Skip to main content

Hackers Help: Trouble sliding in BILLY backing board?

Has anyone else had trouble with the new backing board design for BILLY bookcases?

I am assembling eight of them. Four and a bit down.

IKEA BILLY backer board


Related: How remove BILLY backing board?


The hardest part is getting that stupid backing board on! Not only is it about 2mm too narrow, the folded design makes it incredibly difficult to slide in. It bows, it wobbles, it won’t stay in the grooves. I wonder did any if their so called design geniuses ever try assembling one on their own?

Does anyone have any assembly hacks to help?

~ by Ruth Davies

***

Hi Ruth

Sorry to hear of your issues with the BILLY backing board.

I’ve not recently assembled a BILLY, so can’t comment on the 3 panel backing board and whether it is easy to install.

But if the backing board appears too narrow, do check whether the BILLY sides are fully tightened against the horizontal top, middle and bottom panels? If there is some slack, it would become too wide for the boards. Make sure there are no gaps.

Billy backer board

Other than that, I can’t think of any other reason why the grooves won’t hold them as they should.

To help with the bowing as you slide the backing board in

With the BILLY faced down on the floor, pile some books in the two empty sections up to the level of the grooves. The books will support the board as you slide it in and stop them from caving in the middle section.

Method number 2: Get someone to help you. Insert about an inch of the top end of the board into the groove. Have your partner hold up the top section of the board at the two folds, being careful to keep the board in the grooves. Your partner should step backwards as you push the board forward.

Then finish with nails to keep the board in place.

Let us know how you solve this.

Jules


Shop for bookcases and shelving


 

The post Hackers Help: Trouble sliding in BILLY backing board? appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SKÅDIS: 5 ways to make the IKEA pegboard even better

IKEA introduced its own pegboard system, SKÅDIS, two years ago and I’d say it’s one of the best systems IKEA launched in recent years. I love how super customisable it is, with a growing range of accessories that help keep things organized. It works everywhere, in your wardrobe to bathroom . Probably anywhere you have a flat surface to hang it up. Photo: IKEA.com SKÅDIS pegboard system See it on IKEA.com But no matter how perfect a system, you can trust IKEA hackers to improve on the SKÅDIS. And they’ve settle these 5 issues you may have faced with the handy IKEA pegboard. Read on for their fixes. 5 IKEA SKÅDIS issues and fixes #1 Expensive hooks? You’ll need quite a number of hooks and accessories to fill up the SKÅDIS pegboard, and Kenyer was shocked at how quickly they all added up. So he figured he could make his own hooks to save cost. Photo: Kenyer Over at Instructables , he shows us how to twist copper wires into the SKÅDIS hook shape. It works s...

Hackers Help: How to remake cam lock holes?

I want to put a 78.5” wide PAX configuration in a 77” space for a kids room . My plan is to eliminate the drawer on the right unit, then cut the shelves and rails to be 1.5” narrower. My question is, how do people attach two laminated pressboard IKEA pieces after they’ve cut off the cam lock holes? Related: See more Hackers Help questions and answers . Are they using drills bits and/or tiny hole saws to remake the cam lock holes? Or screws drilled in from the outside with wood glue? The outside pieces won’t be visible in my completed setup so I could go either way. I’m curious what other people are doing, either I haven’t seen this detail in past hacks or I haven’t been paying attention. ~ by Jenny *** Hi Jenny The best and tidiest method is to use the cut-off portion as a template to reproduce the same cam lock holes in the correct positions. The right sized drill bits and a  Forstner bit should do the trick. A Forstner bit will drill a flat-bottomed hole (...

6 Clever & Easy IKEA FLISAT Table hacks for more Fun & Play

The IKEA FLISAT children’s table is quite a smart little thing. See those white covers? It’s a secret compartment. Open them up and you’ll fit 2 TROFAST storage tubs snug under the top of the table. Your child can reach in and get his or her LEGO bricks -– and then — most importantly, sweep everything down into the bin to clean up. Or at least that’s what we all hope the kiddo does! It’s also perfect for sensory play. Instagram is full of ideas on what to add to those tubs to maximise them. Think of filling them with rice, pasta or chickpeas, you name it, to develop fine motor skills. Read on to see how you can make the $50 table work harder for so much more fun. #1 Simple mod turns the IKEA FLISAT into a Play & Craft table Lauren has a very simple yet practical hack to turn the FLISAT children’s table into a play table with more storage and better organisation. Materials: Photo: IKEA.com FLISAT table with TROFAST tubs ONSKLIG change table containers Wood bracket ...