IKEA Hackers

IKEA "Vacations in a Box” for the ultimate staycation

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 13:00:26 GMT

Paris, Tokyo, Turkey, and the Maldives — here we come!

Stuck at home for far too long? IKEA UAE came up with a fun staycation idea — Vacations in a Box — to bring a little wanderlust into your home.

Beyond virtual tours and Zoom backgrounds, “Vacations in a Box” is essentially a curated box of IKEA products. There are 4 destinations to choose from: Sunrise in Cappadocia, Teatime in Tokyo, Feet up in the Maldives and L’amour in Paris.

Open the kit and you’ll find items like pillows, glassware, rugs and artwork — the stuff you need to transport you to the destination of your choice. Set them up and voilà! You can safely vacay within the confines of your home.

Along with the box, IKEA offers a downloadable booklet for each destination. The booklet is filled with suggestions for music, movies, recipes, and activities.

Staycation idea: Turkey

For example, you can turn your balcony into the set for a tranquil morning in Cappadocia.

Source: Bandt.com.au

For the full Cappadocia experience, download the booklet and listen to a playlist of Turkish music. Dig into a serving of Menemen, a popular breakfast in Turkey. And then, get your family together for the Halay, a traditional Turkish dance. Does that sound like a good “travel” itinerary?

The boxes are currently only available online and in-store at IKEA United Arab Emirates. But the website lists the products contained in the box, so you can add them to cart and check them out at the IKEA nearest to you.

“Right now, many people are unable to put a tick mark on the dream destination they had planned for this year,” said Carla Klumpenaar of IKEA UAE, reports Bandt.

“With our Vacations in a Box, it’s easy for people to experience a French-style candlelit dinner or sip green tea while kneeling on cushions inspired by Tokyo.”

View this post on Instagram

With our take-away vacations, you can recreate experiences from the world’s top destinations right at home. Get a vacation in a box at your nearest store. Click the link in bio to learn more. #IKEAVacations

A post shared by IKEA UAE (@ikeauae) on Jul 19, 2020 at 8:00am PDT

Where are planning to go to first?

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Battery cart for outdoor gigs and emergency power

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 13:00:07 GMT

I call it the Cart of Theseus – a battery cart for mobile PA (camping, busking, etc)

I built this battery cart out of an old IKEA storage box. It had been sitting around by the trash waiting to either get used or thrown out for ages and it turned out to be roughly the right dimensions for what I wanted to do.

The other band members and audience members and casual passersby are impressed and thrilled about it.

And if you’re looking for ways to get outdoor gigs and put musicians together especially in the times of Coronavirus, this puts you right at the heart of the action.

You could also use it for emergency backup power for your house or host your own dance party on a camping trip.

IKEA item used:

Some kind of black storage box on wheels from 10 years ago. (Either bedroom or office organization.) Most likely SNACK.

Other materials and tools:

2 6-volt 236-amphr golf cart batteries
2′ AWS #2 cables, two sets
One rapid charger
One battery tender charger for downtime
1500-watt 3k peak pure sine wave inverter with 15 amp 120v output
Table saw
Sawzall
Electric drill
Work surface with clamps
Set of (4) 255lb capacity casters
16 5/8 3″ carriage screws
2×4 wood, 1×1 wood
Gorilla tape
Hinges
Hardware, various

Building a battery cart

First, decide how you want to mount the inverter in the box to go alongside the batteries.

Inverter

I chose horizontal mounting and cut the box to accommodate. Your mobile battery cart may look totally different. Mine has changed a couple of times, hence the name.

Use Sawzall to remove sections of box not needed. Save the edge brackets to re-use on newly placed corners.

Reinforce newly shaped box edges with screws and saved end-brackets from cuttings.

First fitting, without lid

Build 2×4 / 1×4 frame inside IKEA box to withstand 150 lbs of battery and an extra 75 lbs of gear to roll on top for one-trip mobile PA juice and equipment from car or home to location.

Reinforce the interior of the box with 1×4 and 2×4 pieces to hold the weight and not fall apart. Measure to insure batteries will fit snugly but not be cramped.

Change out wheels

I initially tried using the casters that came with it, but they fell apart 200 ft out of the car. They were probably rated for about 25 lbs of weight and this behemoth came to roughly 2200-225 with the batteries, inverter, and music gear on top.

You’ll have to use a bunch of wood screws and a table saw to cut the right pieces for the frame.

With closed top

Also, be sure to place the frame in such way that you can screw into it with the carriage screws and secure the big casters. This is something I may need to revisit later as not all the screwpoints are seated properly.

Build the shelf for the inverter

I used a couple pieces from the cut-away outer edge of the box to make the shelf.

Mount the inverter.

Put the batteries in.

Wire the two 6-volt golf cart batteries in series to bring the voltage up to the required 12 volts for the 12-volt inverter to bump to 120v. Positive terminal of one battery to the negative terminal of the other battery.

