0

I've finally found two identical bench's on an auction site that are almost perfect as I'm looking to create a breakfast nook In my kitchen that im doing up. Unfortunately just measured and one is slightly too long for the area I'm working with..I feel it's possible but wondered if anyone could advise me as to the best possible way to downsize the length of the bench without damaging it structurally

Improve this question
3
  • 5
    Benches come on a plethora of styles and construction details. No help can be provided till you help us by providing some photos of the existing bench. With low rep you may need to post links to the photo(s) and someone with more rep can help to inline them into your question.
    – Michael Karas ♦
    May 30, 2016 at 20:42
  • Sorry best I can do..www.google.co.uk/search?site=&source=hp&ei=ta9MV_vEAYiLgAacwb_wBg&q=norden+bench&oq=&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.1.1.41l3.0.0.0.1811.1.1.0.1.1.0.203.203.2-1.1.0....0...1c..64.mobile-gws-hp..0.1.35.3.INaOeW--CjU#imgrc=ZZgLQ8Teb-XE4M%3A
    – Charlotte
    May 30, 2016 at 21:30
  • So, these are IKEA Norden benches?
    – Daniel Griscom
    May 30, 2016 at 22:05

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

If the benches that you have are indeed the Norden style of benches from IKEA like this:

enter image description here

Then it would be possible to shorten them slightly by cutting an equal amount off of each end if the bench top. Several things to consider when proposing to do this:

  1. Some IKEA products are made of a particle board that is veneered with a nice wood face and edges. If the top boards of this bench are made that way then the shortening would leave ugly raw edges on the ends of the bench.

  2. Cutting wants to be uniform from both ends so the bench remains having a balanced and even look.

  3. Do not shorten so that the top gets closer than say 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the legs.

  4. If the ends of the top are cut it will leave a raw wood edge that would need to be re-finished. Good guess as to what type of finish has been used by the manufacturer.

  5. If you cut only one of the two benches they may no longer look like a "matched set".

  6. The type of saw used to trim the bench top will have a lot to do with how nice the cuts look and whether or not there is any chipping or splintering.

Improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.