I'm looking to repurpose some old IKEA wardrobes made of particle board into a tool cabinet. It feels wasteful to throw them away since they're still in decent shape, even if they're not the highest quality. My mom just got new built-ins from IKEA and while I get that they're retired and wanted something easy and nice, I'm shocked at how much they spent on particle board furniture! I've got the old wardrobes left over from when I built new ones for them, and I'm planning to use the material for a tool cabinet in a shed/workshop I just built for my dad, who has had some health issues. I have nice plywood for other projects but, given all this leftover IKEA board, I'm wondering if it's possible to effectively reuse it? Are there solid methods for gluing or screwing it together, or ways to utilize their metal dowel and plastic screw system?
3 Answers
I've built tool carts using MDF and a simple biscuit jointer for fasteners. Even though the particle board isn't the best material, if you reinforce it properly, it'll hold up fine. Just add a sturdy back, and you can paint it to hide what it's made of!
Honestly, if the wardrobes are in good enough shape, you might consider selling or trading them for solid wood or plywood. It could score you better materials! Just don't feel ashamed for trying to reuse; there’s always room for recycling!
That's a great idea! But in my area, it can be tough to trade stuff like that. Sometimes you just have to stick with it and find creative ways to use what's available.
I know you're trying to be eco-friendly, but IKEA particle board isn't the best choice for durable projects. I’d recommend pitching it and using better material like plywood for what you want to build. It'll be more solid and last longer!
Sounds like a plan! I've lined my workshop with dense MDF for soundproofing, but man, it's super heavy! Just keep in mind that particle board is much lighter, so you should be good. Just remember to support it well!