Good tip! I had a feeling the corner would be the issue. Just looked at yours and it looks great, though I think you have an extra piece on the right side I won't have.Originally Posted by jsmcmullen92
This is going to more than double the space I have for books. The room the boss designated as where they can all go is only 10x10 and is also where the family computer goes, so space is limited, but this will be huge for me.
They sell a bracket now that helps you align the corner pieces. They have guides that the bottom of the cases sit into, so it creates a consistent angle and so the fronts of the cases fit closely to look seamless. In my old house, it was a pain to get the corner lined up, so when we recently moved, I bought one. I ended up not using it, because I started from one side wall, so by the time I got to the corner, the angle would not have allowed the cases coming out the other side to touch the wall, so I went back to manually aligning them. The bracket would be very helpful if you start building from the corner, or if your room is the perfect dimensions for the number of cases you have.Good tip! I had a feeling the corner would be the issue. Just looked at yours and it looks great, though I think you have an extra piece on the right side I won't have.
I have the bracket as well but if you start from the corner it's a lot of guess work. The corner shelf doesn't touch the wall at all. Actually I just measured my corner and you should have a 22" square for the corner. IE set up the left large bookcase 22" from the corner and the bookcase right of the corner 22" as well so that there is a square left between them 22" on all sides. then the corner case should fit in nicely. Of course there might be tiny adjustments needed but that will get you much closer than just winging it like I didThey sell a bracket now that helps you align the corner pieces. They have guides that the bottom of the cases sit into, so it creates a consistent angle and so the fronts of the cases fit closely to look seamless. In my old house, it was a pain to get the corner lined up, so when we recently moved, I bought one. I ended up not using it, because I started from one side wall, so by the time I got to the corner, the angle would not have allowed the cases coming out the other side to touch the wall, so I went back to manually aligning them. The bracket would be very helpful if you start building from the corner, or if your room is the perfect dimensions for the number of cases you have.Good tip! I had a feeling the corner would be the issue. Just looked at yours and it looks great, though I think you have an extra piece on the right side I won't have.
Here is a photo. The tape measure is at 22"
don't be an idiot like me and pay attention to the finishing on the top and bottom and the middle shelf. The 3 pieces are close to the same, but with differences regarding what is finished and what isn't and maybe orientation of the holes. On my first shelf I put the piece intended to be the bottom in the middle, so now the underside is unfinished. Realistically its not a big deal, unless you are only 2 foot tall, then you will notice it. On my 3rd bookcase, I somehow managed to put in the bottom shelf in backwards, and now the the outwards facing side is unfinished, and is obvious if the doors are open, but hidden when they are closed.
Wanted:
'Salem's Lot Portfolio #606
Fairy Tale UK S/L
LOL
Do pay attention to the finished sides and edges.
I use a power tool with adjustable torque to screw in the pegs/studs. Don't overtorque them or you'll blow them out.
You might want to read the directions through completely before starting.
You'll need a fairly large clear area to build it.
Don't forget to mark the permanent shelf location on the rear of the sides. You need it to fasten the back.
"One day you're going to figure out that everything they taught you was a lie."
Yes, I have this and love it. I agree with Josh, spend good time perfecting the corner piece positioning. Also, if you ever plan on adding the doors later (I recommend them - they look great and your books will benefit), the corner piece can't do a door. The doors also can't lock easily (drilling in cupboard key-locks tend to split the veneer). I've just had a mechanism made via 3D printing to lock these doors - once I install them I'll post my review here.
Silly (to some), but cheap...Secure the large pieces to studs in the wall. In California an earthquake could topple everything. Let alone some child somehow pulling the thing over.
$20 for peace of mind.
http://www.safetycentral.com/fueafas...WSGxoCxm7w_wcB
+1 Definitely. These shelves need to be anchored to studs. Even without earthquakes, they're very shallow and will easily topple.Silly (to some), but cheap...Secure the large pieces to studs in the wall. In California an earthquake could topple everything. Let alone some child somehow pulling the thing over.
$20 for peace of mind.
http://www.safetycentral.com/fueafas...WSGxoCxm7w_wcB
I agree with everything Br!an said. I did have a snafu with the top/bottom shelf finish, but corrected that. And partially blew out a peg stud. All in all, my first experience with Billys and I was impressed. The best thing is the single-wide case. I was able to pair that up with a standard one to fit perfectly.
Oh, and be ready to secure them to the wall as soon as they are assembled - especially if they have doors!!!
