[Kitsune]

Hello all,

I've recently purchased three bookshelves to stand next to each other, and I'd like to connect them to stand more neatly, without any of them leaning away from the others.

I dropped by Ikea in search of some connection hardware, but was told that they didn't have anything that would fit the bill. This was a slightly ironic answer, given that their Billy shelves were connected together with a U-shaped piece of metal inserted in the holes at the top of the sideboards. I was mildly tempted to pilfer them for my own purposes, but virtue won out in the end.

Virtue means that I need to find my own U-shaped metal thingies to hook the bookshelves together, though, so if anyone has any insight in something that might fit the bill, I'd love the advice!

[Harpy]

their Billy shelves were connected together with a U-shaped piece of metal inserted in the holes at the top of the sideboards.

Could these have been the corner connectors?

IKEA | Bookcases | BILLY bookcase system | BILLY | Corner hardware

[dafogle]

I ganged mine together using some hardware I got at the hardware store - drilled through the shelve holes and used one of those connector things to gang cabinets ... similar to what is done to gang the kitchen cabinets together. I don't know what the hardware is called... Hope this helps!
Doreen

[Kitsune]

No, nothing like that. It was like someone took a rounded metal bar about 1/8" thick and a couple inches long and bent it into a squared-off U shape, with each 'leg' pushed down into the hole in the top of the shelf.

[albertsok]

I connected my Billy bookcases using some leftover hardware from Ikea kitchen cabinets - the frames are the exact same width. You should be able to get these as spare from Ikea customer service, then you just have to clamp the bookcases together, drill through your chosen shelf pin hole, and attach with the hardware which is a regular machine screw and a receptacle on the other end. Your local hardware store might have something similar.

[DesignDiva]

I bet it's the clamps used for the Besta units, to join them together when stacked. Sounds like exactly what we got with our Bestas.

[ted]

I created a solid wall of BILLYS by
joining them together with drywall screws
. . . a tip I picked here at IKEAFANS!
Ted

[SherryLibrarian]

I have three Billys in a row that line up perfectly without hardware. I did use shims under the front edges, as I always do with any book shelf to offset the front loaded shelves.

[Kitsune]

I went by a friend's home, and her Billy shelves had the same U-shaped bracket that the ones in Ikea had. Conspiracy! They apparently used to come with these brackets and no longer do!

[RBaptist]

I just did this at my house. I used 3/16"x1" Binding posts. The Home Depot has them:
UPC: 030699439119

For the screw I bought Drawer screws because they have a big head on them that is relatively flat:
UPC: 030699000715

I just drilled out the shelf holes a little and they look GREAT and the shelves are sturdy.

While I was at THD I noticed they sell the screws and cams (like what holds the middle shelf in place). I am considering anchoring in ALL of the shelves that way so the bookcase will be super solid. Then I can tack the backer board on with some small brads so it doesn't feel/look so flimsy.

The bookcases look really good though for the relatively small price. I do wish they would make them out of a cheaper hardwood (like poplar or pine) and venear over that instead of particle board. If they did that, they would OWN the bookshelf market for price.