Hacker Help: Un-hacking a Lack?

Materials: Lack

Description: I currently have two sets of Lack side tables stacked on top of each other and glued together that serve as storage, one on each side of my TV cabinet. It's worked OK for the past year, but I want to upgrade it to something that looks just a bit nicer. I was able to get another pair of Lack side tables (so I now have a total of 6) of Craigslist for cheap but they're in a different color.

Ideally, what I'd like to do is have something I'd like to do is have the same basic thing but have it so that each Lack-stack is sitting on the third Lack tabletop (so it would be top, legs, top, legs, top). The problem is that the I (a) want to keep the red and (b) would be really bothered by the black of the new Lack tables just being at the bottom.

So is there a way for me to un-glue the Lack stacks I have now without damaging them too badly so that I can put the red tabletops on the top and the bottom and the black ones in the middle? If not I can just repaint or decoupage all the shelves but I'd rather not.

~ Q

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Hacker help: "Little" loft bed - does it work?

Materials: 1x Sniglar junior bed, 2x Laiva desk

Description: We have a Sniglar junior bed. Now I'm searching for a way to make it higher. My daughter is 2 years old, so I guess a solution with a "little" cave is enough.

Laiva desk and Sniglar Bed are both 70cm wide. Is it possible to use 2 desks as high legs? How to fix them? Shall I cut of the legs of Sniglar or is there another solution? As possible I wanna use the desks and the bed later again separate...

~ Miriam G., Germany

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Hacker help: What is this rail called??

Materials: ?

Description: Hi all.
I was wondering what the cord rail in this photo is called. This picture is from one of IKEA's promotional pieces. The rail I'm talking about is the one where all the photos and that pink mask are hanging off of. Thanks.

~ Amir, London, UK

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Hacker help: How to fancy up a plain Melltorp?

Photo: IKEA.com

Materials: Melltorp

Description: My plain white Melltorp - I bought it as a temporary dining table while I look for a "grown up" version. I've used it as a desk, a sewing table, an ironing board, bookshelf... I love the simplicity of this table, yet it is too...simple. Is there an affordable and a junior hacker friendly method of fancying it up? What chairs would you recommend?

~ Jina

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Hacker Help: Un-hacking a Lack?

Materials: Lack

Description: I currently have two sets of Lack side tables stacked on top of each other and glued together that serve as storage, one on each side of my TV cabinet. It's worked OK for the past year, but I want to upgrade it to something that looks just a bit nicer. I was able to get another pair of Lack side tables (so I now have a total of 6) of Craigslist for cheap but they're in a different color.

Ideally, what I'd like to do is have something I'd like to do is have the same basic thing but have it so that each Lack-stack is sitting on the third Lack tabletop (so it would be top, legs, top, legs, top). The problem is that the I (a) want to keep the red and (b) would be really bothered by the black of the new Lack tables just being at the bottom.

So is there a way for me to un-glue the Lack stacks I have now without damaging them too badly so that I can put the red tabletops on the top and the bottom and the black ones in the middle? If not I can just repaint or decoupage all the shelves but I'd rather not.

~ Q

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Hacker help: Need help to identify this chair

Description: Does anyone know the name of the chair in the middle? the chair is still produced?

~ JN

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Hacker help: Kvissle as diaper caddy?

Materials: Kvissle cable management box

Description: I want to use the Kvissle cable management box as a diaper caddy and hang it on the wall above the changing table in my baby's room. There are no holes in the back of the box, though there are holes at the bottom. A Huggies wipes container fits almost perfectly, it sticks out a tiny amount at the back. Any ideas as to how to hang it? Thanks!

~ Amanda

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Hacker Help: Sofa with built-in storage shelves?

Materials: unknown

Description: I'm looking to hack or build a sofa sectional with built in storage shelves on the side arms all the way to the back of the sofa. I think this has extremely hacker potential, anyone have suggestions?

~ Gus

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Hacker help: Workstation between two Expedit shelves?

