 2019 10:17Great that this topic is coming up here. I know that small furniture modifications like these are often underestimated.
That is a really important tip. Additionally, I would like to say: When you drill the dowel holes again, make sure to drill them straight and precisely. A simple drill stand can work wonders here. I’ve also found that it sometimes helps to hang the door temporarily before final screwing and then adjust the hinges with millimeter accuracy.
If the door still doesn’t hang perfectly after replacement, small silicone or felt strips on the edge can ensure a secure and quiet fit.
I hope these tips help you solve the problem! The KALLAX doors are actually quite easy to work on, but the fit is not always straightforward.
Tommy38 schrieb:
If the holes on the new side become too large, you can fix them with wooden dowels or wood filler
That is a really important tip. Additionally, I would like to say: When you drill the dowel holes again, make sure to drill them straight and precisely. A simple drill stand can work wonders here. I’ve also found that it sometimes helps to hang the door temporarily before final screwing and then adjust the hinges with millimeter accuracy.
If the door still doesn’t hang perfectly after replacement, small silicone or felt strips on the edge can ensure a secure and quiet fit.
I hope these tips help you solve the problem! The KALLAX doors are actually quite easy to work on, but the fit is not always straightforward.
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