Step 2 of 12
IVAR shelving unit step 2 of 12: Screw the OBSERVATÖR cross-brace to the back uprights
Open the two galvanized steel straps of the OBSERVATÖR cross-brace into an X across the back of the pine uprights and drive 4 screws (109041) through their end holes into the wood.
- 2× Cross-brace strap
- 4× Screw
109041
Tools: Cross-head screwdriver
All 12 steps
- 1 Stand the pine side units and fit the 4 cabinet pins
- 2 Screw the OBSERVATÖR cross-brace to the back uprights
- 3 Prepare the cabinet bottom and side panels on the floor
- 4 Mount the cabinet bottom and stand both cabinet sides
- 5 Lock the cabinet base, fit top dowels and prep the top
- 6 Lower the cabinet top and lock it with cam locks
- 7 Nail the back panel onto the rear of the cabinet
- 8 Fit the 4 interior shelf pins and slide in the shelf
- 9 Screw the 4 soft-close cup hinges into the pine doors
- 10 Clip both pine doors onto the cabinet mounting plates
- 11 Push in 12 shelf pins and snap down the 3 pine shelves common mistake
- 12 Anchor the shelving unit to the wall with the brackets
00Overall
The outer size is IKEA's published size.
01Elevations
Drawn from our 3D model, to scale. Point at a part to find it in the list below; click it to jump there.
02Parts / cut list
| Part | Name | Qty | T | W | L | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Left side unitPre-assembled solid pine ladder frame with front and back uprights joined by five horizontal cross-rungs.30 × 500 × 1790 mm | ×1 | 30 mm | 500 mm | 1790 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
| B | Right side unitRight-hand solid pine side unit; paired with the left unit, it carries both the lower cabinet and the three pine shelves.30 × 500 × 1790 mm | ×1 | 30 mm | 500 mm | 1790 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
| C | Cross-brace strap2 × 16 × 1100 mm | ×2 | 2 mm | 16 mm | 1100 mm | Steel, galvanized |
| D | Cabinet bottomSolid pine bottom board of the IVAR cabinet module; it rests on 4 metal support pins in the lower bay of the side units.18 × 477 × 826 mm | ×1 | 18 mm | 477 mm | 826 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
| E | Cabinet left sideLeft solid pine wall of the IVAR cabinet module; carries the left door on two 109221 hinge mounting plates.18 × 477 × 794 mm | ×1 | 18 mm | 477 mm | 794 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
| F | Cabinet right sideRight solid pine wall of the IVAR cabinet module; carries the right door on two 109221 hinge mounting plates.18 × 477 × 794 mm | ×1 | 18 mm | 477 mm | 794 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
| G | Cabinet topSolid pine top board of the IVAR cabinet; locks onto the cabinet sides with 4 cam bolts and 4 cam locks.18 × 477 × 826 mm | ×1 | 18 mm | 477 mm | 826 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
| H | Cabinet back panelThin fibreboard back panel nailed to the rear of the IVAR cabinet to keep the cabinet box square.3 × 820 × 824 mm | ×1 | 3 mm | 820 mm | 824 mm | Fibreboard, acrylic paint |
| J | Cabinet shelfAdjustable solid pine shelf inside the IVAR cabinet module, resting on four 131372 shelf support pins.18 × 453 × 786 mm | ×1 | 18 mm | 453 mm | 786 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
| K | Left pine doorSolid pine cabinet door hung on two 3-way adjustable soft-close cup hinges (109338) that clip onto the 109221 mounting plates.18 × 410 × 824 mm | ×1 | 18 mm | 410 mm | 824 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
| L | Right pine doorSolid pine cabinet door hung on two 3-way adjustable soft-close cup hinges (109338) that clip onto the 109221 mounting plates.18 × 410 × 824 mm | ×1 | 18 mm | 410 mm | 824 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
| M | Pine shelf20 × 496 × 826 mm | ×3 | 20 mm | 496 mm | 826 mm | Solid pine, untreated |
The parts' sizes are our 3D model's own estimates: close, not measured. Upright sections, rung spacing, cabinet board thicknesses and hole coordinates are our own estimates from IKEA’s assembly drawings. IKEA publishes only the outer size.
