What's inside Ikea's "wood" ?

[@-Benedict]

Low priced IKEA furniture is an absolute godsend for younger people moving into their first flat or house. You can get yourself a bed, wardrobe, desk and a couple of comfortable chairs for about £200, which is just staggering, and impossible to compete with. I think the trick is to encourage people to gradually upgrade to nicer items. For example, If a friend of mine comments that their Billy bookcase is getting a bit ragged, I'll offer to make them a new quality bookcase to replace it, for mates' rates as I'll be doing it around other jobs. More often than not, they're interested.

[@xer0334]

The problem is the stuff doesnt last if you drop something or have to move house but its a great start for furniture

[@mightza3781]

Most people throw out perfectly good furniture that so much has a scratch. In today's society, most goods are thrown away way before they actually fail. Durable solid wood furniture also has the disadvantage of being heavy, so it's harder to take it to the driveway for disposal.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Most of the time when moving to a different city it's more economical to dump your furniture to reduce or eliminate moving expenses. The only time I'd take furniture is actual real antique hardwood that's hard to replace, but that's hardly the kind of furniture most younger folks would have to begin with.

[@orellaminx3530]

For every one person that decides to upgrade when the IKEA piece breaks down, five more will become lifelong IKEA fanatics. They serve a purpose, but the cult like mentality some people have for the brand is hazardous. So what if they use 96% recycled material when their products breakdown 196% quicker. Carpentry can't compete with IKEA even at "mates rates". Let alone the fact that with less demand for handmade products, comes less training to make said products, further driving up their price.

[@leopold7562]

Orella Minx I think the reason for Ikea's success is the money side more than anything else. I personally would love to have a home full of proper, hand-crafted furniture, but there's simply not enough of the folding coming in to pay for it, so as always it's make do until it breaks and then buy whatever I can afford. And when it comes to larger items like tables or shelving units, the flat-pack of Ikea will work out cheaper than even buying used items as the cost of hiring a van will make those too expensive.

[@p_mouse8676]

I never get all the negativity against IKEA. They mostly have pretty decent product for a fair price. To be honest the whole cardboard/paper construction is pretty clever. More than good enough for shelves or tables. I only don't always like the look and feel of it, but that's just a matter of taste. So in the end I have things that I build my self and things that I just bought somewhere (and mostly modify it)

[@robinturner2300]

Piet Muijs when Ingvar Kamprad began, he made solid wood tables, copies of his parents Swedish traditional one. He became one of the richest men in the world by making practical furniture that people can afford and want to buy. The consumer dictates the market which is why IKEA is still expanding...

[@UhOhUmm]

IKEA still makes solid wood tables. They just don't cost what their cheapest items cost. That's the point of IKEA, they have items for every budget.

[@IvanaHonda]

Simonas Mažeikis In my country Ikea is not considerd budget what so ever (average salary is low tbh). Even their whole wood stuff is overpriced when I look at their competition. Not to mention overpriced couches (most of them made from cheapest materials). I have custom made furniture (small apartment problems) that is cheaper than chepaest Ikea stuff.

[@AlvTellez]

Exactly, I was actually wondering why are Ikea's wood planks so light compared to normal particle board but still very very strong. I actually find it brilliant that they are not "full". Particle board furniture is crazy heavy and sometimes it's unable to hold it's own weight. I don't really think there are that many cases where people actually "need" solid wood or fancy woods nowadays. Yeah, it's nice to have, but it's heavy and you need to cut down a huge tree to make a couple of living room furniture pieces.

[@km5405]

yeah .... its not a bad thing, as long as people get its positioned at a certain price point, material and service life - but if I want a heirloom table that will last me and I had the money to spare I would get it from a craftsmen. sure you lose a share of the market this way.; but in a other way it raises the value and distinction more traditional made furniture has. in a world with a million pieces of identical tables, one that someone made by hand for you is something special.

[@bunnywarren]

I have a friend who used to make custom designed and fitted cloths for people. She eventually stopped because people expected to pay China prices for something she made as a one-off for them. Some people are so used to the price they can get online that they've lost or never had the understanding of what it actually takes to make an item.

[@SavageDragon999]

And yet those buyers themselves want 75k a year salary.

[@FFVoyager]

My wife wanted a large 'work table' so we bought something like that. It's been fine, we only got it as a stop-gap and decided to replace it when it wore out for something better. Only that was back in 1997 - 21 years ago! We've only moved house once in that time and it's survived that - a lot of Ikea stuff only seems to like to be assembled once! (We also have some Poang chairs bought at the same time, used pretty much daily, still fine!)

[@koensonck9700]

FFVoyager It’s true. You would hope there would be some poetic justice: it’s cheap so it will be broken in a few years time, but often it lasts a lot longer than you would expect. What happens more I think is that people replace it after some time even though it’s not broken just because it is so cheap. I did it myself: we’ve had an Ikea kitchen table for a number of years. When the top got scratched we just went back to Ikea and bought the exact same one. You can guess where the old one ended up: in some landfill somewhere. Not proud of it, but that’s what happens when things are sold that cheap. You put no value in it because it had so little value to begin with.

[@JuanHerrero]

Re: "Only wants assembled once" Glue and nails (or better, screws) will make me the carpenter I ain't.

[@no-oneshome3083]

I see a lot of ikea bashing, it's cheap, nasty, won't last, but my parents brought 4 wardrobes, fairly heavy, double door, with metal mesh sandwiched between the rails and styles of the doors, 25 years ago, for myself and my siblings, we gave them hell for 15 years, before we moved out, amd in the 10 years since we moved only one has been thrown away, the other 3 are still as strong as the day they brought them.

[@halfmt4643]

Ikea is a far cry from what it once was.

