Hackers Help: Trouble sliding in BILLY backing board?

Jules Yap·
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IKEA BILLY backer board
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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

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Jules Yap
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8 Responses

  1. Putting Billy shelves together is so easy until trying to slide the wobbly three-part back in place, especially on your own. I found with the frame in position, I placed one of shelves on the floor upright about 2 inches from the top groove. It held the back in place and prevented it from collapsing while I fiddled with sliding it into the top groove. Worked well.

    Reply

    1. Yes, that worked well for me too. Thank you so much for your suggestion, I was in despair of ever getting the back to fit.

      Reply

  2. Another way to get the backing board in without sliding: with the Billy face down, position the backing board so that one side is in the groove. The other side will need to be roughly in position so that the board exerts outward tension on both sides, and keeps the groove side in position. Starting from the bottom, hammer in the three small nails on the half of the backboard that is in the groove, spacing as indicated in the instructions. Do this for the bottom, middle shelf and top ( nine nails in all). Then stand the Billy up, From the front, gently tap the other side of the backboard. It should pop into the groove easily. Then lay the Billy on it’s face again and hammer in the remaining nine nails for the side you have just slotted in. Worked for me. Good luck!

    Reply

  3. Hi Ruth
    I had the same problem. I bought 4 Billys and 2 of them had the issue off the backing board being too narrow. I tried the upside down trick and it worked. Btw Ikea weren’t helpful just said to return the unit. Thanks for the hack everyone. My mental health is greatly improved!

    Reply

  4. After about an hour of annoying frustration, I solved it! Flip the Billy on its TOP, so that the top of the bookcase is on the floor. Then gravity becomes your BFF! If using a tall shelf, just stand on a step-stool.

    I then taped the back to a few spots as well.

    I did discover that my oldest bookshelf has the solid backer board, and it’s MUCH easier!

    Reply

    1. I recently assembled a BILLY and did the same. Flipped it on its top and then pushed the backer board into the groove. It helps to have two persons, one on each side to guide it along.

      The old BILLY was much easier. This version is way too flimsy and the two folding lines make things harder as they tend to cave in.

      Reply

  5. An old hack to get things to slide. Use a candlestick and rub it into the groove. It will get a thin wax coating that will help the board to glide along.

    Reply

  6. Recently put together one of these. It was not possible in the way they suggested, so I turned the whole thing to stand up. Then slide the board down.

    Hope that works for you

    Reply

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