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Hackers Help: Floating Shelves Lack vs EKBY BJÄRNUM?

ecmdcs·
Hackers Help
·6 Comments·1 min read

Question:

After a home remodel I want to put up floating shelves on a large wall.  I used to have Lacks.  These were the older, more sturdy lack floaters in both sides with the posts in them I purchased in 2002.  I had them up for 12 years and still have them.  Problem is I need more.  I purchased another for a bathroom in 2012 and it sloped with barely anything on it.  My other thought is to create a rows of EKBY BJÄRNUM shelves spray painted in gold, staggering the connecting brackets for effect across the 145″ wall.  I have heard however that the Ekby selves sag.  Has anyone had any experience with the Long 45″ ekby shelves sagging when filled completely with books?

ikea ekby shelf and bracket 3
Photo: Design Manifest

 

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6 Responses

  1. I have two of the ekby bjärnum shelves in the 119 cm long version mounted over my desk. In the paperwork it mentions a max weight of 44 lbs (20 kg) to be put on the shelves but I would recommend researching wall anchors and choosing the right type for your wall (as ikea repeats ad nauseam)

    The ekby shelves over my desk have not slanted over time. One has several folders and a pile of books across it’s length. I don’t know if I have exceeded the recommended limit or not…
    The other one I have my computer tower on with a random assortment of nicknacks on.

    I went to the store and poked the shelves for sturdiness. the lack one did not seem like a smart bet for what I wanted (books) But we have one downstairs and yes it slants-but not the wall holder. What slants is the paperwood shelf that slides onto the support rods. I have pondered modifying the shelf in some way to stop that but it isn’t a major problem as I don’t put heavy items on it. Well except that my cats like to go up there, so I check the stability every now and then to make sure it isn’t going to slide completely off. I recall the shelves having the same weight limit on them, but I consider the bjärnum shelves to be sturdier. YMMV

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  4. I’ve actually never owned the EKBY shelves – although I do like the look of them. I do however have experience with sagging… Shelves that it…. You can install an angle bracket (the small 90 degree bend metal plates with holes for screws) for extra support in the middle of the shelf. Dependend on the height of the shelves you can put the bracket at the top or the bottomn of the shelf and into the wall, so that it is conceiled and you still have the visual of a floating shelf.

    – I don’t think this will work with the LACKs though as they are that cardboard material… I’ve never experienced sagging with LACK, but mine are also quite old.

    Another tip is to put the heavy items at the ends where the support is best, and lighter items near the middle.

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  5. I used a littles L metal brackets and painted like the wall

    I think that I could have used the brackets upside down

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  6. Havent used them personally and trying to convert inches to cm, thinking its the 119 long. Recommend a central bracket as well as the ends if that is the case. Lack will not hold books very well, too heavy. Good luck. (Btw,Ii am a co-worker)

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