[@TG22222]

Mitch King exactly. IKEA have cheap furniture and they've got expensive furniture. People are giving them shit for providing for different budgets. You could get a German made nail for £0.1 and you can get a Bugatti Chiron for £5M. The cheap nail doesn't make everything German made cheap.

[@therealfusi0nnn]

IKEA is junk

[@naegleriafowleri2230]

Back the ikea was better thats why

[@cromyjr1592]

Tell me a brand which maintains the same quality over 25 years. As previous commenters said that was ANOTHER Ikea. Hell, not even raw material - wood, is not the same nowadays - it grows faster because of global warming.

[@Ryanstuff]

Many people don't seem to realize that Ikea, while offering cheaper Furniture like the one in this video also offer all the way up to higher end pieces that are made of actual wood. I purchased a TV stand from them years ago that is made of solid wood and not only does it look decent but it was a good price vs. many others on the market. That's kind of the beauty of Ikea is that they offer an entire spectrum of quality. From those in their early 20s on a budget to people buying custom pieces for high-end homes.

[@300076379]

Genius material choice and design for low prices. Great for uni students needing short term furniture...

[@TheBacktimer]

It's super sturdy and a non-wasteful choice. I like them too because standing desk motors work much better with a light tabletop. And of course the design is great too. In my view it is even almost sinister to use any hard wood for most desks. I mean think about it, they are covered with items anyway so most of the time you don't even see much of the surface. I'm a big fan of this design

[@patrickkeller2193]

Woodworkers should try to compete in areas were shops like IKEA can't, quality special and custom items. I wanted to make my kitchen countern fitt all corners of the room. Something no store could do without having large chunks of empty air disappearing behind fake covers. So I took out my own tools. Took a lot more time an effort, especially since I'm not an expert, but the result was what I wanted.

[@xw6968]

A wood worker isnt the same asan ikea , ikea is a company that has mass products and a lot of people dont like ikea and want something special. Students wouldnt go to soon to a woodworker anyway , or people with to less money. Its a compleety different market.

[@ABaumstumpf]

I rather get solid furniture that i know will last. buying a table that you know will not last 10 years vs buying a table you know will last > 100 years. For many things buying the cheap product is a lot more expensive in the long run.

[@barackobama2295]

ABaumstumpf yeah but like he said it's nice to have for people like students since it's pretty cheap and since they are usually not looking for something permanent

[@ivanlagrossemoule]

ABaumstumpf Not necessarily true. Furniture for children doesn't need to last 100 years since the children will have grown out of it long before. The same goes for students, as mentioned here. Also, moving isn't necessarily made easier with expensive furniture. I've moved a few times with some really cheap Ikea stuff (a cardboard desk for example, though more expensive model), and it's ridiculously easy to carry around. It's still very solid, and I only stopped using it because of water damage, which wouldn't be any better on solid wood. It still lasted 10 years or so, and I easily could've extended that life much more. Of course, I still agree that expensive and high quality furniture is better to have at home. You can repair it more easily, for example with a bit of sanding and new paint, but there are still many valid arguments into buying Ikea.

[@RmRoyalflush]

ABaumstumpf And what will i do with the furniture when i grow older and dont like it anymore or finish my study and want to move? This furniture is good to have it as the bulk of your furniture, lightweight, cheap, easy to assemble and disasemble, lasts long enough for the purpose and it doesnt hurt me when it gets destroyed. Its simply perfect for most people, i could even sell it for 10€ but got a nice table for 2 years before that.

[@rosscarroll6735]

Im just sat here wondering why would you need a table for 100 years? Never mind the fact that styles are constantly changing, how many people live long enough to require a table for 100 years?

[@jurassicjunkie]

You would be surprised how well these tables work. I've had a few. One of them for about 5 years and it's moved with me to 2 homes. It has a monitor clamp with 2 heavy monitors and there are zero marks on the desk. The table has a slight curve to it now but it's still impressive. As for your worry about the chipboard and legs. They are rock solid. I've unscrewed the legs about 10 times (so I can move the desk to a new room) and hit them 100s of times with my chair and they are strong as they was on day one.

[@shilelea]

jurassicjunkie I have had three of these tables for three years one is the larger size board they all seem to be working fine.

[@jetteraismabash4186]

I can vouch for this comment!

[@Tal.10]

Same here, have 3 table's like like those one's, all with two 24 inch screen's and laptop on them, all perfect after 4 years

[@marhar2]

I use a Linmon table in my workshop for doing aeromodelling and general electroncs (soldering, etc). It holds up great for that kind of use over a period of 8-9 years. When the surface gets too bad, I'll swap out a tabletop and reuse the legs. When Covid started, I put an Ergotron arm with 26 inch monitor on the table. I was careful to position the arm attachment near one end, to be closer to one leg for support. After about 18 months, it's holding up well, no crushing or table warpage. If somebody wants to center the monitor arm, it's probably a good idea to get a fifth leg for the center back position. Originally I was going to get a table and add a glass tabletop to protect from razor blade cutting aeromodelling parts, but a custom sized piece of glass was nearly $100, and I figured I could safely count on several decades of Linmon replacement for that cost. In praise of custom woodworking, this freed up money for my walnut and antique recycled hickory furniture pieces in more civilized parts of the house! Great and informative video btw!!

[@vincentmayer7517]

thanks for educting people! I'm a professional furniture maker and I must say it's very hard for people to understand why our price are so "high" even if you end up not making much profit from it...

[@XPStartupSound]

I have this exact table. I ran into the problem you mentioned with the monitor mounts (2 relatively heavy monitors on a single point mount). It lasted a week before showing signs of failure(dents and slight fracture on the plastic surface). I took 2 pieces of plywood, roughly 15x10cm, above and below the table and that has worked without issue for almost 2 years now. I wanted a cheap minimal table with no skirt that had a lot of depth for plenty of room, while also being super cheap. The linnmon table parts was exactly that. Edit: taking into consideration your point about artisans and woodworkers not being able to compete.. I think they are two different markets that have less overlap than some might think. If they weren't buying Ikea furniture, they were probably buying second hand or not at all instead of furniture that costs $300+. But I do understand that that is a gross oversimplification of the economics of it all.