Open, with inverter in place

Then when placed in the cart, negative terminal of the first battery to the negative terminal of the inverter. Positive terminal of opposite battery to the positive terminal of the inverter.

This way, the two 6-volt batteries are operating as 1 single 12-volt battery into the inverter and they have 236 amp hours of energy to offer ~ 4 hours at 1kw output!!

How long did it take to hack this?

Initial time spent on this hack was one evening. However, there were a fair number of learnings along the way as I needed to replace the casters and extend the inverter shelf further out when one of the caster screw holes popped through the bottom of the 2×4 and I had to tape/cushion it from the battery. All in all, probably 8-12 hours.

What do you like most about this hack? What’s the hardest part?

What I liked most about the hack is the fact that although most of the box is still there, it’s doing very little apart from providing the initial framework for sizing: ie- there’s almost zero structural integrity provided by the box itself.

Although the box is still present, it’s really just a starting point.

Hardest part: Doing the calculations to be sure I could provide enough power to service the amps in my band.

What to pay special attention to?

Pay special attention to the calculations. Consult electrical professionals. There is a battery store somewhere in a strip mall not too far from you. Explain what you want to if your wattage and consumption needs are different from mine.

Every time you work with batteries, wear gloves and safety goggles and have some baking soda at hand in case you find yourself at some point down the line dealing with a sulfuric acid leak. Baking soda is a base and will neutralize it.

Also pay special attention to the type of inverter you buy. It has to provide enough regular and peak wattage to service your battery load and be the right voltage to and from.

Special note on the inverter

Also, your inverter should be a pure sine wave inverter. If not, you’ll risk having inconsistent power to your amps. Modified and other sine wave type inverters are fine for power tools and things, but this is for sensitive musical equipment and people will be listening.

Be sure to add up the wattage consumption of the amps / PA you want to power. That’s the first step. Remember that the wattage consumption is different from the wattage delivered. The wattage delivered is the wattage your amp / PA is advertised. The consumption will be listed on the back of the unit near the power plug. Unless you are Lemmy and Motörhead, you probably won’t max out that number.

Also, be sure to grab a battery hoisting strap which they generally give you when they sell you the batteries and carry a crescent wrench to connect and disconnect the cables from the batteries because when you transport the box in a car or something. You’ll need to disconnect / connect or else you won’t be able to lift the cart into / out of your car. I think that’s about it.

What would you have done differently?

Looking back, I might have just done something cheaper and lower maintenance in terms of the cart and dealt with the consumer guilt of throwing the box away. I could have just grabbed the dimensions from the box and tried making it out of a plastic bin; but it’s fine this way.

~ by Seth Schoenfeld

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A wood + metal round side table from two IKEA items

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 13:00:00 GMT

IKEA SNUDDA meets MARIUS stool to make a round side table.

Our garden’s water tank needed a stand and I was in the market for a large round side table. Unfortunately, most tables I found were either too bulky or expensive.

So I thought I’d hack one. I landed on the IKEA SNUDDA lazy susan as a table top as it was the perfect diameter for the tank (15 inch, or 39 cm).

IKEA items used:

SNUDDA lazy susan
MARIUS Stool – you’ll need the stool legs without the plastic seat

MARIUS stool and SNUDDA lazy susan | IKEA.com

Other materials and tools:

Plier or socket wrench
Drill and screwdriver
Four screws

IKEA MARIUS round side table hack

First, using a plier or a socket wrench detach the SNUDDA top from the rotating base. As you’ll only need the top, you can repurpose the ball-bearing base for another project. (A revolving spice tower, perhaps?)

Taking the two MARIUS stool leg frames, fix them to each other according to IKEA instructions.

When that’s done, center the MARIUS leg frame on the underside of the SNUDDA lazy susan. Mark where the legs screws should go on the SNUDDA with a pencil.

Use a drill to drill four holes where the markings are. Be careful to use a drill bit that is smaller than the screws. And to drill about halfway through the SNUDDA. These holes are only meant to help you screw the legs to the table top.

Then get some screws that are about 30% longer than the original MARIUS ones. Attach the legs to the SNUDDA and we’re done.

A perfect fit for my water tank.

Also works beautifully as a plant stand.

See process photos and my complete tutorial here.

~ by Zaga

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Bathroom mat to boho pillow. No sewing needed.

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 13:00:24 GMT

I spotted this luxurious bathroom mat in IKEA and it came in handy for my latest project — a boho pillow.

The mat is SO soft and fluffy and is perfectly sized for a big cushy floor pillow. And the best part, I didn’t have to sew a thing.

IKEA items used:

ALMTJÄRN bathroom mat (60 cm x 90 cm)

ALMTJÄRN bath mat (24×35″) | Buy on IKEA.com

Other materials and tools:

Yarn
Fabric
Glue gun
Glue sticks
Scissors

DIY boho pillow:

First, gather your materials.

To give the pillow a boho feel I used yarn of different colors, textures and thickness. Once I got my design, I tied them up using the Lark’s head knot. I also braided thick yarn to create texture to the pillow.

