Ikea floating shelves

Kane

Midfield
Has anyone ever tried cutting one of these to the exact size to fit in an alcove? How did it go? I think they're just two sheets of thin ply with cardboard webbing stuff in the middle.
 


Has anyone ever tried cutting one of these to the exact size to fit in an alcove? How did it go? I think they're just two sheets of thin ply with cardboard webbing stuff in the middle.
Thought they were lightweight mdf. Should be ok to chop down as long as you don’t take too much off. You’ll have to cut the bracket anarl like.
 
theres a series of dowels or pins on the wall plate which slot into the back of the shelf, but iirc theyre set about 75mm in from each end, so theres loads of 'play' to cut it down. i'd also advise sticking the plate with pinkgrip or similar as well as screwing it to the wall for extra hold.
 
What you going to cut it with mate? Saw?
No, I thought I'd use a butter knife.

Thinking of jigsaw, or worst-case borrowing my bro's circular saw. I need a couple to cut to size and fit round some boxed-in pipework. They're only a tenner each for the shelf so I'll probably buy one and try a few different cuts to see what works best.
 
No, I thought I'd use a butter knife.

Thinking of jigsaw, or worst-case borrowing my bro's circular saw. I need a couple to cut to size and fit round some boxed-in pipework. They're only a tenner each for the shelf so I'll probably buy one and try a few different cuts to see what works best.

Be careful once you get past the timber framing around the edge. The ply then has no edge restraint and will bounce up and down with the jigsaw blade making for a rough cut. I put a bit of sacrificial timber in which was the same thickness as the depth of the internals. Nice and neat edge.
 
Be careful once you get past the timber framing around the edge. The ply then has no edge restraint and will bounce up and down with the jigsaw blade making for a rough cut. I put a bit of sacrificial timber in which was the same thickness as the depth of the internals. Nice and neat edge.
Or some strong tape along the line helps preserve the edge.
 
Be careful once you get past the timber framing around the edge. The ply then has no edge restraint and will bounce up and down with the jigsaw blade making for a rough cut. I put a bit of sacrificial timber in which was the same thickness as the depth of the internals. Nice and neat edge.
Thanks!

I'm buying them in white, and aiming to cut them with less than a 1/4" threshold between the walls on each side to allow for the walls not being square and any surface discrepancies. Thought when I get them as close as I can to perfect fit, will just finish the edges with a fine bead of caulk to neaten it up.
 

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