[@wetlettuce4768]

I've got the larger version of this desk and it carries my two 26" monitors and full size PC tower just fine, for the price you can't beat it I've had more expensive desks that are super flimsy so can't knock Ikea for their quality.

[@AshTag]

I also have a large version of desk and have 2 large monitors mounted to a center arm which is clamped in the rear center of the top and it has not given me any issues for 2 years. I have 2 Alex drawers in the sides and 1 leg in the center.

[@skunkwurkz]

I appreciate the approach you took in this video. As you say, when you buy from Ikea, you know exactly what you’re getting. It’s cheap for a reason, and you highlight what these are. While there’s a place for Ikea, there’s a point in your life when you realise that buying well made, good quality, key pieces of furniture is the right thing to do. Buy well and buy once, will be beneficial in the long run. I’d also recommend people explore their local classified ads. My house has lots of great, solidly made, classic furniture that I’ve got at reasonably prices simply because other people are refreshing their decor. That’s why I love your channel, your messaging of recycling or up-cycling is an excellent one. All the best! 👍🏻🤜🏻👊🏻

[@RonLarhz]

davidmroberts. online Depends on how well u take care of ur stuff. My ikea bed have been 5 years. I was told it wouldnt last 3. And my cheap tv console/rack is still good as new even tho my tv is heavier than recommended.

[@ChibiKeruchan]

There's a point in your life when yada yada yada yada "is the right thing to do". I say... nope. it's not about being right. but being reasonable. just like how you would choose to buy a condo vs a house and lot. furniture just like clothes at some point will get out of fashion.. and you will probably throw one away or give it to your relatives who needs it. the new generation has no interest on antique furniture..... people of this generation are Technically reasonable not to buy a product that last forever if they knew there is no reason for it to last that much. why should I buy a table that will last 150yrs? if I only live an average of 80 and by that time nobody won't even take it as it is out of fashion... your children will just sell it to an antique collector who would probably make a haggle and your children who look at your belongings as "things that needs to go" would just agree to it.

[@theundead1600]

davidmroberts.online IKEA great for a apartment. Unless you have a few strong friends lol. It meets a need.

[@thomasmcluckie2014]

you can get good long lasting products from ikea if you know what you are looking for and at see my other comment above ^^^

[@skunkwurkz]

Thomas Mcluckie Absolutely! I’ve got Ikea all over my house, including my children’s beds and mattresses. Both are very well built and I’ve no doubt that they’ll last them many years.

[@Andr3GC]

Been using the exact same table for years. No problem whatsover, maybe if you don't stress it must it can last. For the price you can't ask for more. Cheap and easy to transport.

[@Badgerworkshop]

The only way to compete is getting people to buy into the craft, made by hand movement. Its nice to have an unique pice and not something maybe millions of other people have.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Very true

[@Tome4kkkk]

It's really difficult though. People are completely disconnected with wood nowadays. I mean, it's easier to advertise Virtual Reality headsets to chimps. I often bring out a piece of hand prepped piece of wood to people visiting me. First, they are stunned by the sheen and quality of a surface that a handplane is able to produce. Like they saw their mirror image for the first time. Then I asked them - Where do you think this piece came from? The material. And here comes the second shock wave when I tell them: I've split a log by myself, along carefully selected planes to acquire the grain direction I desired which in turn will enable me to use the obtained specific properties of that grain direction to produce a piece that will serve its purpose for decades to come. Oh, one more thing. Apart from cutting down the tree not a single glass of gasoline or a Watt of electricity was used to produce this piece. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the many kinds of undiscussed damage capitalism or "capitalism" causes. It plays to ignorance, encourages ignorance and with the growing influence of companies - effectively causes ignorance.

[@philxdev]

yeah but this cannot be a solution for the masses... I would much rather see furniture made like this ikea table with very little use of ressources for cheap and combine that with high quality well made furniture that is partly cnc machined and partly handmade out of good and sturdy natural wood. Building a brand around these two totally different approaches and encourage people to use both in a concept that evolves around sustainability.. Yes I know, one can argue that this cheaply made ikea tables aren´t sustainable, but they have a lot going for them and if they are used in the right application they can hold up quite well. (Or in my case be reused as a canvas for a painting) THe problem are all these "higher end" industrial furniture makers that produce crappy furniture with chemicals and cheap materials that are way too expensive but are the norm nowadays.. I would much rather buy some ikea card board furniture for light use and mix it up with high quality well made solid furniture to get the best of both worlds.. If some manufacturers would pick up on this and also provide the customer with the experience of buying an heirloom-quality item and a marketplace where people can sell and buy these well made stuff used and create a "community" and lifestyle around it , that would allow these business to flowrish even more. But you have to take into consideration that some sort of automation while using good materials is key, because 100% handcrafted stuff is just not affordable for the masses.

[@Tome4kkkk]

phildev I didn't say "mostly handcrafted" is a viable solution for mass customer. As for The remains points, I agree.