Feel free to experiment and try different types of yarn and knotting styles.

Second, stick them to the bath mat.

Using a hot glue gun, I glued the yarn to the mat. The glue dries quickly, so be sure of where you want to stick the strands. Press them down and let them dry thoroughly.

Third, make the pillow insert.

When the front is complete I turned to the back of the mat. I cut a piece of white cotton fabric, larger than the size of the mat.

Then, I folded the edges of the fabric and glued them along the edges of the mat. I left one side open to fill the pillow with stuffing.

After stuffing it, I glued the last opened edge close.

And the boho pillow is done. So easy!

I use it as a floor pillow in my living room. It’s very plush and comfy.

See the complete tutorial here.

~ by Lena MN at www.wonderwood.no

Related: IKEA placemats to pillows

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Q: How to fix water damaged IKEA particle board?

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 13:00:25 GMT

Water damaged particle board KALLAX: what to do next?

Julia gave a shout for help on our IH Facebook group:

“I need problem solving help.

My daughter was trying to do a good thing and bought two 2×4 KALLAX units off FB for a sick friend.

The units were incredibly dirty, but they were cheap and we were going to clean and disinfect anyway.

However, some of the veneer started to come loose as we loaded the pieces into the truck. It started to rain on the way home, and by then, the veneer pieces were practically sliding off in places.

Looking at it, it appears the owners knew there were problems, as there are a couple splotches of hot glue underneath.

Some of the scratches swelled from the water exposure too.

So… my daughter’s heart is sad and I’m trying to see how we can salvage the situation and fix these units.

I’m not sure what kind of glue to use or precautions we should take. Any advice is greatly appreciated!”

~ by Julia

***

Hi Julia

KALLAX is made from particleboard. Water is its kryptonite.

The first thing to do is to assess the damage. How severe is the water damage? Are many of the panels swollen and warped?

If so, it may not be worth saving. And your daughter may be better off buying another set of pre-loved KALLAX.

Next, do you have time to let it dry thoroughly? Wet particleboard can easily sag under weight. If not thoroughly dried, it may also provide a fertile ground of mold and mildew. If so, again you may want to discard it.

How to fix water damaged particle board

Let’s say, it’s salvageable. Then this is what I’ll recommend.

First, let it dry thoroughly. Either naturally or use a hairdryer.

Sand down the areas that “bubbled up”, with a fine grit sandpaper. Then use wood filler to repair the surface and other scratches. Sand it down again to smoothen the surface.

For the veneer edges that fell off, try using veneer glue to stick them back on. Remove any residual glue from the veneer strips first. After applying the glue, clamp the strips down to cure. (Follow directions on the product.)

Then, consider refurbishing the KALLAX unit.

You can paint using the sand, prime, paint sequence. (Here’s a guide on how to paint veneer.)

Many readers have successfully used chalk paint on IKEA furniture, with minimal sanding and no primer.

KALLAX unit painted with acrylic paint

Alternatively, use other methods to hide the scarring, like contact paper. If you’re handy, you can also wrap it with plywood.

Expedit with plywood wrap and contact paper on shelves

Hope you found this helpful. Let us know how it turned out.

Happy hacking,

Jules

Hacking may compromise the structural integrity of the item, so please be aware of the risks involved before modifying or altering any IKEA product. Alterations and modifications will also void any warranties or return policies you may have received from IKEA. IKEAhackers.net is not liable for any product failure, injury or damage resulting from the application of suggestions, ideas and hacks featured on this site.

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IKEA is releasing its first official apparel: EFTERTRÄDA

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 13:00:00 GMT

IKEA has dabbled with streetwear in the past. In 2018, they introduced the limited edition SPÄNST collection in collaboration with Chris Stamp. Then, last year, they snuck in their very own beloved bucket hat. (Available again on IKEA.)

Now, IKEA Japan is debuting the Swedish company’s first official apparel capsule, in a few days time, at its Harajuku branch in Tokyo. There’s no news as to whether the limited edition collection will be released in other markets.

In a news release, it says, “High end fashion brands have paid homage and brought IKEA’s design to the catwalk, whilst fake logo t-shirts are commonly seen in the streets of Tokyo. Now it’s time for the real thing with the launch of the ‘EFTERTRÄDA Collection’.”

‘EFTERTRÄDA’ means ‘successor’ in Swedish. And it seems to hint at a serious push by the giant furniture company to venture into fashion.

The collection is developed by IKEA Japan, in partnership with IKEA of Sweden. IKEA Japan claims that EFTERTRÄDA is inspired by, and made for, the people of Tokyo.

Emblazoned across is the barcode for the BILLY bookshelf.

On top of a t-shirt and a hoodie, the IKEA EFTERTRÄDA Collection also features a tote bag, an umbrella, two bath towels and two water bottles. We can expect more to roll out in the future.

The collection is exclusively available in IKEA Harajuku from July 31st to August 6th. They have yet to announce the prices for the items.

All images courtesy of IKEA.com.

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