# 5 things you shouldn't buy at Ikea **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-things-you-shouldnt-buy-at-ikea/582067 "2011-05-16T04:26:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-things-you-shouldnt-buy-at-ikea/582067/61 "2011-07-14T00:39:13Z")
I have some particleboard bookcases and CD shelving that either tend to tip or lean away from the wall, or have shelves that sag, or both. Whether you buy these at IKEA or not, sometimes your best bet is to pull them slightly away from the wall (by a couple of inches, say) and then gently tip them against the wall, so they rest, slightly tilted but stable. And then prop up any sagging shelves with small pieces of wood, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-things-you-shouldnt-buy-at-ikea/582067/62 "2011-07-14T04:03:22Z")
Why not put shims under the front of the bookcases so they stand up straight? Shims are 10 for $2 at any home improvement store. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-things-you-shouldnt-buy-at-ikea/582067/63 "2011-07-14T06:54:46Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > Regarding knives, outside of an actual chef I dont know anyone who needs a “set” of knives. > > what I do hear all the time is the standard, you need a good chefs knife (around 10-12" and with a \*\*gentile \*\*curve) and a serrated bread knife. Presumably you need a different curve on the knife to perform a bris. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-things-you-shouldnt-buy-at-ikea/582067/64 "2011-07-14T10:25:03Z")
One thing that I thoroughly recommend from Ikea is their kitchens. I’m just in the finishing stages of a DIY rip-everything-out-and-start-again kitchen renovation, and the whole thing will come in at comfortably under £7,000, including most appliances (reusing fridge/freezer and dishwasher), and including getting tradesmen in to rewire the kitchen, move plumbing, lay underfloor heating and tile the floor. Getting a big kitchen company in to do it would have cost probably three times as much, and I’m really happy with the look and quality. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-things-you-shouldnt-buy-at-ikea/582067/65 "2011-07-14T10:28:20Z")
I have many IKEA purchases that have served me well. The only one that is a problem for me is my own fault - the hutch part of my TV cabinet is supposed to have a back to it to keep it rigid, but I have removed it to let cables through, and it has weakened it. I need to locate a perfectly sized cross bar support… ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-things-you-shouldnt-buy-at-ikea/582067/66 "2011-07-15T18:27:30Z")
> [@Baffle](#): > > I too have been burned by particleboard If the particle board was hot enough to burn you, wouldn’t it have burned through the box it was in. too? Seems easy enough to spot before you buy. 🆒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-things-you-shouldnt-buy-at-ikea/582067.md?page=3)