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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Billy Bookcases

14 replies

FrozenChocolate · 19/05/2012 15:51

Hi, I have the tall (6') ones, can I take the back panel off and will it still be stable do you think? I am not going to screw them to the wall if that makes a difference. Thanks!

OP posts:

QuintessentialShadows · 19/05/2012 15:53

I would not recommend that. I dont think they will be stable without the back panel.

Original poster

FrozenChocolate · 19/05/2012 15:59

Oh bugger.

OP posts:

DaisySteiner · 19/05/2012 16:17

Ours have no back panel and are perfectly fine. They are attached to the wall though, not sure they'd be stable unless they were.

DaisySteiner · 19/05/2012 16:18

I reckon more than one fastened together would be OK though, on thinking further. Safer if attached to the wall if you've got small children.

Original poster

FrozenChocolate · 19/05/2012 16:21

So fitting to the wall means hammer drills and all that hassle?

Hmm.

Might leave the back on then.

Thanks!

OP posts:

BananaPie · 19/05/2012 21:12

We've got a half height one (not fixed to wall). The back panel fell off at some point in the process of moving house and it is now rather wobbly..

BananaPie · 19/05/2012 21:13

Although not sure that you'd need a hammer drill. Just a normal drill surely?

MaMattoo · 19/05/2012 21:18

It might need just a hammer and nail.
And no they are very light and need to be held together - not very stable without a back.

GiveTheAnarchistACigarette · 19/05/2012 22:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tricot39 · 19/05/2012 23:15

Agree with the others. The units can be pulled over easily by a child and could do serious damage to someone..... Probably worth getting to grips with a drill really. It is not a big deal.

Iggly · 20/05/2012 11:04

You should have then attached to the wall regardless of whether the back is on or not.

vj32 · 20/05/2012 19:53

We have the big ones and the back is just a few really thin and flimsy bits of veneer stuff - give no extra stability at all. So I would take them off.

We have them screwed to the wall. It is one hole with a drill. Seriously we are really embarrassingly bad at DIY and have odd walls, but dh could do it. If you don't still have the bracket, go to Ikea and they will give you another one for free.

CaptainWentworth · 21/05/2012 08:35

It's true that the back is flimsy but it's surprising how wobbly even a half height Billy is if the back panel isn't fixed properly- as I discovered when we move recently. I haven't tried fixing ours to the wall (they are currently in a temporary location) but it sounds like a good idea.

VeronicaSpeedwell · 21/05/2012 08:43

The backs are flimsy but they hold the thing in a stable right-angled shape, so I'd be really squeamish about taking the backs off unless you're going to secure them to the wall in more than one place, and even with the backs on you should definitely use the bracket if you have DC. A friend's child unpacked the bottom shelf of a big book case which made it very easy to pull over on top of himself. Thankfully he was intercepted, but it would be a seriously nasty accident.

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