This is a review of the
IKEA Alex Drawer Unit on Castors - which is my second IKEA purchase as part of the "
let's try and store everything better than hitherto" campaign.
I've been storing paper for artwork and works on paper in portfolios for ages and frankly, the number of portfolios was getting very difficult to manage both comfortably and aesthetically!
I have long wanted a plan chest in theory however:
- they mostly tend to be size A0 or A1 and that's much bigger than I want to house and much bigger than I actually need
- if big they become incredibly heavy to move when full - plus you need to start thinking about floor strength!
- they're not that easy to find
- most would look good in an office but less good in a home
- if you do find them, they're very often fairly expensive
Which is why, when I spotted the IKEA Alex Drawer Unit on castors in IKEA, I was so very pleased that at long last it looked like I might have solved the problem of what to do with all that paper.
The bottom line - I was right. With one caveat - I actually need two! Here's the review.
- If you want to check paper sizes - take a look at the chart at the end
- If you've created paper storage or reviewed another purchased product providing storage for art paper please leave a comment and a link to your review
| Product: IKEA: Alex Drawer Unit on castors (white) |
SUMMARY REVIEW:
- Ease of Assembly: Not overly complicated however you do need 2-3 hours and to be very focused on what you’re doing while assembling it.
- Quality / Robustness: It’s particle board not wood. That said it’s good quality and the unit feels robust when finished
- Functionality: The drawers take large quantities of paper and all move really easily even when full. The castors work well on carpet and the whole unit can be moved easily. This enables the unit to be placed it in front of items you use only occasionally
- Value for Money: Very reasonable compared to alternatives - UK Cost £85 plus delivery charge. (USA $119)
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Technical Details:
- size:
- Width: 67 cm / 26 3/8 "
- Depth: 48 cm/ 18 7/8 "
- Height: 66 cm / 26 "
- drawers are designed to take paper up to size A2 with space to spare
- material:
- Basematerial / Drawer front: Particleboard, Acrylic paint, Melamine foil, ABS plastic
- Bottom panel: Particleboard, Melamine foil, ABS plastic
- Back panel: Particleboard, Melamine foil, Melamine foil
- Drawer back / Drawer side: Particleboard, Foil
- Drawer bottom: Fibreboard, Acrylic paint
- colours: available in white and blackweight: 32.4 kg
- weight: 32.4kg
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Who should buy this?
- artists who work on paper
- artists wanting to increase their flat storage capacity for paper, mountboard and completed artwork
- pencil artists needing a neat storage solution for the home
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Who should not buy this?
- people wanting flat storage for whole sheets of watercolour paper and mountboard
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Highlights:
- large capacity
- draw width enables storage of smaller paper/works in two stacks side by side
- drawer mechanism makes drawers run very smoothy
- castors make it easy to move around
- visual instructions are very helpful - and you can download the Alex Unit instructions before you buy
- easy to make up - one person can do it - but you do need to concentrate during assembly. It took me about 3 hours working slowly and carefully (I only made one mistake and that was easy to undo!)
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Think Again?
- if you want to store full size sheets of watercolour paper or mountboard you’ll need something bigger
- if you’re not good at using a screwdriver or DIY find a relative or friend who is - and be nice to them!
- The USA version indicates the drawers are designed for letter size papers. They are in fact much bigger than this - see paper sizes chart at end
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Manufacturer / Distributor:
- IKEA - their website http://www.ikea.com/ helps you find a store near you.
- Plus you can order online (but will need to pay a delivery charge)
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Suppliers:
- only available new from IKEA
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