[@philxdev]

+Tome4kkkk Oh I didn´t understand it like that, I just wanted to point out that we cannot even consider this a choice the masses can make anymore ( going full blown handcrafted). As for the "virtual headset to chimps" ;) --> I must say that people nowadays are so disconnected because marketing in this regards is sleeping and others are just more successful in arousing desires. Why is it that the people of today absurdly think that it is the norm to have a smartphone for 900dollars? The overhead of peoples lives is so blown out of proportion and people are milked for everything they have got that they do not realize what is really important anymore.. Yes they do overpay on certain things, especially "hobbys" and luxuries items. Why is it not a "thing" to buy an heirloom piece of handcrafted furniture?.... because noboday told them to.. this craft needs a good marketing and not necessarily one that only points to a specific brand, but the overall desire of having a handcrafted furniture, especially a new one, or else the secondary market would explode instead of the current manufacturers.. THis doesn´t mean that manufacturers should start to market their high end handcraftet stuff, because the "luxuries" sector is already working.. It is the masses who need to be influenced and allowing people to buy into that desire should be affordable enough.. It is like the smartphone stuff.. yes a lot of people buy 700-900dollar smartphones but a lot settle for 200-400dollar options, but most of the people THINK that it is the norm to have an expensive one.. Giving people a good feeling about their purchase, with a story around the product they are buying... that is what people want. People want to see themselves doing something "good", "being sustainable", "being part of something" ( brand, community, movement) and just being up to date in terms of technology. A marketing stragegie that tickles these nervs and allows people to be participate even at a "smaller" buyin would be pretty effective. Like starting a line ( not manufacturer specific) of heirloom dressers massiv material, traditional "rural" design, but with some modifications to allow for easy dismantling in case someone moves. People need to believe that they are romanticly investing into a traditional craft, in good values and quality over quantity, and even if they do not have the money for a heirloom dresser now, they can buy something smaller of with the same image attached to it .

[@nine-digits]

I actually have a Linnmon desk, and I use a monitor arm. The desk doesn't flex at all in the middle, but it does indeed show indentations where the clamp rests. Another concern with the desk is that, since the chipboard is what the legs are screwed into, the desk wiggles a lot. But overall a solid desk.

[@OllyParryJones]

There was an article in the news a couple of months ago where a guy make a similar cut in to his Ikea desk top and was shocked, almost outraged, to find the same corrugated cardboard inside. I worry when people expect too much despite paying so little... It's clearly not Ikea's fault when, as you say, they state the materials used on their website. I will confess to having bought some pine furniture from Ikea over the last couple of years. I haven't had a workshop since 2014 and so it's been less practical for me to consider buying my own materials and making it. I draw the line at anything made from a manufactured board though. ;-)

[@netropolis]

This video helped me immensely. My home has this useless little nook in the living room and my wife wanted me to build in a little desk for her working from home efforts. I decided to use one of these table tops. 5" has to be trimmed from their smallest version. and your cross section cut showed me that if I take 2.5" from either side I will still have plenty of "wood" left to add some L brackets to fasten it to the wall. Thanks for this!

[@Thesidingsworkshop]

As always you get what you pay for. Same set up as cheap internal doors.

[@klontjespap]

haha yeah i have those cheap doors with the cardboard honeycombs in them.

[@yottaforce]

So have I and I i kinda like it. They are very lightweight, so much less harm when you slam them over your finger. Also very form stable.

[@LeelooMinai]

I would say you get more than what you pay for on average.

[@potatolol4579]

Ikea is honestly one of my most favourite places to get furniture, my desk, bookshelf and TV unit are all from Ikea and have held up great over time when looked after. In regards to affordability and practicality, Ikea is the way to go. More often than not, hand made furniture items will be fully assembled, and carrying up a whole desk up a flight of stairs as compared to a package the size of a door would make carrying the whole desk an issue. You can never beat a handmade piece of well worked craftsmanship, but more often than not, general consumers will go for a more cost effective purchase over the more expensive.

[@Wimpleman]

Maybe 12 years ago I made my own king size bed using 15 Ikea coffee tables, lashing the legs together with cable ties. This was modular, strong and very cheap at £60. It was stronger than the low end bed frames I was looking at at the time which started at £250--£300 and still looked pretty decent. This allowed me to sink all my budget into a decent mattress and the bed served me well for around 7 or 8 years before my wife made me get a proper one!

[@yinji88]

thanks for the video! I'm a bit ashamed that I initially thought it was just going to be a pro bashing on ikea products, but you provided lots of great info! i didn't know about the recycling wood part at all!

[@jiros00]

I salute Ikea. I salute their ingenuity in bringing workable solutions very cost effectively. I salute proper craftsmen and woodworkers too but for very different reasons.

[@stevenc123]

1:50 I tried using a triple monitor mount clamp on a desk made of this material. At first it seemed okay but it started to sink into the desk after a while so I removed it.

[@eatpumkin090]

I bought a platform bed from IKEA. Only problem I've had with it in the past few years was a loose bolt that got awfully squeaky some nights. Tightened it up real quick and problem solved. I bought a solid wood dinning table from a furniture store and I can tell it will outlast my bed though.

[@sgthree]

Cheap'n'cheerful and does exactly what it says on the tin. When money is tight, (and most of us have been there) and you need furniture to operate, then you really can't go wrong. Just built a desk which needed a corner cutting out to fit tightly in the space I had, from a Linmon 2m long desktop, and simply shaved down the chip board end that was sawn off (hand saw with masking tape to try and keep a neat edge) and re-inserted it to put the strength back in to the revised corner. Works great. Holds a couple of printers (one fairly heavy laser) when put on an old Argos chipboard cupboard and desk pedestal at one end, then a couple of IKEA £2.50 legs on the other that overhangs the old cupboard. A 2 meter long desk with the material cost (not including what I already had) for £31.50!

[@marky701]

Spot on with the monitor stand comment, does warp the hardboard on top, used a piece of wood either side as a bracer sorts it though. No issues with the legs and I've had mine a fair few years and has gone through 3 moves. Just be sure to take legs off. Can always drill new pilot holes.

[@SpaceLanderGirl]

When I was first out of school that’s all I could afford but now I buy for quality,things I could pass down in my family. I’ve even started doing my own woodworking which ,while on the simple project end, is very fun and gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Thank goodness my ikea type days are behind me.

