Hello everyone,
I would like to make my Billy bookcase childproof and am considering installing childproof hinges to prevent unsafe opening by children. Since many of you likely have experience with IKEA furniture and safety devices, I’m interested in how to equip the BILLY bookcase with childproof hinges without compromising its appearance or functionality too much.
Specifically, I’m curious about which types of childproof hinges are suitable for this purpose, how complex the installation is, and if there are any tips to ensure long-term stability and safe use.
I would appreciate any advice on reliable products, recommended installation methods, and potential issues to watch out for.
I would like to make my Billy bookcase childproof and am considering installing childproof hinges to prevent unsafe opening by children. Since many of you likely have experience with IKEA furniture and safety devices, I’m interested in how to equip the BILLY bookcase with childproof hinges without compromising its appearance or functionality too much.
Specifically, I’m curious about which types of childproof hinges are suitable for this purpose, how complex the installation is, and if there are any tips to ensure long-term stability and safe use.
I would appreciate any advice on reliable products, recommended installation methods, and potential issues to watch out for.
S
Sigismund23 Jan 2017 08:09Thanks for the feedback so far!
For your information: The BILLY shelf in question has standard dimensions with doors made of wood fiberboard coated with plastic, door thickness approximately 16 mm (0.6 inches). The hinges currently used are standard metal hinges with sleeve nuts in the drilled holes.
I am leaning towards a combination of springs hinges plus an additional external locking mechanism.
Does anyone have specific product recommendations that fit well with these dimensions? Also, I would be interested to know how challenging it is to reinforce the doors made from this particular IKEA material. Would attaching a thin plywood panel to the inside of the door be a good idea to secure the hinges better?
For your information: The BILLY shelf in question has standard dimensions with doors made of wood fiberboard coated with plastic, door thickness approximately 16 mm (0.6 inches). The hinges currently used are standard metal hinges with sleeve nuts in the drilled holes.
I am leaning towards a combination of springs hinges plus an additional external locking mechanism.
Does anyone have specific product recommendations that fit well with these dimensions? Also, I would be interested to know how challenging it is to reinforce the doors made from this particular IKEA material. Would attaching a thin plywood panel to the inside of the door be a good idea to secure the hinges better?
Hello Sigismund,
From my own experience, I can confirm that reinforcing the doors of the BILLY shelving unit by gluing a thin plywood sheet (about 4-6 mm (0.16-0.24 inches)) to the inside of the doors significantly increases the screw holding strength of the hinges. It is important to secure the connections with suitable wood glues and additionally use short screws.
This is not only useful but often necessary, as the IKEA panel materials alone do not provide enough stability for heavy or safety-critical hinges.
For child-safe hinges, models from brands like Hettich or Blum are suitable, which work with clamp or screw mounting. Make sure to choose hinges with a safety locking mechanism or spring system.
The installation requires some DIY skills because the drilling for the hinges must be very precise. A drilling jig and a depth stop on the drill bit are very helpful here.
If you like, I can also send you links and recommendations for specific hinge models.
From my own experience, I can confirm that reinforcing the doors of the BILLY shelving unit by gluing a thin plywood sheet (about 4-6 mm (0.16-0.24 inches)) to the inside of the doors significantly increases the screw holding strength of the hinges. It is important to secure the connections with suitable wood glues and additionally use short screws.
Sigismund schrieb:
Is gluing a thin plywood sheet to the inside of the door useful to better fix the hinges?
This is not only useful but often necessary, as the IKEA panel materials alone do not provide enough stability for heavy or safety-critical hinges.
For child-safe hinges, models from brands like Hettich or Blum are suitable, which work with clamp or screw mounting. Make sure to choose hinges with a safety locking mechanism or spring system.
The installation requires some DIY skills because the drilling for the hinges must be very precise. A drilling jig and a depth stop on the drill bit are very helpful here.
If you like, I can also send you links and recommendations for specific hinge models.
J
JAMESONB4123 Jan 2017 10:29Simple solution: Buy special child safety hinge sets for furniture. Remove the door, unscrew the old hinge, and attach the new one. Just make sure to check the door thickness and the drill hole dimensions. Done.
Jamalli schrieb:
whether the use of childproof hinges alone is really enoughI find this point important because no matter how much you try, safety is always a combination of measures. I also spent a long time trying to make a shelf childproof and in the end chose a combination of hinge springs plus externally lockable latches. This also gives a good feeling that the little ones really cannot get access without help.
I know these solutions involve effort and sometimes minor visual compromises, but the safety of our children comes first!
Good luck to you, and feel free to reach out if you have further questions or need help with installation!
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