PLEASE can someone tell me what tools/drill to get to assemble furniture? Actually in tears

[frall]

I’m a newly single parent so a bit delicate at the moment. I need to assemble a new bed for my daughter and I don’t know where to start. I’m not an idiot (generally!) but this stuff flaws me. I have no tools at all. How do you know what sort of drill to get? Does one drill do all sorts of furniture sizes? Where do you even get one from? Is an electric one best? Feel very overwhelmed

At the risk of stating the obvious, have you opened out the instructions? They usually start with a list of what’s in the pack and any tools included and information on any other tools you will need. If you’re not sure what anything is I second the advice of going to a DIY store or similar with the instructions and possibly any fixings (obviously do be careful not to lose anything!)
Good luck, I’m sure you’ll be fine!

Not sure if this is helpful for you but a lot of libraries will lend out tools for free. If you Google "tool library near me" or something along those lines then you should hopefully find somewhere near you that would lend you screwdrivers or a cordless drill x

This is pretty much all you’ll ever need for flat pack furniture:

Ratchet screwdriver and/or electric screwdriver with a selection of heads

Hammer - for wardrobes and bookshelves plus quite a lot of things use dowels

Pliers are handy in case you need to pull dowelling back out again 😬

Almost everything else is supplied with the furniture (Allen keys and tiny spanners etc)

You’ll only need a drill if you want to start mounting/attaching things to walls, installing Ring doorbells and key safes etc. In which case, get a combi drill and some normal drill bits and a set of masonry drill bits (for bricks etc)

Enjoy the sense of satisfaction it’ll bring you when you see you can do it 😁

And just to add, it will get easier! Still remember the bookcase, which was the first thing I assembled when at university and which I had to hammer together as it was such poor quality the screws just did not work...

On a whim I bought a wishing well from Aldi a couple of years ago.

I've never assembled anything in my life and my husband was always and I didn't want to bother family.

I looked at the box and thought I would just give it away but then I googled it on YouTube and there was a man who has filmed himself assembling it! It was brilliant and I was able to follow the video easily.

That opened my eyes on watching 'how to' videos!

If it's flat pack, the instructions tell you what tools you need

Last time we built a bed - lot of legs - 9 - it was all done with tools in the box an allen key and a bolt tightener thing - weird type of spanner .

best thing is to find instructions and then ID all the pieces and put them into piles then slowly follow the instructions.

Only time I've encounter issues building beds was when we needed one to get DH out of hospital - needed one downstairs at short notice - and instructions said it needed two people and no one could help - but my then very young child and chairs proved enough help.

We have a person who makes up flat pack furniture on our local area fb site. Might be worth asking the question on your local site (if you have one) take the stress out of the situation.

A cordless drill is a useful thing to have. Yes you can assemble a bed with manual screwdrivers/ allen keys etc but it would be quicker with a power tool especially if you are by yourself and do not have someone to hold stuff in place for you.
It will often come with screw driver bits, masonry bits- for drilling in walls and wood bits. you put these in using the torque wrench supplied.
Makita mentioned up thread is an excellent brand but expensive and often their drills do not include the battery that you buy separately.

If you are not thinking of doing big projects something like this would be adequate and would give you flexibility to do other things in the future

Buy Guild CDT218W3.2 1.5AH Cordless Drill Driver - 18V | Drills | Argos

Please do not buy something like the Stubby Philips electric screw driver mentioned up thread, No offence but they are seriously under powered will not give you flexibility and are quite awkward to get in restricted spaces due to the relatively long handle attached to the bit. If you are doing that you might as well use a drill.

I put together a king size wooden bed with just the Allen key that was provided. Firstly make a cup of tea, get the instructions. Read through twice. Check all the parts are in the packaging. Make sure you know which bit is which and which fixings you need for each part. Put together in the order they suggest. It really is easy once you do that. Don't tighten fully until you are sure it's right then go around and tighten all the fixings. Then have another cup of tea!

I don’t think you mean drill, a drill is for making holes, I think you want an impact driver. It’s an electric screwdriver basically with all different heads. You can assemble flat pack furniture without one but it’s much quicker and easier with one. It’s worth having anyway, will always come in handy and get yourself a small set of screwdriver and a hammer then you’re all set for most DIY situations. Whenever you feel stuck, just Google it. I have never found a DIY situation I couldn’t get out of with the help of the internet. You got this!

@CollyBobble I don’t understand though, do you need different screw heads to attach too? Or does it come with that?

The electric screwdriver I have came with lots of extra heads. I've genuinely never needed anything else and have put together so much furniture over the years.

Some screwdrivers come with different heads. Or you can buy a variety of sizes. I agree with the posters saying an electric screwdriver is brilliant. Zooms through the job.

Treat yourself to a battery powered screw driver, it makes the job much faster and will be kinder to your hands.

You only need a manual screw driver, or Allan keys. You're making it far more complicated then it is.

Just to add, if it's a ratchet screwdriver, even better.

Have you bought the bed? Or know which one you’re getting? Link it here and we can talk you through what you need.

I will say flatpack stuff is very easy, I’ve done all sorts.

The last bed I put together didn't even need a screwdriver or allen keys.

Which is why it is quite a good idea to actually take a photo of the bits before spending money on tools.

Tool box and basic tools.

I suggest: set of screw drivers (small and large, standard (straight line) and Phillips head (cross) screw drivers as a minimum. A couple of short stubby ones that will fit in tight spaces. (One of each type)

A bradawl. (Sharp pokey thing to make holes to position screws)

Stanley knife and blades

Pack of assorted screws, picture hooks, hooks, Rawl plugs, tacks

Drill and assorted drill bits. Get one with two speeds if possible.

Claw head hammer

Set of pliers. (2-3)

Tape measure.

Current detector.

Assorted Allen keys.

Putting together. You can usually use a wall or furniture as a second pair of hands to assemble furniture.

Ikea do some great basic tools. The screwdriver and hammer set and the small battery powered screwdriver will be a good start.

A lot of the time a second pair of hands just to hold things in place really helps when assembling larger pieces of flat pack furniture. Unless your DC is under school age they can probably help. If they can't do it do you have someone else who can?

Usually flat pack will come with the Allen keys you need to assemble. But it’s good to have a few tools for any little jobs you may need to do.
I have this one from Asda and it’s great, has everything I’ve needed and more. You only really need a drill for putting shelves/heavy stuff on walls. I don’t have one, just borrow a family members as and when needed.
You got this! X

groceries.asda.com/product/hand-power-tools/asda-160-piece-tool-box-set/1000260022305

Have you bought the bed frame yet? Next step is to read the instructions and note down any tools it recommends. You don’t need to invest in a massive tool set for a few pieces of flat pack furniture.

These days, there’s usually a YouTube video showing someone putting the item together if you prefer a more visual set of instructions. Put the item name into Google or the YouTube search function.

You need Keir Starmer, I think his father was a toolmaker!

You can buy basic tool kits for about £20 on amazon.

basic tool kit

You can get basic electric drills for around £16
Electric drill

Most DIY shops will have similar in them I believe.

I bought a set of screw drivers - flat and Philips that still come in 20 years later -
this is - set seem to be between £8-12
Screw driver set

However I've not encountered bed kit in last decade where they haven't had their own tools in which are all you need.