[@natalijadj95]

But then you cant replace your furniture often, if it was that expensive. You end up with outdated interior

[@georgelionon9050]

However, one quality table can last a century, while these last only a few years... so i wonder what has more impact and dead trees in the long run?

[@jonnyaxelsson9940]

Generally the IKEAs would be better for the environment long run. Heavy wooden tables are overengineered for most tasks, use more material and energy to move around, sometimes limiting their second hand use, as does changes in fashion. But when solid wood furniture is used to its fullest for decades it may be a good investment in the environment.

[@thewoodworker1703]

Great video Keith , I really like this style of video as I am sure others do too. Wood/material reviews are very helpful

[@BenjiHansell]

I had one of these as a computer desk. After only a few years of me leaning on it while using the computer, the cardboard-filled region started to buckle. However, I kept the desk for many more years and it never completely failed, even with me still leaning on the same spot frequently.

[@saraht6143]

nice video, i appreciate you going at the conversation from two sides. I stuck ome sitstand table-legs underneath a linnmon so the table-top being cheap helped me realize the creation of a desk that usually comes at a premium. you make a point about the chipboard not being a great material to screw-into, but you know, and the particle board is not so bad to work with once i know to work with what i got. It's more straightforward to drill into a solid piece of wood, but luckily there are plenty of people who want to save money on the internet and willing to share their experience by taking a risk with this material. in my experience, 4-5 spans of projects later, I'm impressed that the construction can take the clamping force of an arm and monitor, a keyboard tray, and two metal legs. i drag the table around shifting its placement quite a bit but i have a hardwood floor and pieces of cloth underneath(so there is a sliding force with minimal friction) which probably help longevity immensely, and i can imagine being on carpet like in my old bedroom and otherwise being just a little too forceful and rip the legs off after seeing your warning.

[@clairehiggins7120]

Theses tablets are great, my daughter has a 50inch tv and gaming stuff on one in her room and we have one in the kitchen, they are so cheap that you can buy a new one in a different colour every time you decorate 😀

[@howtodoitdude1662]

Not surprised. Hollow core interior doors are also made with cardboard in between. IKEA furniture is not cheap material, it’s affordable furniture. Many identical companies out there.

[@Bandit-Darville]

I have 3 of those set up as an L shape desk. The whole setup was €90,-. The planks are rated at 50KG, definitely wouldn't sit or stand on them! They are one of those things that you put together and never must take it apart again unless you are getting rid of it.

[@colinaskey9777]

Hi Keith,as usual a informative vidio straight to the point and no pulled punches,I have never Benn in a IKEA shop and never will,you know your self that there is furniture still in use today many hundreds of year's old,and will last many more,I personally have always chose quality when buying anything that you want to last,it always pays in the long run!take care and stay healthy

[@BogdanSerban]

"responsibly managed forests" I live in Romania and there have been investigations blaming ikea for sourcing wood from protected areas. Even though they only have one store in our country, it's the only country where they directly manage forests.

[@leopold7562]

I was half expecting this video to be an Ikea bashing, but I was very pleased to see that you didn't go there and instead opted for a much more even handed approach, including pointing out that Ikea don't actually lie about the product materials and their record regarding ecological responsibility. Fair play to you for giving us the facts instead of a rant, it makes a refreshing change. However, the one thing I was disappointed in is that you didn't sell what you do nearly enough. Yes, you can't compete with a mass producer who churns out thousands of products from cheaper materials using machines, but that's not your market. If someone wants a generic shelving unit or desk or chair, let them spend pennies at Ikea to get a mass produced item that everybody else has. Mate, you're a craftsman, what you do is way beyond just furniture. You create hand-made, bespoke pieces and you need to make sure you get this across. £190 or so for a coffee table may sound a lot compared to the LACK coffee table, but I'm willing to bet the one you make is unique and beautiful. Having recently seen what is essentially a treated tree stump masquerading as a coffee table selling for knocking on £350, I'd even go as far as to say your table would be a bargain.

[@jamesbrady7069]

I used to work on a school building site. The school was split into two parts, the old grammar school and he new secondary school. The furniture in the old building was nearly impossible to break by hand despite all its years of use. The new building furniture was easily broken apart by hand and with very little effort despite being only 10 years old!

[@angeladroesbeke415]

Like many people I too have purchased furniture at IKEA and mainly so for my children’s rooms. We all know that they quickly grow out of the phase they’re in and like to restyle their personal spaces. That’s even more so nowadays with all the videos on makeovers and such. Personally, I’m out of that phase and prefer to wait longer and purchase a solid wood piece of furniture made by a woodworker as it not only leave me with a lovely manufactured object but also allows for craftsmen to perpetuate their craftsmanship and (hopefully) live off what they love. Whether it be specifically designed or brought back to life following a restauration, I now am definitely more willing to spend more and get a unique object than a mass produced one. This said, I do find that ikea have been a god save for many and particularly young people or those on a tight budget and praise their efforts for eco friendly production and recycling.

[@jacobgilman8189]

Hey I have this desk at work, we did clamp the monitor to the desk and it punctured through the hardboard actually. I had to use a small 2x4 to spread out the weight and it was fine after that.

[@MartinDeHill]

I think Ikea furniture and craftsman's furniture should be considered as two completely different concepts. I would love to furnish my home with all handcrafted, bespoke furniture but I simply can't afford it. I have six of those cheapo Lack coffee tables, and they serve their purpose very well. But I cherish the few pieces of real woodwork I have, and I will probably keep them for the rest of my life.

[@sergeantmaker]

I watched a hour long CNBC documentary on IKEA. I was quite amazed at the process and how long it actually took IKEA to put a product on the market. The Design, engineering and testing process is very extensive. I can understand that since most everything they make is flat packed. They do have levels of quality in their furniture and the price difference is noticeable. I don't think a custom furniture maker needs to worry about competing with IKEA. IKEA has their market and custom makers have a more sophisticated market which is the challenge for the custom maker; finding or being discovered by that market.

