Adding shelves into an MDF wardrobe.

sussexwoman · 15 Oct 2019

Hi, ignorant amateur here!

I am going to attach additional shelves into this unit.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/brimnes-wardrobe-with-2-doors-white-40400478/

I know how I would do it with a wooden unit - battens screwed in then shelves screwed down into battens.

What's the best way when it's MDF shelves and MDF sides?

Thanks!

Sussex.

Burnerman · 15 Oct 2019

I would do the same as you, and as you appreciate MDF is ghastly stuff with little strength for screws to hold. However, screws will work after you have drilled a small pilot hole, and so long as they aren't messed about with should be strong enough. Can you use some PVA adhesive to help things along?
You'll also help things by putting a few screws along the back, as reinforcement.
John

sussexwoman · 15 Oct 2019

Thanks, John. How about No More Nails?

Mottie · 15 Oct 2019

A big NO to no more nails. Go to B&Q, buy some contiboard shelving of the required depth, get them to cut them to the correct width in-store and then fit them using these: https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-white-fixing-block-pack-of-24/245416_BQ.prd

sussexwoman · 15 Oct 2019

Thanks, Mot. I did not know those fixing blocks could be used as shelf supports. What a good idea. They are certainly cheap! I also did not know that B&Q cut contiboard for customers .... is that every branch, I wonder <ringing local branch now...> Just rang my branch and no, they don't cut anything whatsoever for customers. Just rang local wood merchant and they sell and cut and deliver contiboard so I am "home and dry"!

Burnerman · 15 Oct 2019

You’ll need to be very careful with your measurements when fitting these but they will work well enough.....no nails isnt good enough alone when fitting battens if you go down that route.
I’d recommend a quality try square either way!
Good luck with your project.
John

Mottie · 15 Oct 2019

sussexwoman said:
Thanks, Mot. I did not know those fixing blocks could be used as shelf supports. What a good idea. They are certainly cheap! I also did not know that B&Q cut contiboard for customers .... is that every branch, I wonder <ringing local branch now...> Just rang my branch and no, they don't cut anything whatsoever for customers. Just rang local wood merchant and they sell and cut and deliver contiboard so I am "home and dry"!

Remember the golden rule: Measure twice, cut once!

sussexwoman · 15 Oct 2019

Motman said:
Remember the golden rule: Measure twice, cut once!

That was the ONE piece of DIY advice my dad taught me!

I'm more worried about how to measure correctly so that I drill the holes for the fixing blocks in such a way that the shelves sit absolutely level.

Burnerman · 15 Oct 2019

https://www.screwfix.com/p/metal-ruler-1010mm/7288v#_=p
You could do a lot worse than invest in one of these....better than naff tape measures by a mile. A good try square would help too, but you may not need one if you can reach inside the wardrobe with the rule.
Don't over worry about total accuracy - the shelves will sit anyway, and you don't always need to screw them down.
John

sussexwoman · 15 Oct 2019

Burnerman said:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/metal-ruler-1010mm/7288v#_=p
You could do a lot worse than invest in one of these.

Ah, I already have one of those. I have quite a lot of tools (for a girl!) plus power tools, all ready but I am a little nervous to use them!

Burnerman · 15 Oct 2019

Nah, time to get stuck in!
Nice sharp pencil (HB), and use a tiny drill as a pilot hole so you can a) check your accuracy b) see that the screw is holding.....obviously the screw mustn't break right through

Wrap a piece of tape around the drill bit so you can see where to stop if you like.
If for some reason you over do the screw and it starts to tear the MDF, stick it in with PVA and leave it a while.
Any small mistakes, there's always a dab of Polyfilla - but no one would see anyway!
Be lucky
John

EddieM · 15 Oct 2019

Would something like these be of use?

foxhole · 15 Oct 2019

As Motman suggests but I would use mdf , stronger and can be cut to size at B&Q etc.
Just draw a level line either side and place blocks on line. Allow for material thickness when working out spacing .

OwainDIYer · 15 Oct 2019

I would use battens, and screw from the outside through the MDF and into the batten. Won't be quite as nice, but will be much stronger. You can use white caps on the screwheads outside.

SFK · 15 Oct 2019

To get level shelves.
Decide how high you want underside 9f shelf.
Get tape measure.

At back of inside of left hand side of cupboard measure from bottom of cupboard up. Make mark in pencil.
At front of inside of left hand side of cupboard again measure from bottom of cupboard up. Make mark in pencil. You are using back corner and front edge of cupboard to make sure tape measure is vertical.

Join these two pencil marks with a pencil line. You know have line where bottom of shelf will be, and where top of white blocks should be located.

Check this line again with tape measure to make sure it is same hight along its length ahowing it is level.

Hold plastic blocks just under this line and mark its holes into wood with pencil. Put plastic blocks asside and drill pilot holes in middle of pencil mark. Screw them on being careful to not over tighten.

Mark up and drill other side in same way.

Sfk

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Adding shelves into an MDF wardrobe.

EddieM

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