This tip could save your record collection | Customize IKEA Kallax shelving to safely store vinyl

Kallax and Expedit shelving from IKEA is extremely popular among record collectors. But you have to be careful with this units. If you stand them wrong, or fail to secure them properly, they can topple over. And no one wants that to happen. In this video, I demonstrate how I customize IKEA shelving to safely store my record collection.

#vinyl #IKEAhacks #Kallax

Interested in sending an item to be considered for the mail time segment? Here is my address:

Frank Landry
PO BOX 99900 RE 899 513
RPO GARDEN CITY
WINNIPEG MB R2V 5A2
Canada

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ABOUT Channel33rpm: Your channel for #vinyl, gear and more, where I try to put the fun back in record collecting.

ABOUT ME: My goal is to inspire you to grow your music collection, improve your listening experience, discover new music and support artists (and have fun while doing it).
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Videos shot live on location near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

[henrys]

What I did for my record cabinet is buy laminate flooring pieces at the habitat restore for $2 each and added them to the back. Strengthened my shelves AND if done right, looks like it was part of it. Best thing is records don't scuff the wall. YESSS! I'm a genius on the cheap.

[JanezJuanJohn]

Thanks Frank. I was planning on getting Kallax and you just improved it!

[TorontoJon]

Hey, Frank. Thanks for the tip. I love my IKEA Kallax units (two 4 x 4 units and one 4 x 3 unit) and one of the keys to preventing a collapsing unit is to make sure, as you pointed out, that the longer pieces are used as support shelves for the records on top while the smaller square pieces are essentially record or compartment dividers and they cannot withstand the weight of 70 to 80 records per section which accounts for collapsing issues.

Plus, as you've shown, securing the Kallax units to the wall prevents potential tipping over and injuries, especially for children, because those units are wickedly heavy.

[InfectiousGroovePodcast]

That picture breaks my heart. I know you've seen my set up and I feel very fortunate to have the room for my record bins. If I ever have to go to the Ikea shelving, I will absolutely use your tips.

[sammeister]

Great video on shelving! I appreciate the stabilizing/costuming info! I love the Kallax system! Nice Haircut too!

[MK-tjbf]

Thanks for tips, Frank!
You are the best!

[jameschant]

Awesome video Frank ! Great heads-up on preventing excessive stress and rupture to the rack by attaching it to the wall. As far as my own storage solutions go I have a combination of hardwood crates that were custom made for records which hold about 100 records each as well as a pine wood bookcase for the rest. I got to say though that your storage units look much nicer. Cheers !

[shawnhollohan]

Hey Frank, really nice job on the modifications! I have been meaning to do that with mine for years, but since they are in place with records, I just never bothered. I placed some strips of wood at the back that snugged into the 13x13 space, to act as bumpers, but that's as far as I've taken it. I really do need to fasten them to the wall. This video has inspired me to get off of my ass and do the same! Thanks as usual, love the videos! Take care!

[thatguy]

Great vid, Frank. Definitely an excellent way to to stabilize Kallax.

Form those who can't attach to a wall, you'll get maximum strength by bracing the cabinets diagonally, preferably all the way from corner to corner. Screwing a sheet of material across the whole back is ideal but using strips is still good. The longer a diagonal you can brace the better.

[landonpraught]

Thanks for the tip Frank this was a great help .

[craigoxford]

I bought the Better Homes And Garden Cube Organizer because they look like the Kallax but much less expensive and thank you for this video now i will support my shelves so i won't have any issues of them falling over

[Vinyl]

Great advice, we were thinking about upgrading to the larger units but were not aware of the possible demise. Thanks for sharing and great vid!

[tomfurgas]

Back in the day (1970's) I had stacks of old milk crates which were pretty sturdy although not tall enough to store the records totally upright. All of the records were stored at a slight angle in each crate, resulting in a bit of warpage for the records that were leaning against the walls of the crates. When I moved into a new apartment I got decent shelving that held the records securely upright. When I was a teenager living with my parents I stored my records in cardboard boxes which was really not ideal but the only thing I could afford at the time.
Anyway, this is a GREAT tutorial for proper setup of shelving and I am sure many vinyl collectors will appreciate the tips, Frank!

[govatos]

This is really excellent advice. Thanks!

[jimb]

Great video Frank!
Just in time for me. Lol. I currently use the bottom of an old corner TV unit. I chopped off the top and use it and the shelves for my gear. I then start my Lps along the bottom (A to Z). I Gorilla glued a piece of wood at the back of each shelf to prevent any Lps from sliding through. I then continued with my collection in an old kitchen pantry. I did the same thing as you by putting wood bracing along the back and screwing it to the wall.
my collection has grown so much I'm looking for a good used kallax unit. There are lots on Kijiji.

Keep on spinning Frank 👍

[huttone]

Thanks for the great information, the 1x3 looks smart. I've been using a wire shelf, but have been looking at the Ikea for less wear and tear on vinyl jackets and too use the top for equipment surface. I like the step stool solution for tall 4x4's.

[gringogreen]

Great stuff Frank. I have Expedits and when I get back in my own place (long story) I am moving my record collection from my 2x2 to one of my 2x4 shelves. I will be honest and say that the bigger units and standing them up is a bit problematic. I have two 2x4 shelves because I used them for my DVDs. Since then I have bought less DVDs and my record collection has grown so will do a swap. I will lay it long ways so it is two tall and four wide.

With the type of material Ikea and these other lines use, records are very dense and will test the strength of the shelf. If you put records or coffee table books on them, that is asking a lot of the shelf. If you use them for lighter things like DVDs or art or figurines, the shelf will last much much longer. That said, this is essentially disposable furniture. It looks like you treat yours as well as mine but if someone who is less careful would have one of these, you can expect 2-5 years of service.

Also when you move these do yourself a favour and do not disassemble them, the material around the screw holes cannot really take screwing and unscrewing too well, it just crumbles and there is nothing for the threads of the screw to bite into. You can move the holes but this will mar the overall finish of the shelf.

In the future I will shop around and buy a used Expedit in birch effect since they no longer make that style nor that finish.

[jukeboxcowboy]

Thanks! This video came in very handy and helped me choose the shelves I needed. 🤠

[retrospinvinyl]

I store my records on shelves as well! I always heard that you are supposed to do this kinda thing with record units like this but never saw a tutorial on how to! This is great!

[jamieingram]

Thanks for sharing Frank. Great show as always. I just picked up a Kallax 3x4. Time to get my records off the floor...lol