[@hansdegroot8549]

Is that CNBC documentary on IKEA also on the internet? If so, could you please write down a link to it?

[@akrammaad7609]

It's certainly unfortunate for the woodworkers. I wanted to support the local woodworkers and workshops to make me a very simple basic desk, however the price was 10 times more then what ikea offers. And sadly, i can not afford that price.

[@LOCKEYJ]

The legs have a mounting plate so the leg doesn’t actually screw directly into the desktop. I’ve had this very desk for about 5 years (until I built my own new one when I wanted a larger desk) I can confirm that even heavily abused the legs have not loosened. But you are right regarding the strength of the desktop.

[@jeremiahfitzgerald835]

I have the same exact desk that I purchased in a San Francisco IKEA. I do agree with you that craftsmanship should be always held over mass manufactured items, woodworking is truly an art. But just to put it out there, I have had my desk for over 4 years. It’s survived constant use and being stuffed in a moving truck for roughly 3000 miles across the US. It’s in perfect condition, no shifting, breakage, or any legs or part of the table being loose.

[@amyx231]

Ill take it! I’ve purchased cheap ikea tables to use for painting on - canvases are $10 each, a lack table is the same price. And I get to learn basic woodworking with it! Win-win!!!

[@HoaxManTheOne]

very good video. thank you for being fair to ikea products. most are good pieces of furniture. not the best or sturdiest in the world but ones that do their job for 10-15 years. its perfect for people with lower incomes

[@busybird7149]

The best way to make the Linnmon last as a desktop is to use the trestle legs. That way you can screw in rails or slats of wood into the chip board to slot the trestle in to, and while you're at it you can glue and screw a slat of wood at the back to butt up against where your monitor mounts. I'm not sure if the piece of wood at the back actually distributes the weight better, but it'll certainly take some strain off the desk top and prevent you from putting knocks in it with your monitor stand. It's pretty fun to take on little projects like that too, and I'm sure it can be pretty empowering to new homeowners.

[@panteleon1]

this is the way doors are made

[@toprod9493]

That's probably what this table is. A horizontal door. Lol.

[@icantcomeupwithagoodusername]

This made me realise that I all of my stuff that I have in my room (except for my bed and chair and non furniture stuff) is IKEA and I moved into my room six years ago, yet I have never had any problem with stuff breaking.

[@ronniesunshine1163]

I have been using this desk surface for about 4 to 5 years now. 2 years ago, I took the cheap legs off and mounted an IKEA electronic sit stand on it. It works like a charm, even with 2 monitors, a heavy mechanical keyboard, my desktop PC, my weight learning on it and several dishes. Its quite a sturdy desk for the price and materials

[@DaddyBear3000]

Great little video. People should know what they are buying. Two main reasons to buy the more expensive option, quality and custom.

[@H01m3s]

I had one of those desks for several years. It survived 3 house moves (legs on and off each time) without an issue. It served its purpose well. Quite how you neighbour thought that it was a solid piece of wood is beyond me though... it weighs about 10Kg including the 4 legs! Just because someone is a little wet behind the ears and unable/unwilling to read a product description doesn't make Ikea a bad retailer either.

[@kallewirsch2263]

A friend of mine bought an additional piece of PAX cabinet 2 months ago. Because of room height restrainsts I had to shorten it the same way I did it with her other PAX pieces 3 years ago. While the older pieces were solid MDF in the inside, I was surprised to find out, that the new ones are built up in exactly the same way as shown here.

[@jeffrielly]

You said "chip board dosent hold screw well" I was wondering what if you filled the holes with Wood glue before putting them in, would that help to secure them better?

[@hi-fidude6670]

I have a Philips tube radio cabinet from around 1960 made from real rosewood. With brass details and white piano keys, it is a super rare vintage item that stands from the boring modern furniture. You gotta remember that 95% of radio cabinets were made from regular wood, this one is extremely rare. There are no pictures of it online.

[@ksp1278]

Good video. I found the same when I used one of those tops to make a dressing table for my wife. It worked fine for that purpose and was good value. It was a built in dressing table so will not be moved. As you say though it is not suitable for a desk if you want to put a monitor arm on it.

[@JoeyRam.]

Here in the US, companies like Modular Closets used to design with 19.mm thick plywood and some with 12mm. About 2 years ago they all changed the quality to chipboard but the websites covered "flawlessly" with a fancy name: 'High Quality Furniture Board'...lol🤣 ..and at higher prices than plywood times 🤑.

[@SianaGearz]

I was fairly certain that while the inside is just paper honeycomb, the whole outer edge is reinforced with solid fibre board, so you shouldn't be afraid of the desk failing just because you clamped a monitor arm to it. Linnmon desks easily hold my weight, but then I'm not a very heavyweight person. The largest problem is the dreadful sound it makes. I always drop things and it amplifies the sound greatly.

[@nuckymcnuck]

I have two monitors clamped to my linnmon for over 9 months and no problems thus far. They are a 27 inch and a 15 inch respectively. Would the table be able to handle two 27 inch monitors is debatable. The biggest problem I've had was screwing a powerstrip to the underside as I kept hitting air instead of chipboard.

[@real_armadillo]

I used to have a monitor arm (for a 27" monitor) clamped onto a Linnmon without any problems. They are actually quite strong, probably thanks to the honeycomb pattern.

[@ChaoticShelly]

I've owned two of these desks for nearly 5 years and they survived one move - they're doing fine as computer desks for what we needed. If I had the money I would make a custom computer desk, but at that point in time we couldn't afford it.

