IKEA BROR Shelves - Assembly and Review | Clueless Dad

IKEA's inexpensive metal shelves. We'll show how its put together and give an initial review (spoiler - its floppy!) What do you think? Please share your opinions and feedback below!

[@davidroomes9087]

If you use a rubber mallet, you don't need to bother with that little rubber impact tool they gave you. So, I recommend a rubber mallet over a hammer. Also, don't be shy with your hammer swings. Really pound the pieces together. The final product is VERY study if you hammer it together with force and the shelves, once in place, also add a lot of stability. I just built one and it's rock solid. So much so that I don't think I'm going to bother with the straps on the back.

[@staceyosullivan548]

That’s great to hear, I was going to buy this unit, but it has such bad reviews about not being sturdy. I figured I would check out some videos to see what people are saying.

[@kaelacacho]

I was just going to write the same thing. Once you hammer the shelf sides down all the way, it's extremely sturdy. The only reason I bothered with the straps on the back is because I needed the first shelf to be 34" from the ground. I reenforced it using parts from an additional shelf (the sides and back portion of the shelf) on the second holes from the bottom, so arguably, I might not have even needed it. It's really well engineered

[@choboutube]

Yes, the 'secret' as it were is that you really need to hammer those side pieces right down. It takes quite a lot of effort. Part of the problem is Ikea itself, I watched an official Ikea video (Ikea Hong Kong) and they had a woman assemble it using just a few taps of the hammer. And then removing struts with just a gentle upward tap. Perhaps the 'demo' unit they used was already 'preconditioned' by a few rounds of assemby/ disasemby. I used what I thought was reasonable effort to hammer down, but even after using the cross brace it was wobbling/ torsioning. Then I remembered this video and it's comments and then really really really hammered down. Now it's really solid.

[@vgaithersburg9547]

Sir, I found your video very helpful. I assembled my shelving unit today I used a rubber mallet. As many others suggested I hammered, "banged" the hell out of the bars. My shelf is very, very sturdy. Thank you again for you step by step how to.

[@michaelromero7188]

Thank you for your video...I was interested in buying this unit, but it is too many issues for me. Thank you again.

[@davidemassussi3735]

Hi I’ve bought the same shelf but it’s not wobbly at all. I think you’ve been too light with the hammer. The shelf holders, both long and short one, have to lock completely down in the printed holes. Try to remove the shelfs and fix the holders better. It’s totally different and stronger after that

[@rfMarinheiro]

I was pretty liberal with the hammer and the shelves were pretty sturdy after that. I didn't even need to use the cross-piece as the shelf was really stable.

[@braddahr]

Saying the instructions aren’t very clear is an understatement of epic proportions. Also, it’s like each part was built by somebody else on a different machine and they didn’t talk to each other.

[@HybridMiranda]

Thank you for posting this! I was confused when it didn't come with instructions.

[@sheilasheilaford4018]

thank you very much 😁. - you have made it so much easier for me to put my Ikea shelves together - and without having to go back and undo anything.. Brill, thanks again.

[@Splitt3r007]

Just put one of these together, you *Really* have to hammer them braces in, I am putting statues on this and the one I have holds 95 kilos / 200 lbs. The trick is using that small little straight piece that goes over the braces / outlines of the shelves and lining it up by gently hammering it in, then *REALLY* putting some effort into it till you see the inside bracket go up and it can't be hammered anymore, the shelves are super sturdy if done this way, don't gently tap it, put some force into it, galvanized steel holds a tremendous amount of weight, and is used in various things such as construction for housing and whatnot.

[@Heroblast1]

He speaks the truth! It is like 10x stronger.

[@antonbeletskii8897]

Dude, delete the video or have decency to update it! You didn’t do it right! The pieces need to be hammered with a rubber mallet until they get fully seated in the connection. Then the final structure is rock solid. The way you did it is not safe - it does look that it may collapse at any moment. Unfortunately it is a case when multiple commentators tell you that you have done it wrong and only by reading comments one can get an idea of how to do it right 😠

[@balaclavagamer2740]

I agree, this should be taken down. Not only will it continue to frustrate people, it's unsafe to have people follow along with this assembly.

[@kmac1203]

Dude, cut him some slack. He is clueless!

[@davidemassussi3735]

I think Ikea should seriously take a look at this video. Because clearly there is something missing in the assembly instructions or something is not well explained. This shelf is rock solid, much more then Ivar. I built myself a four segment Bror a few months ago and loaded with tons of stuff. It’s not wobbly at all. But I see a lot of comments of people that have problems assembly it and probability they are not doing right, if the shelf is not rock solid at the end. Check my other comment on how to do it properly and contact Ikea to give them some feedback!

[@CluelessDad]

I'll take another look.... we put it in the closet of our new office so its basically unable to move now, so its wobbliness isn't an issue, but maybe i needed to pound it together better.

[@samc1176]

@@CluelessDad *_" maybe i needed to pound it together better"_* Jeez man, stop acting so immature and simply admit your mistake instead of doubting numerous people who claim that it's not wobbly at all.

[@CluelessDad]

@@samc1176 which part of saying "maybe I needed to do it better" was immature?

[@piceatall6962]

I bought the IVAR instead. It's also wobbly so the wall anchors are still required. The shelves use metal dowels that clicks in place relatively securely compared to your vid. The shelves are pretty heavy which might help too.