___________________________________________
Also depending on the wall one of these anchors:
The absence of a thing, this can be as deadly as the presence. The absence of air, eh?
The absence of water? The absence of anything else we're addicted to.
- Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
The straps are the best. They work on different cases, that may or may not be close enough to the wall to use the old fashioned L-bracket. Important thing is to attach them to stud (should be easy with a "stud finder" 'no jokes please') with just a very small amount of play.
Your photo reminded me. It is worth covering these triangular gaps at the top of the cases (I just used squares of plywood to rest over the top) because if anything falls back there, you'll have a hell of a time getting it again.
Finally got this beast up and everything moved into it. Nice to be able to spread things out and display them rather than having everything crammed together. Took most of the weekend off and on to put it all together, anchor it, move everything, etc. You'll notice these giants almost touch my ceiling! I was so concerned making sure it would fit in the space I didn't even think to check the height lol. I only have 8 foot ceilings and completely overlooked how tall it would be with the extension. Almost had to leave them off. I had to get creative with only 3 inches of space up top to put the brackets on...no fun!
You must only have 8ft ceilings because the cases measure ~7'9" with the extensions. My office has 9' ceilings and there is plenty of room and in the living room with 10' ceilings I can put anything I want up there.
Yours came out amazing congrats! I wish I had fewer books now so that I can spread it out a little more like you did. I like how open you kept the bottom and middle section where you can fit the portfolio and My Pretty pony. I might have to get one more self just for displaying books like that!
Crap, you are right!
*fixed
Ha I had the same problem at my old apt. There was crown molding in the room I made my office so I could never fit the extensions with it. Once again looks awesome!
Thanks very much. One of those projects that doesn't seem like it will take long until you start doing it.
As for being able to spread things out...don't get used to it lol. All that extra space is going to get filled quickly I am sure!
A few of us on here have got the IKEA Billy bookcases with the doors. For a while I've been searching for a way to lock these doors, primarily as a way to prevent them from being easily opened on the odd occasion (e.g., when we're hosting a party, etc). These Billy doors can't easily accommodate small cupboard locks inserted into the doors because (1) there's little surface area to work with around the door glass, and (2) the surface tends to split with drilling. Anyway, I finally found this hasp on a 3D printing store (Shapeways) and they do the trick really well. The padlock is a MasterLock 653D from Amazon.
https://www.shapeways.com/forum/t/pa...ss-door.26924/
You screw in the hasp base to the top of the bookcase and have a removable L-shape piece that is padlocked onto it and prevents the door from swinging opening. It's not for everyday locking (because it's cumbersome with the padlock on top of the case), nor will it stop an enthusiastic burglar (but what would on a bookcase?). But for those nights you're hosting a party and have a bunch of inebriated guests with BBQ-sauce fingers who want to check out your $50k King collection - they're perfect.
I've got a small area that can fit a book case, but it has to be no taller then my light switch. So it needs to be less then 51 inches tall*, and 32 inches wide. Does anybody have any recomdations? It would be placed to the left of 3 billy bookcases.
* Isn't 51 inches higher then code? I noticed when I moved to TX a year ago all the switches seemed high.
Thanks,
Mike
Wanted:
'Salem's Lot Portfolio #606
Fairy Tale UK S/L
A couple of my bookcases are 48" tall Mike, so I think you should be able to find something easily, plus they do sell cases 36" high as well. As for electrical code, I remember certain states were different with many things as were when things were built. In Ohio code for building walls had to be 51" high but many bungalows build before the 1970's had higher or lower then that 51"s. I don't have a tape measure on me to measure my switches.
Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality. Edgar Allan Poe
if you are interested in an alternative, these type of devices work pretty well and would allow you to pretty easily relocate your switch and get whatever size bookcase you want
Wireless Lights Switch Kit
Lot of love for the Billy bookcases in this thread. Anybody have any issues that might give pause? I'm thinking of picking up a few.
“Reality is a nice place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there.”
-John Barth
bugensbooks.com
I used to have a few, but could not sleep at night knowing I had "flatpack" items in my house!
Seriously, I thought the quality was quite poor and I got rid of mine and got "proper" wood ones.
I have one Billy Bookcase with glass doors. I only have regular first editions on the shelves, and after a few years, the shelves are holding up fine. I don't know if that would be true if I placed a lot of weight on the shelves. Since the shelves are not solid wood, they would most certainly begin to warp from excess weight. But for the $200 I paid for the case and the doors, it has done fine by me so far.
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