[@ollie9518]

Literally watching this video on my computer which is on the very desk featured in the video. Structurally desk has been fine with no warping and the legs have been pretty sturdy. The only problem I've had is that the laminate surface is quite easily damaged

[@aspieantics9817]

hows it doing now? have you managed to use a monitor stand alongside it?

[@SiAnon]

I remember the days when IKEA stuff was all solid wood. Bought stuff in there 20 odd years ago and it was all good solid stuff and some of it is still going to this day.

[@jilll4694]

I use these tabletops as shelves in my pantry and laundry room, they are fantastic, low cost, and look fab.

[@TAIL313]

Wardrobes, shelving and drawers bought from Ikea 15 years ago still going strong.

[@Daduu]

I’ve been planning on getting 2 karlby countertop 74” to assemble them to an L shape desk, the only problem is I don’t have enough room and was planning on cutting one down to maybe 54”, would that be a problem or no? Would really love someone’s input!

[@johnpurser2798]

Very nice balanced coverage of this issue. Thank you.

[@amyx231]

I have a project planned…sand the surface of a Lack table, do acrylic paint pour art, cover with Minwax Polycrylic. Would that not work then? Or you think it’ll be just fine? Yes it’s the same project from when this video was new…I’ll get around to it eventually!

[@Im0rtalChe3ri0s]

Do you know if only the short ends of the table top are made of chip board or are all sides made of chip board with the inner middle being the honey comb?

[@dianeconti7602]

I've been using IKEA furniture, home textiles and accessories (bought in different countries) for years with no problems. I move often and the ability to break it down, remove covers to wash and the light weight are great assets for me, not a liability. Having their catalog and online store saves me many hours of shopping time, driving, parking, walking, etc. With catalog in hand, I have ordered an entire house and office in less than an hour. The IKEA style and functionality always gets compliments. The only thing I will not buy from IKEA is my bed mattress. Everything has its pro's and con's, but I think IKEA is actually saving the environment by using particle board and paper rather than massive wood.

[@RonLarhz]

Agreed. Not ikea mattress. My room is ikea except chair and mattress. I would if i have space for and money for a comfy chair. Those office/gaming like chairs still cost over $100. So im just sticking to my plastic chair "hand me down"

[@fakiirification]

and thats precisely the market ikea is aimed at. jet setters with no roots who like the euro style and convenience of ordering an entire apartments worth of furniture in an hour without having to worry about what to do with it when your job has you relocate to a different country in 6 months. For those of us with homes and intentions to stick around and perhaps pass something down to children some day, there is the incentive to buy quality goods that can stand the test of time. i have some pieces of furniture in my home that are over 150 years old unrestored, and still in regular service. I guess time will tell if ikea products hold up through generations... though my money is on "no". and again, thats not a bad thing, its just the temporary market they are aiming at.

[@dianeconti7602]

Actually, I am still using all of my original IKEA furniture and home accessories from the '90's in my present home. In the past, I was an antique dealer, so I have lived with vintage furnishings as well. But when you clean your own house shifting solid wood furnishings is backbreaking. I think that IKEA appeals to a certain market and like everything else in this world, it might not be for everyone. For me it works just fine and my home and office decor never fail to get complements.

[@rubbereentjuh]

I love IKEA. Everytime someone complains about the quality, I respond something like: "IKEA has low quality stuff for exceptionally low pricing. You will never get screwed over by IKEA. Their prices line up perfectly with the products. You also have plenty of higher quality stuff at IKEA, but the price of these products is also higher.". I have a LOT of IKEA stuff. I already suspected the wood was "fake" since it weighed so little, and this was confirmed when I dropped a laptop on the surface and it penetrated the top layer over an inch down, exposing the paper. The laptop was fine, completely undamaged! The surface softened the impact! I "plugged" the hole with some filler foam, sanded it flush and painted it. You hardly see it now.

[@DevArts]

I had one of those desks, 6 o6 7ft long, draws as legs at each end and a tripple monitor stand in the middle. Held it up no problem!

[@chastity1534]

My dad and I have been using pallet wood. We just made my son a desk and we are going to be making patio furniture

[@RetroTech100]

I've cut it before and then put wood inside it for strength. It cut nicely without the finish chipping though.

[@monkeydkfetus]

Never had any problems with the legs. A dual monitor stand with two 24" screens eventually bit through the surface, but a couple of pieces of wood to help spread the force fixed that problem. (My stand has a ridiculously small clamp thingwy, maybe 2" by 2" on top and a ~1" round bit on the bottom.)

[@stephenhumble7627]

Is the cardboard honeycomb inside the boards glued to the faces or is it loose. ? Ikeas items feel very stiff and light and you cant seem to hear or detect it moving when handling the furniture

[@navatone]

God damnit, that's why my new Linnmon table started to "sink in" after a few weeks of using my VESA stand with desk mount.

[@vincentl5883]

thanks for your objective analysis

[@skurtov]

For cheap it works really well! Ikea does have different tiers, and their more expensive items do have full grain wood available. I use these desk boards as a modular approach. I don't ever need to move them, and i can accessorize them easily.

[@ReNeyer]

Dude. I have a triple monitor mount on my Linmon. I moved it three times and owned the desk for over 5 years. So hey, I made the empirical test, you are giving anecdotal evidence, heck speculation ;)

[@Hayatory]

I have one of these (the 6ft one) and it has a support. It has been okay for the last 3 years, just the plastic chips away.

[@WhenWillILearn]

Great video with some really good points. You really dont want to be trying to sell to a quality product to the kind of people who are in the market for a £5 coffee table. Even if Ikea didnt exist those people wouldnt be buying a handmade product for £200+ They would probably just go without or... maybe a pallet on some bricks. The Eames CTM still sells well for £1040 so there is a high end market out there. You've defo earnt a new sub, keep it up!

