A library on wheels

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Materials: Expedit, Linnmon

Description: I live in a duplex in which the upper floor has an inclined ceiling. In a corner I have my computer desk, and behind my back the ceiling is pretty low, and I need to make the most of it. So I thought of something like this, using three 2×2 EXPEDIT modules on wheels with a LINNMON table top on it.

So the list of purchase is:

From IKEA:
+ 3 2×2 EXPEDIT modules
+ 2 75cmx150cm LINNMON table tops

From a local DIY store:
+ 2 3cm x 3cm, 240cm long wood strip
+ 1 1cm x 3cm, 240cm long wood strip
+ 6 side casters (to be placed on top of the modules)
+ 6 small plastic caster (which will touch the sides of the top of the modules)
+ 12 medium rubber caster (under the modules, they’re a bit more expensive, but I do not want to leave marks on the wooden floor)

First I assembled the EXPEDIT modules, and placed them in place, and put the LINNMON table top above. As the wall behind my desk has a radiator, it restricts the length I have, so I had to cut the table top. Moreover, the corner is not 90 degrees, so I had to cut it accordingly. I used a circular saw for that purpose.

I also estimated the height I would need, and cut the other table top to use it as a side. Now LINNMON table tops have wood strips on four sides, but the middle is made of cardboard honeycomb, and I had to reinforce the side I had cut. For this purpose I had to reduce a strip of 3×3 to 3×2,8, and cast it inside the side. I then assembled the two table tops with three dowels.

Now to guide the modules smoothly, I used 3×3 wood strip, glued and screwed below the top, to which I screwed the small plastic custers, and on which roll the side custers. To place correctly the strips, I worked upside down. The spacing was like this:

+ Side table top
+ 1cm wide wood strip
+ 1cm empty space
+ EXPEDIT module
+ 1cm empty space
+ 3cm wide wood strip
+ 1cm empty space
+ EXPEDIT module
+ 1cm empty space
+ 3cm wide wood strip
+ 1cm empty space
+ EXPEDIT module
+ 1cm empty space
+ 3cm wide wood strip

I used bits of 1×3 wood strips to obtain the correct spacing. Making the guides themselves was a bit more complicated, as I had to use a router to make holes for the small plastic casters.

Finally to fix the table top to the wall, I used pieces of angle frames I had, screwing them to the wall and below the table top.

The corner before the hack
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3 EXPEDIT 2×2, 2 LINNMON 150×75, 1 LINNMON 120×60 (for a future use)
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The inside of the LINNMON is honeycomb
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Adding and gluing a strip inside the LINNOM table top
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Adjusting the hole in the table top
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Thanks to the above the holes are well centered
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The covering structure upside down
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With the EXPEDIT module, upside down, to check the dimensions
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Fixing the upper casters, with a 1cm spacing
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Placing the guides, also with a 1cm spacing. Note the head of the guide, with the holes for the side casters
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Gluing the guides
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The upper structure is now fixed to the wall
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Detail of the side casters: the white top caster, rolling on the guide, and a grey one in the hole of the guide, rolling on the EXPEDIT.
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