To think I have let down every woman everywhere?

[ImOnMyTumbleTap]

I have disappointed myself in being completely unable to put a fucking, bullshit, crappy bookcase together. It just will not work!

My DP offered to help me with it but I told him I was perfectly capable of putting together a book case, thank you very much. Now I have to go crawling back and say I can't. Gah!

Does this help?

Sorry if I am slow to reply, I'm fulfilling my abilities to multitask and putting up backing paper at the same time as failing to put a bookcase together.

Nah, you've not let me down. In fact, you are fulfilling the exact same role my husband does when it comes to DIY. I can do it, he thinks he can do it, but reality invariably proves him wrong.

Is that the first part of your instructions? It looks like it wants you to fit it as part of the frame attached to the bottom shelf.

How many types of screw do you have?

Two types of screw and some nails. It said to use the 14mm ones and I have so I don't know why it's not working. It might be that I am too weak but it's only MDF and I was always good at woodwork at school.

Is there a capable woman you could ask for help? That would save you felling feeble for asking a man and you could keep the badge!
I'm not bad at flatpack, and MrZippy is good at it, but we agreed long ago that we must never, ever assemble furniture together. The purchase of the flatpack is probably a good indicator that we can't afford the divorce which would result from trying.

Are the 14mm ones the smallest you have? If 'B' screws are definitely the 14mm ones, you're screwing it in too tight. But that's OK I think because it looks like the back of that piece so won't be visible and providing you don't do it to any more it will still be structurally sound.

Unfortunately there is no one around that I can ask at all. I thought I would have it put together in half an hour. I was impressed that I thought to bring the tools with me to be honest.

I once attempted to put together a desk for our daughter, I refused help putting it together so it wasn't the sturdiest piece of furniture and then I refused further offers of help to get it up the stairs.
I dropped it down the stairs and it landed in a broken heap. It was not salvageable.

Put the nails to one side with the back panel.

I don't go near DIY or car maintenance and my DP stays well clear of a Sunday lunch for any more than 2 people and anything to do with kids parties and sewing on lables for uniforms (and even ironing is a struggle). We just play to our own strengths so no, I'm not let down in the slightest, I wouldn't have even attempted it 😊.

I'm feeling let down and a little bit jealous because I love building flat pack furniture. sad, sad person that I am
Although tbh in our house that level of building ability would make you a man

That's as far as it goes. I haven't managed to get it any further.

I am utterly hopeless at this sort of thing. DH is fantastic at all sorts of DIY jobs. Seems a bit of a cliche, but there it is.

I am left-handed and clumsy. My brain cannot see how things fit together. I cannot do jigsaws - even kids' ones baffle me! If I take something apart I can never put it back together.

I did metalwork and woodwork at school for two years (compulsory) and I was AWFUL. The teacher was afraid for my fingers and was always taking tasks off me

We did technical drawing - another mystery to me.

Had domestic science classes too. I had to ask one of the boys to thread up my sewing machine EVERY TIME. I just couldn't understand how it worked. The teacher hated me - I think she thought I was having her on.

My mother was a fantastic dressmaker and knitter and I tried so hard to learn from her, to no avail.

I'm just a dead loss at practical things!

Is that screw longer than the width of the MDF?

I've seen adverts in the classifieds where people offer to put furniture together for people. I would have to call on them if I didn't have DH.

OP if you're able to put this together with online help from MN I will be incredibly impressed!

I'm normally quite good at practical things.

If there is a problem with my car, short of the engine no longer being under the bonnet, I would have no idea but putting things together (with instructions) I can normally do.

My friends husband does my flat pack for me in exchange for beer. Cos he likes doing flat pack and likes drinking beer.
I also have a make friend coming round tonight to set up my new tv for me because I'm about to launch the fucker out the window so don't feel too bad!

So will I wing but anything to avoid the trauma of having to tell my DP that he was right.

ah OP I know the bookcase you are putting together! I have a few of them!

You could do with an electric screwdriver or drill with a screwdriver bit for those screw because they are a pain in the arse to get in.

Go slowly when using an electric screwdriver.

If you haven't got access to one try a teeny bit of vaseline on the tip of the screw thread, it'll act like a lubricant and hopefully the screw will go in more easily.

If all of those fail then I would look for another screw. every one has a screw pot right?? same length and see if that works.

That looks like the wrong screw to me. Too long. Sometimes the manufacturers pack the wrong ones.

If it's correct, have you tried putting the screws in with an electric screwdriver (if you have one)? Sometimes they go in more cleanly than with a hand screwdriver.

Ladies!! Ladies!! I did it!! Well, one screw but it's a start, right?

If you're absolutely, positively sure that you've got the right screw then you just need to give it a bit of elbow grease to get it in.

High five TBadgingCF! Cross posted. And yes to vaseline. Candle wax also works (just scrape a candle across the screw thread).

If you've not got a candle, crayons will work too.