Materials: 5x5 Expedit shelf, 2x4 Expedit shelf and Vika Kaj adjustable leg

Description: Recently married, I'm trying to setup a workstation for the wife with plenty of storage space to work with. I've already bought a 5x5 Expedit shelf and want to figure out if I can place a table top between two Expedit shelves with L-brackets (The one which you get with the Expedit workstation?) on both sides and a adjustable leg in the middle for support. Would that work or would I need to add in a wall support (something I want to avoid)?

Also I'd like to able to use Expedit inserts (with doors) under the table or is that asking for too much?

The table top will be used for an iMac 21 inch and a bunch of external hard drives.

In the foreseeable future, I'll be adding a corner workstation on the other side of the 2x4 Expedit shelf for myself so that's why I need the shelf at least open on my wife's side for access.

Thank you.

~ Faisal Khatib, Dubai, UAE

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Hacker help: Coffee to Dining convertible table?

Materials: unknown

Description: I'm looking to build a coffee/dining convertible table. Convertible furniture is becoming more appealing with smaller condos, but the prices are ridiculous. I think we can do better.

What I'm looking to accomplish is a table like this one (pics above).

Any initial thoughts are welcome!

~ marek, Toronto, Canada

Photos: Modernika.net

Marek,
Please check out an earlier post and discussion on something similar. Hope it will kickstart some thinking. Here's the link. ~ Jules

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Hacker help: Built in Billy Birch Veneer Match?

Photo: IKEA.com

Materials: Billy Birch Veneer Shelves, Benno DVD tower

Description: I am attempting a built in Billy project, with 7 shelves in total (2 wide Billys, 3 narrow Billys, and 2 Benno DVD towers). Because of the room the shelves are going in, I've opted for a wood veneer finish, rather than the white (or white primer then colours) favoured by most of the hacks I've seen here.

In addition to adding some wood (which will likely be painted the same colour as the wall), I'd like to add some mouldings, like a baseboard at the bottom, to make the units look more built-in.

So I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations on matching the billy birch veneer from IKEA? Stains, or woods that typically look similar? Most mouldings from my local DIY stores seem to be untreated pine. This is the first bit of significant DIY I've done myself in my house, and I'm planning on leaving those shelves up for a very long time, so any suggestions would be gratefully received.

I've attached a picture of one of my Benno towers, with the first part of the hack (painting those backboards) complete.

~ Jennifer Keane

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Hacker help: How to make a lamp from x-rays?

Materials: ?

Description: I want to make a wall lamp out of my x-rays of my head (cat-scans). I think the idea is pretty cool, but I am stuck on how to make it happen..

Any ideas?

~ Hege_Norway, Norway

Hege, 
You can try using the Gyllen lamp (photo above) and personalise it like how Damian did it. ~ Jules

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Hacker help: How do I silence the Lottorp Clock?

Materials: Lottorp Clock

Description: Found this handy little clock at Ikea (Malaysia) but it makes an annoying, loud beep when you change the function or press the buttons. Have tried to cover the speaker hole but sound is not reduced in the least. Has anyone tried to silence one of these clocks? Have not figured out how to take it apart to disconnect the speaker. Of course, this will render the alarm useless.

Thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

~ Chris Egan, KL, Malaysia

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Hacker help: How to stack 2 Lillangen together?

Photo: IKEA.com

Materials: LILLÅNGEN wall cabinet

Description: I have a small entryway, I was thinking about placing 2 LILLÅNGEN wall cabinets one on top of the other (possibly placing the top one upside down as a sort of desk) SOMEHOW, adding some feet/leg frames.

The point is how to stick them together... as I am totally unable to drill things to the walls. Any ideas?


~ chiara, Milan, Italy.

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Hacker help: Harlig for Billy?

Materials: Billy Bookcase, Harlig doors

Description: Hello,

I recently discovered the various built-in bookcases that can be made with simple Billys, and have decided to try it out.

However, the Billy doors are all too high for my configuration (the TV will be on this built in, and needs to be lower than what the doors would allow for). Also, Billy doors are not the cheapest and I will need 6 of them...

I was thinking of using Harlig doors, which are cheaper, and come in 40x70, which would be perfect for me.

