🛠 How to repurpose the well-known Alex drawer unit

Hejsan! Welcome to this week's newsletter, which features a clever hack and tips to supercharge your imagination and DIY adventure!

Today’s estimated read time: 4 minutes and 52 seconds

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN TODAY:

• How to repurpose the well-known Alex drawer unit.

• Urban Kantola will teach you how to achieve superior strength and durability for your IKEA furniture.

• A new idea that might give you some inspiration.

IKEA HACK TUTORIAL

This past week, we showcased a downright clever IKEA hack by @facemadelife, who masterfully repurposed the well-known Alex drawer unit into a nifty hidden printer station! By removing the 4th and 5th drawers and incorporating some resourceful flat metal braces, she designed a one-of-a-kind storage solution that's as practical as it is charming.

Our very own woodworking whiz, Urban Kantola, liked this crafty hack so much that he just had to put his own special twist on it. Check it out below.

Hej, Urban here. 👋 Let’s dive right in! Here are the steps I took to create my personalized rendition of the Alex drawer-turned-hidden printer station!

Step 1: Remove bottom panels from the fourth and fifth drawers (skip this step if drawers are not yet assembled)

Step 2: Assemble and install drawers according to IKEA instruction manual

Step 3: Cut two 10-inch pieces from 1/16x3/4x3' aluminum angle

Step 4: Drill three 1/8-inch holes in each angle, aligning with the center of the drawer's sliding hardware

Step 5: Position holes towards the back of the drawer front

Step 6: Insert angles into the corners of the drawer fronts while drawers are fully opened

Step 7: Use #6 3/8-inch flat-head screws to secure the bottom hole first, pressing aluminum angle into the drawer's inner corner

Step 8: Repeat for second and third drawer fronts, ensuring even spacing between them

Step 9: Avoid over-tightening screws; use a strong adhesive behind angles to reinforce the structure

Follow these steps to achieve an excellent end result, perfect for storing any items. I chose to use it for my binders instead of a printer.

THE NORDIC EYE

Hey everyone… Urban here again!

So there I was, scrolling through TikTok, when I stumbled upon this fantastic hack that caught my eye. The hack I discovered involves reinforcing IKEA furniture with additional brackets and wood glue, turning once wobbly pieces into sturdy, long-lasting creations.

Well… you know me – I can't resist diving deeper into things and dissecting them to their core. Naturally, I couldn't help but write a blog post about it, which you can check out via the link below!

Oops, did I just let another secret slip? You bet I did! Our dynamic duo, Mike and Nicole, have been working tirelessly to create a brand-new site that's still under wraps. Give it a whirl, and let us know your thoughts. It’s a work in progress, but please share any ideas and let us know if there is something you'd like to see added to the site that would be valuable to you.

Just a friendly reminder to always use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when tackling your DIY projects. Let's make sure we're enjoying our creations without risking our well-being. Happy crafting and stay safe, friends!

If you have any questions, you can DM me directly at @thenordiceye

IDEA OF THE WEEK

THE IDEA: A wall-mounted desk using 3/4 inch black iron pipes and an IKEA butcher block countertop.

THE INSPIRATION: 👇

THAT’S A WRAP. HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

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