Has anyone ever attached an Ivar shelf?

[BelfastSmile]

For ages now I've had an Ivar unit from IKEA, but I've had it with a drop-down table rather than any shelves. Today I finally bought a couple of shelves, but I can't figure out how to attach them.

The shelf has a metal thing attached at each side, like a runner kind of thing. There are metal rods inside that, which fit into the holes in the side unit thing. I managed to lever one of the rods out with a screwdriver, and was then able to put it into a hole and could balance the shelf on top, but it just doesn't feel "right".

Has anyone attached one of these shelves and can send me a photo of how it's meant to work, or explain what you did? Thanks!

I did have one but don't any more so can't send a photo. But the metal rods go into the holes and the shelves suspend from them. They do work - I had lots of really heavy stuff on them. The frame needs a brace at the back so if your shelves are wobbly, it could mean it's not all square and needs securing with the brace.

How do I get the rods into the frame though? Am I right to prise them out of the runner?

Yes, just prise out the rods, push them into the holes in the upright sections, place shelf on top, and voila.
Sounds like you’re doing it right, just go for it

Thanks! It just seemed very un-IKEA-like! Usually their instructions are pretty clear!

Glad you've sorted it.

I think with the newer ones, the shelf with 'click' down onto the rods when you have it in the right place. So it is more secure than having the shelf just resting there.

You need to push down on the shelf (when it's in place against the uprights) so they click onto the rods. We needed the metal crossbrace so that the shelves didn't sway sideways - but if you got a table at the base you might not need that?

Oh, that's good to know, thanks! Pushing it down makes more sense; it doesn't feel all that solid at the moment. I have the cross-brace, so that should be fine.