Ikea sektion cabinet legs- alternative to plastic?

5 years ago

Did you go with the plastic sektion legs for your Ikea cabinet or use an alternative? We were planning on installing a couple toekick radiators under our kitchen cabinets and after realizing the sektion legs are plastic, would like to use an alternative.

The capita legs are metal, but multiple comments note that the Ikea website description is misleading and that they cannot be used with a plinth.

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Dee Zee

3 years ago

This is an old thread, but just in case someone is looking for info on those legs, I did NON-SCIENTIFIC test and I have no numbers to offer but read on...

Background, I have been doingwoodworking as a hobby and I always over-engineer my creations for strength and durability. I can say with confidence I understand rather well issues involved here. Now the test:

I usedBessey parallel clamps to exert pressure on the plastic leg as it would experience in service. By hand, the clamp will exert the pressure of roughly 1,700 PSI (pounds per square inch). I yanked it as hard as I could. Not even a sound of anything crackling. Then I use an adjustable wrench to get better leverage and I gave the clamp screw another 3 full turns. Not a crack whatsoever.

Before I did the test I too was concerned about the legs being plastic, so I bought a set of the metal ones. Lo and behold, the metallic part is mostly just a decoration, the outer tube. The female thread for the for the bolts is plastic. So no matter which way you go, you are using plastic threads.

I will be returning the metal legs and keep the plastic ones and I have no worries about the quartz countertop that will be sitting on top of my base Sektion cabinets.

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Comments (10)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
The standard legs are adjustable to account for floor deflection. I don't see the problem. Any item that generates enough heat to affect the legs is too hot to be placed under the wood cabinets.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
They are made to work with their plinths what is your issue your vent would be in front of the plinth
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"For the undermount sink we screwed two strips of wood to the side walls of the cabinet to support the sink." I strongly discourage this procedure. I constantly repair leaking double bowl stainless steel sinks that have been supported this way. Most sinks do not have a stanchion between the bowls. This means that each bowl is supported by wood on one side and steel-on-the-flat on the other. Steel-on-the-flat flexes, especially with the weight of a disposal pulling the sink down, causing leaks. Leaks cause rot, rust, insect infestation, and unsanitary gunk where you're preparing food for your family. Of course I have tons of pictures to support my claims. Wood cleats cannot provide the constant upward even pressure on sinks that a Hercules Universal Sink Harness (Braxton Bragg) or a Sink Strap (Regent Stone Products) can. You can stand in a strapped sink. You can jump up and down in a strapped sink. You can push on the steel-on-the-flat and it will not budge; it can't defy the laws of physics. And straps take up less room than cleats.
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crcollins1_gw
5 years ago
Our contractor built a base for our IKEA cabinets. It voids the warranty, but I expect never to need it given the particulars of our install. YMMV.
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Renov8or
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Hi JY - those legs are not intended to be visible and like others here mention, each is adjustable which allows you to level the base cabinets so that they can evenly support the weight of countertops. They're covered by the toe kicks that adhere to them with plastic clips. This video shows how someone built radiator covers into IKEA toekicks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyZTK0-7wAE
Albert Hall
3 years ago
The sektion plastic legs are custom made to push into predrilled holes on bottom of sektion base cabinets without screws or fasteners. There is a custom clip which works with Ikea’s toe kick boards (slides in). The capita legs can be used but need to have holes drilled in the cabinet and do not have the custom clips. The capita legs would be just like any other adjustable legs in the same height range. The biggest capita plus is they are steel and when screwed in and adjusted are strong. Since the sektion cabinets depend mostly on the suspension rail for support, the sektion plastic legs are adequate to task of leveling the cabinets (uneven floors). If you want to put a toe kick then you’ll need to figure out something on your own if you used the capita legs. Personally leaving the under cabinet area open would be a different look that some may like. Also, haven’t tested it but I would trust the capita steel legs over the sektion plastic leg if somebody decided get up and sit or stand on the edge of the counter. Just saying
julieste
3 years ago
I am curious if anyone has done the metal legs (for the look) and then left them uncovered by toe kicks.
van_the_man
3 years ago
we used the capita legs and left them uncovered.
van_the_man
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
we used the capita legs and left them uncovered. matches brushed nickle hardware nicely. not a great photo due to sun streaming in above the vanity.
D S
2 years ago
I want to use exposed capita legs under my kitchen cabinets which means I'll have to do my floor first and under the cabinets. I am still exploring different flooring. But since it will be under the weight of the cabinets/countertop and stuff, do you think I could use something like Forbo Marmoleum?

Ikea sektion cabinet legs- alternative to plastic?

Dee Zee

Comments (10)

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