[@CluelessDad]

yes, not just are they wobbly, but trying to lift them makes it come apart if you're not careful. (we moved them after i filmed this and had that problem... but having two people and knowing where to grab and not to grab helps...)

[@CluelessDad]

ps - I bought an IVAR section (and also did a video on it), i like it more for sure. :-D

[@heidijonyetidogr3173]

$305!!!! Ha ha it’s 3 years later and I just bought this. It’s now $510!!!

[@SammyNicoleAlly]

has anyone had issues with the brackets not lining up while building the shelves? i’ve been at this for two hours and i can’t get the long brackets to go in without bending the metal.

[@CluelessDad]

Sorry, I unloaded this thing a while back when we moved out of the office, some people swear by it, but I didn't like it at all....

[@jabbernett]

I’m still confused. I was needing to know which way the bars need to go. Small or big side up? Looking for a different video. I couldn’t tell with it being sped up.

[@alexpresent8907]

mine was super wobbly too but after i wacked in the shelves with a hammer really hard it stopped being so wobbly

[@williamt4629]

Thank you. This helped very much

[@beej5671]

Great video, it's very helpful video. Thanks.

[@JustinBaum]

Does anyone know the smallest increment of space between shelves? I can't find the dimensions between shelves anywhere. Thanks in advance.

[@coolgrub9498]

I've been trying to find this info to!

[@braddahr]

My wife and I almost got a divorce while building ours.

[@atabirol1947]

You can also screw the shelves if you're not satisfied with the sturdiness

[@louisedion2372]

J'aurais aimé avoir le détail de l'assemblage de la plaque de métal au centre..

[@yoyartube]

Mine is half assembled and quite sturdy. Not sure what's going on with yours there.

[@4264steven]

Do you know the measurement between the shelves when they are equal distance? Can't find that information anywhere

[@korzer]

roughly 54.5cm in the configuration he built it

[@ivorygilyard2243]

Thank you so much for posting this video. It was really helpful. Thanks

[@coolgrub9498]

Would you be able to tell me by any chance at what height each of the holes you can set the shelves at are? I don't live near enough to an ikea to go and check for myself but i need to know for what i want to store on them! thanks if you do!

[@DaylightRobbery83]

Oh man! Hope you see this! But these are the most god awful shelves I’ve ever put together! The pieces don’t easily hammer together!

[@didnthurt4077]

Is there a difference mounting the support cross in the back in the lower part? On the photos and instructions its always mounted in the top part. Thanks!

[@gigplanet2711]

2 words «thank you» :)

[@samc1176]

I almost decided not to buy the product after watching your video and seeing that wobble, but thankfully I read the comments that confirm you didn't put it together the right way.

[@FlavioFlazzyNuzzo]

Nice video! Just one question: what is the minimum distance between two shelves? (i.e. the distance between a pair of holes where to hook the shelf)

[@CluelessDad]

Sorry I’ll have to check when I’m back to HK. In a few weeks.

[@tomli4229]

Excellent installation instruction! Thanks.

[@sauzsteez4072]

what are the spacings between each hole on the pole (there are 10 holes top to bottom) if you can measure that for me please

[@korzer]

20 cm, in that configuration he has theres roughly 54.5 cm between shelves

[@lordshaz6725]

Thank you so much for your video, it made it easy for us to build our Boro cupboard, We really appreciate your help. Thank you:-)

[@nykwong8967]

I bought this one few weeks ago and it doesn't fix too. DON'T BUY IT!!

[@clevelandmitchell1339]

Don’t buy these shelves. They’re not sturdy enough for the price you pay. Other home improvement retailers carry better shelves . IKKEA needs to stop selling these.

[@herve5784]

Magical t-shirt

[@naynay64132]

How tall are you? So I can know how high this will be for me height wise

[@CluelessDad]

~1.75m

[@karenkaija4671]

I'm 149cm (four foot ten) which was part of the problem for me . . .

[@sodapop1999]

Wobbly!

[@CluelessDad]

according to the commenters, its cause we're not hammering it in enough.... your mileage may vary!

[@karenkaija4671]

This has taught me NEVER to buy something that needs assembly without first checking videos about it. I cannot get the shelf support piece to click into place no matter which way I put it. You made it look easy but it's not. Either that or I'm a lot weaker than you are. Your hands are kind of blocking my view so I can't really see if I've got it the right way and the paper instructions are utterly useless . . . so frustrating!!

[@CluelessDad]

Yeah, I have to say this is one of the most disappointing things I've bought from Ikea. its OK if you load it up and never move it.... but getting it together and in position is a pain.

[@jennie22.02]

@@CluelessDad oh no... don't say that... im sitting in the middle of my shelf looking up your video to try and get the support shelf to click into place.... and i am also an iddiot that didn't figure out that I could protect the metal from the hammer with the thing... ahhh

[@jennie22.02]

I started using the rubber thing, went HAM with the hammer and built it first on the ground then from the inside... this has been a journey... I have to do the cross dohicky next. does it matter how far up or down the thing you do the cross?

[@CluelessDad]

@@jennie22.02 hope you figured it out!

[@karenkaija4671]

@@jennie22.02 Mine are attached around a third of the way down the top shelf to about two-thirds down the middle shelf. A friend with a drill attached it properly to the wall so it's very stable now and I like how it looks but still, I'm NEVER buying another BROR shelf!!