03Tools & materials
| Tools | ||
|---|---|---|
| HammerTaps the 12 ring nails (101201) through the back panel of the IVAR cabinet. | You need it | |
| Cross-head screwdriverDrives the 4 OBSERVATÖR cross-brace screws (109041), 8 cam bolts (118331), 8 mounting-plate screws (113287), 8 hinge cup screws (100365), and 2 top wall-bracket screws (109041). | You need it | |
| Flat screwdriverTurns the 8 cam locks (119081) inside the cabinet and drives the 2 wall screws. | You need it | |
| Materials | ||
| Solid pine, untreated | ABDEFGJKLM | |
| Steel, galvanized | C | |
| Fibreboard, acrylic paint | H | |
Not in the box: 2 wall screws and 2 wall plugs that suit your wall.
04Hardware
| ×20 | Shelf support101324 for the side units (16) and 131372 inside the cabinet (4) | 131372 | 3.5 mm pin, 9.2 mm head | Zinc-plated steel |
| ×6 | Screw | 109041 | 4.0 × 16 mm | Zinc-plated steel |
| ×8 | Cam bolt | 118331 | 41 mm long | Zinc-plated steel |
| ×8 | Dowel | 101350 | 8 × 30 mm | Birch or beech wood |
| ×8 | Cam lock | 119081 | 15 mm across | Grey composite |
| ×12 | Nail | 101201 | 20 × 1.9 mm, 5.7 mm head | Zinc-plated steel |
| ×4 | Hinge mounting plate | 109221 | Zinc-plated steel | |
| ×8 | Plate screw | 113287 | Zinc-plated steel | |
| ×4 | Soft-close hinge | 109338 | Nickel-plated steel | |
| ×8 | Hinge screw | 100365 | Zinc-plated steel | |
| ×2 | Wall bracket | 106989 | Galvanized steel | |
| ×4 | Washer | 100823 | Zinc-plated steel |
Questions
Why does the IKEA IVAR shelving unit need the OBSERVATÖR cross-brace?
Because IVAR shelves and side ladders form an open grid without a full back panel, the two diagonal galvanized steel straps of the OBSERVATÖR cross-brace (screwed into the back uprights with four 109041 screws) triangle the frame so it cannot sway or rack sideways under load.
How is the IVAR pine cabinet supported inside the shelving unit?
Four steel support pins (101324 / 131372) are pushed into matching holes on the inside of the front and back pine uprights, and the assembled 80×50×83 cm cabinet module sits directly on those four pins.
What fasteners hold the IVAR cabinet module together?
Eight cam bolts (118331), eight wooden dowels (101350) and eight cam locks (119081) join the pine top, bottom and sides; twelve nails (101201) secure the back panel; and four soft-close cup hinges (109338) with eight screws (100365) clip onto four mounting plates (109221) fastened with eight screws (113287).
Do I have to anchor the IVAR 89×50×179 cm shelving unit to the wall?
Yes. At 179 cm tall with heavy solid pine doors at the front, IKEA requires anchoring the unit to the wall using the two 106989 L-brackets, 109041 screws and 100823 washers, plus wall screws and plugs suited to your wall.
Safety
Furniture that tips over can cause serious or fatal crushing injuries. Always fix this IVAR shelving unit to the wall using the enclosed 106989 wall brackets and screws and plugs suited to your wall.
About this guide
The part numbers and counts match IKEA's assembly instructions, so you can check each piece against your box. The outer size, 89 × 50 × 179 cm, is IKEA's published size. Upright sections, rung spacing, cabinet board thicknesses and hole coordinates are our own estimates from IKEA’s assembly drawings. The 3D runs faster than real hands do.
Each 83×50 cm solid pine IVAR shelf holds up to 45 kg; the cabinet interior shelf holds up to 30 kg.
The manufacturer's instructions are on IKEA's product page (PDF). If something here differs from the manual in your box, follow the manual.
The 3D models, drawings and text are our own. IKEA and IVAR are named only to say which product this guide is for.