Since I have never done the slightest modification to IKEA furniture before, I would like to know: would the Harlig doors be compatible with the Billy bookcase? Will I have to drill extra holes into the Billy for the hinges to fit properly?

~ Julie, France

Photo: IKEA.com

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Hacker help: How to Dress My-Shelf?

Photo: IKEA.com

Materials: RANSBY Dressing table

Description: I want to put the RANSBY dressing table in my bedroom, but wall space in the room is limited and I also need to get some bookcases in. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas how to hack the RANSBY into/onto/under? a bookcase (or bookcases). The ceilings are quite high in the bedroom, so the shelves could be quite tall, but I am worried about stability (don't want the whole thing to topple over). Any suggestions?

~ Mikaela

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Hacker help: How do I cut the bed legs?

Materials: Nyvoll bed frame

Description: Our new mattress is much taller than our old one and now my feet don't even touch the ground when I'm sitting on the edge of our Nyvoll.

I'd like to saw 6 inches (15cm) off the legs but I'm not sure if a simple hand saw is the right tool. Will the veneer split? Will the core crumble?

The product homepage is here.

Product description
Bed frame:
Main parts/ Headboard: Particleboard, Foil
Leg/ Leg, headboard: Fiberboard, Foil, ABS plastic

Thank you in advance!

~ Scott, Vancouver, Canada

Photos: IKEA.com

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Hacker help: Ironing Alex?

Materials: Alex drawer unit

Description: I recently saw an Alex drawer unit that someone had fitted with dividers to hold large spools of quilting thread. I don't have large spools like hers, but I thought it was a very clever way to see your thread but then "not see it" when you don't need it. I cut strips from an old piece of foam core, taped them to the sides of the drawers, and arranged my thread by color. Pins stuck into the foam core hold the corresponding bobbins nearby. Very nice!

I also discovered that the top of the Alex was a good place to put my little pressing board and iron. The only trouble was that there was "just enough" space for the iron and board and if either shifted, one of them was in danger of falling off. Not nice.

I'd like to find a rack/shelf of some kind that I can attach to the top of the cabinet somehow, and then attach the board to that. And since I'd also like to enlarge the pressing board to a full 24" square (it's only 22" now), it would have to be wide enough to be able to hold the iron completely to the side.

I'm hoping that some of your clever folk might have some ideas for me. Many thanks!

~ Peg Farrell, United States

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Hacker help: Ironing Alex?

Materials: Alex drawer unit

Description: I recently saw an Alex drawer unit that someone had fitted with dividers to hold large spools of quilting thread. I don't have large spools like hers, but I thought it was a very clever way to see your thread but then "not see it" when you don't need it. I cut strips from an old piece of foam core, taped them to the sides of the drawers, and arranged my thread by color. Pins stuck into the foam core hold the corresponding bobbins nearby. Very nice!

I also discovered that the top of the Alex was a good place to put my little pressing board and iron. The only trouble was that there was "just enough" space for the iron and board and if either shifted, one of them was in danger of falling off. Not nice.

I'd like to find a rack/shelf of some kind that I can attach to the top of the cabinet somehow, and then attach the board to that. And since I'd also like to enlarge the pressing board to a full 24" square (it's only 22" now), it would have to be wide enough to be able to hold the iron completely to the side.

I'm hoping that some of your clever folk might have some ideas for me. Many thanks!

~ Peg Farrell, United States

Hacker help: How to hack a single Expedit and desk

Photo: IKEA.com

Materials: Expedit and unknown

Description: Hi, I'm trying to make a single version of the Expedit desk hack here.

So I'll start with a 4x1 Expedit in white and I'd like to add a desk the same as in the link but only 44cm in width to match the Expedit. My issue is I can't find anything to suit it. I've looked into having a shelf with legs or even two shelves to form the desk pictured but they are coming up short in the dimensions. Am I missing something? Has this been done before?

Please help!

It is for an 21.5" imac so i may add a keyboard pull out tray or something else if you have any ideas??

~ Matthew Lucas, England