ᐅ After my DIY modification, my KALLAX shelves always have gaps between the boards.

Hello everyone,

I recently remodeled my IKEA KALLAX shelving unit myself to make the shelves more flexibly adjustable. I replaced the original metal supports with homemade wooden strips and adjusted the shelves accordingly. The problem now is that gaps keep appearing between the shelves, which do not go away no matter how I arrange the boards. The shelves do not fit tightly together; there are visible gaps that make the whole construction seem unstable and also look unappealing.

Has anyone had similar experiences or knows what might cause this? I am aware that the original supports ensure stability, but is there a way to avoid these gaps despite the DIY mounting? I would appreciate any insights into the cause or suggestions for improvement, as I have already tried several approaches and it still doesn’t quite fit.

Becharles3 schrieb:
The problem is that gaps keep appearing between the shelves, and they just won’t go away

That sounds really frustrating, especially after putting in a lot of effort and still ending up with gaps. I’ve done DIY projects with Kallax myself, and the shelves rarely fit perfectly in the end. Sometimes these gaps are caused by slight inaccuracies in measurements or the thickness of the trim, which can often vary a bit.

What helped me was trying to secure the shelves with some soft spacers, like small felt strips or cork pieces, placed at the joints. This reduced shifting and at least made the gaps smaller.

I understand this isn’t the most elegant fix, but maybe it can help you a bit until you find a more permanent solution. How exactly did you attach the wooden trims? Were they measured very precisely? Sometimes it also helps to adjust the holders themselves to match the shelf thickness.

Becharles3 schrieb:
I replaced the original metal brackets with homemade wooden strips

This is an interesting project! I suspect that the gaps in your KALLAX are caused by a combination of factors. In a DIY conversion, the following details usually play a key role:

1. Dimensional accuracy: The original metal brackets are typically manufactured to millimeter precision and are designed for the exact thickness of the KALLAX shelves. Wooden strips are difficult to make precisely to thickness and tend to slightly deform due to moisture or pressure.

2. Fastening method: What type of screws, wall plugs, or gluing techniques did you use to fix the strips? Without a strong anchoring, the system can shift, which then causes the gaps.

3. Material tolerances: The shelves themselves have certain tolerances in width and length. Small variations can add up when stacked, resulting in visible gaps.

4. Load and installation position: Depending on how the shelves are loaded, small shifts can occur, especially if the strips were not installed with load-bearing optimization.

My advice: Check the exact thicknesses of all materials used with calipers. Try to clamp the shelves tightly during assembly so they fit “press-fit” from the start. You might also consider adding small tongue and groove joints to the strips to prevent lateral movement.

Did you consider any structural reinforcements during the conversion? This is often a weak point, especially with homemade brackets. If you like, you can share your measurements and fastening methods here, and I can give you more specific feedback.

Becharles3 schrieb:
The shelves do not fit tightly together; visible gaps are present

Gaps in DIY modifications on Kallax units usually occur when the support surfaces of the molding strips are not perfectly aligned or have uneven spots. Therefore, please check:

- Are the molding strips perfectly flat and straight?

- Do the dimensions of the wooden strips exactly match the thickness of the shelf and the width of the unit?

- Are the shelves inserted straight, or do they get slightly stuck?

If wooden molding strips are used, sanding the edges slightly can help achieve a tighter fit. Additionally, a small amount of wooden dowels can provide extra stability.