safe to chop the backs off IKEA units?

[richard plumb]

most IKEA bookshelves/units seem to have that big bit of plywood type material spanning across the back of the unit and held in with lots of little nails. There doesn't seem to be much else providing lateral stability, so is this backing integral to the strength of the units?

I'm wanting to either leave the back off one unit, or at least cut some significant holes for ventilation/cable management. Whats the general advice regarding this? If it compromises strength, are there ways to cut to minimise the effect, or other ways to bring that strength back in?

I'm particularly concerned because the unit I want to hack up is at the bottom of a 4 unit stack which will be very heavy. But they are BESTA units which are designed to be stacked.

[thekingbeyond]

removing the back will compromises strength and structure, the best way to do it would be to cut holes, i used a cheap drill hole saw set for neatness, but you could just use a saw. Or remove the back completely and use some sort of diy braces(right angle triangles out of wood) in the corners to keep the unit square

[Amit_Desai]

The back panels are just made from thin hardboard.

They do provide a little latteral stabiltiy to stop them skewing if leaned on.

Cutting access holes shouldnt be a problem and removing them completley should be ok as long as the unit isnt that high.

If you want to add support, you could attach cable/string diagnoally to the corners.. or maybe fix the sides to the wall with L brackets.

Amit

[ElmoP]

I took the panel off the back of my Ikea Benno because my amp and tvdrive were getting so hot. No adverse effects yet, but I then again I haven't moved it much...

[mhuk05]

Hardboard adds no structural strength- cut or remove as required.

[slingshot]

Originally Posted by mhuk05

Hardboard adds no structural strength- cut or remove as required.

Yes it does, I removed the hardboard back from my Stokholm bench and it sagged in the middle, as the hardboard helped keep it square, although nothing adding an extra leg and putting some angle brackets in didn't cure.

[mhuk05]

Really?! Top quality furniture

[Deepcore]

Originally Posted by mhuk05

Hardboard adds no structural strength- cut or remove as required.

Yes it does, the back board prevents latteral movement or twisting of the unit by linking the two sides together. Take it off and over time you'll find your doors no longer close propperly and have to be adjusted.

As it's been said cutting a few circular holes in the back will be fine. An alternative I've seen mentioned on here is to use a cross brace to replace the back board.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...umber=87749600

..and here's the thread

X - Brace from ikea ?

[AMc]

When I got my Leksvik TV cabinet I laughed at the cable managment hole in the back.
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...roductId=10198
But with a 75KG 32" CRT on top and all the shelves full it needed something to keep it square (the job of the back board IMHO).

The Observator X shaped cross braces from the Ivar shelving systems do the same job for a couple of quid
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...umber=87749600

Keeps the back open for air circulation and cabing and hasn't shown any signs of racking or twisting. I also added L brackets from B&Q at the top/side and base/side joints and glued the doweled connections too. Can't be too careful with a little one around.

LOL just noticed the previous poster linked to a thread where I posted the same details