[@elizabethmackay972]

If there's one thing I've learned in the woodworking business, it's you always get EXACTLY what you pay for.

[@b03tz]

Give me any other business where that is any different.

[@elizabethmackay972]

Patrick Nijkamp Taco trucks. The sketchier the taco truck and the cheaper the taco, the better the taco.

[@peterlofstrand]

I have worked with the same type of deal, just remove some of the paper an you in a fitting piece along the edge to give it the strength back. But as you say, you get what you pay for. But then again IKEA also have other things that are really good stuff as well, you just have to pay more.

[@--Paws--]

Thank you for explaining the anatomy - I was about to re-purpose these things to mount things.

[@rangersmith4652]

Craftsmanship isn't dead--it's just becoming a niche market. I'm a huge Ikea fan for all the reasons noted. The product analyzed here will last a very long time under the conditions in which it's like to be used. If you move house with a Linmonn table, just take the legs off and pack them separately. Done.

[@denverflatpackjedithornton]

Offical ikea furniture installer here. The corner areas are solid where the legs screw in. Ikea allows first time buyers to be able to furnish their flat to the good standard whilst a modern and up-to-date look it achieved. We had these IKEA linnmon desks in an office and move them around constantly including standing on them when we needed to replace ceiling tiles. IKEA milk products to the quality standards rather than a price point in my opinion., that said and being a qualified cabinet maker who has worked in a workshop nothing will ever replace the longevity of solid wood furniture however due to the ever increasing cost of rail would the the ever increasing cost of rail would the original poster of the video is correct.... but you get what you pay for and if you want solid wood products that will last until your grandkids need the table then you will need to pay for it. Both have a place in the home.

[@CalvinHodgson]

Now you got me thinking about cheap Ikea furniture.

[@ASlickNamedPimpback]

Hey! I need help. i cant seem to put the Chipboard in the right place. I think my tabletop instructions are wrong. Help please???

[@blahdiblah2169]

I don't compete with Ikea, I build stuff I want because a) I enjoy it b) the stuff will last longer and c) it is customized to fit a space and a need If we're talking about their particle board furniture I can barely undercut their prices. I did a detailed calculation on this and it's doable. I have no idea about their solid wood projects, I would always build those myself anyways. But Ikea isn't bad, it's a great place to get ideas for stuff to build, and you can get accessories and auxiliary items there for your builds.

[@globalko]

Ikea also sells another version of that which is hardwood which I currently use, it's more expensive though (who'd figured)

[@oddarneroll]

What a awsome attitude!!

[@koensonck9700]

I have an Ikea desk like the one in the video and it’s still standing after 10 years with no indication that it will collapse any time soon. I have a bespoke walnut dining table that has been with us just as long that looks a lot better but cost a 100 times more. From an economic point of view the Ikea purchase is by far the better deal. I could chuck that desk out of the window though without a moment of regret while I’m sure I will hold on to that table for the rest of my life. So I guess it’s just a question of what is more important to you: cheap and practical but without emotional attachment or not so cheap but beautiful and of personal value.

[@AndreaArzensek]

I think it is a great budget furniture to initially set up the place where you live. Later on you can upgrade to quality furniture if you wish.

[@klontjespap]

used to have an old kitchen top with big metal legs screwed under it as my computer desk now it's a dinner table, top is easily like 2cm thick, and proper wood, think it's beech. used to have an oak one, which i use as soldering table now. they're all second hand, not antique or anything, but they are in classic old-fashioned big dinner table style, can't find much they skimped on, if at all :D i like me a proper dinner table.

[@andytyrrell62]

Some interesting points Keith and I agree that, for most, choosing between a craftsman built coffee table and a £5 IKEA job is no competition. However, I'm not sure this is a new phenomenon. Back in my childhood days, in the 60s/70s, there wasn't the kind of cheap outlets (IKEA, Argos, B&Q etc) that there are today, so many people needed to rely on hand me downs and second hand stuff. As my dad died when I was only 3, my mum was left on her own to run the household and I have no memory of ever buying new furniture. I do remember my mum sending my sister and I to One Armed Pete's (a second hand shop in Cleethorpes at the time) with an old pram and transporting a rather grand sideboard home. To this day I dont know how we managed it. The benefits of Ikea's environmental credentials are somewhat outweighed by the fact that their products won't be handed down or sold as second hand, to the same degree, so I'm of the opinion that were not much better off because of it. Only more rigorous control over tree management will have the environmental benefits we need in these times. Andy Tyrrell, Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

[@FFVoyager]

Cheap flat pack furniture certainly did exit in the 60's/70's - MFI. The stuff was rubbish compared to what Ikea makes these days though.

[@andytyrrell62]

FFVoyager. You're right but the difference between MFI then and IKEA today is that, relatively speaking, it wasn't as cheap to buy. It was cheaper than properly built furniture but it was still out of reach for many working class people. When a family on our estate had an MFI kitchen fitted, half of our street went round for a tour. Nowadays anyone, and I mean anyone, can afford what the flatpackers are offering, even though it's equally crappy.

[@leopold7562]

FFVoyager Oh god, I remember MFI. I helped my dad build a dresser made by them in the early 80s after we'd just moved house. My dad was used to maintaining cars using Haynes manuals, so he knows how to follow instructions, and he said the MFI assembly instructions were completely indecipherable. I'm still not sure how the hell we managed to get it put together, but I do recall there being some bits left over, and he had to fish around in the garage to find screws to cover for the ones that were missing. In stark contrast, Ikea furniture is a piece of cake. Usually.

[@xeno126]

I have previous experience with chipboard tables before, and so when I bought a shelfunit from IKEA, which I really needed but also was tight on budget, I was nervous about putting it together and lifting it up. And I thought to my self when I finished that it probably can be moved only once or maybe twice before disintegrating lol.