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

Hi everyone,

Apologies for hijacking the thread.

I also have a rather unusual question.

This is the only technical chat I've found here.

I've already tried local Facebook and WhatsApp groups without success.

We have a self-contained annexe attached to our house, and as a part of house renovation, we've just opened a new doorway to the annexe that we'd like to hide through a secret bookcase door that can hold books rather than a faux set of books. We love books, and this is a project close to our hearts!

I'm having trouble finding a carpenter in London who can do that and who will show me examples of similar jobs in the past.

I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks,
Sam X

If I were you, I'd be putting your story (or at least a condensed version of it) onto your local facebook page, and asking if a retired good Samaritan locally can pop round and talk you through it all.

Just about every retired man and woman I know has acquired a wealth of knowledge and tools during their lifetime, and I know for a fact that were my mum alive today she'd be the first to invite herself over. She was wonderful at everything DIY, and trust me, there's still plenty of goodwill in this world.

😂😃😁Hopefully no chance of that @PollyPeachum, he's going to be too busy running the country. 😉

I’m single and not very handy at all but have had to build a lot of flatpack furniture by myself. Alan keys are usually provided, all you’re likely to need are flat and cross head screwdrivers and sometimes a hammer. I would recommend getting an electric screwdriver as it’s surprising how tiring screwing can be without. I bought one for about £10 on Amazon and it’s been fine for everything I’ve put together from places like IKEA, Argos, B&Q and Dunelm. It should come with a selection of interchangeable heads.

Also, if you are really overwhelmed by the thought of building something and have some money to throw at it you can employ somebody through places like Taskrabbit or Airtasker.

This. IKEA sells a nice small box with tools, same with picture hooks. I bought mine in 2008 and I still use it. Once you assemble the first thing a magic portal opens and you will be able to assemble almost anything. Good luck 🍀

OP I have older versions of these they're all I need for most smaller DIY jobs or flat pack assembly. They're great quality too.

Ikea £9 tools

Ikea £13 rechargeable mini electric screwdriver

To assemble a bed you probably don’t need to buy any tools ….. most will come with tools required

But a basic selection of tools / simple tool kit are handy to have.

An electric screwdriver may come on its own with no heads, but many will come as a pack with a selection.

To echo other pp - get yourself a ratchet screwdriver with different heads including allen key heads - makes the job so much easier. Find a You Tube video to show you how to use it. Much more manageable for a novice than an electric screwdriver for putting furniture together

Do you have it, have ordered it or are going to get one ?

If you have it or when browsing in the shop check the side of the box / cards on display as they may have something on the side saying “Assembly required” and “includes x tools” or “x tools required”

Or find the instructions and/or little bag of tools/small parts to check what is there (or in the shop as what’s included)

Most will use bolts rather than screws and are likely to have hex heads rather than classic screw heads. A hex headed bolt is screwed in using an Allen key, and needs the right size (which would normally be included)

Allen keys are typically a 90 degree L shaped bent piece of hex shaped bar. They can be used on either end, with the long end into the bolt and short end in your hand for quick screwing in and the other way round for better grip for a tight finishing off.
They are also available as screw heads in head sets for electric screwdrivers and with a at shaped handle if you get serious with hex bolts

If you can easily pop back to a hardware shop for tools, once you’ve established that the right tools are included then you can just go for it and then go back to the shop if you find you need something else.

Look through the instructions, identify and lay out the parts, grab a cool drink (water will do, but a nice gin, wine, cider etc will go down well - sip the alcohol rather than downing it up front and finish it off admiring your work afterwards)
When you finish assembly put the tools into a tin or box ready ready as the beginnings of your tool kit. (Don’t be surprised to have some spare bolts etc left over - it’s normal to have some extra - provided you did use as many as the instructions tell you)

you can get a mixed set of screwdrive bits that can be swapped out in the drill bit or screwdriver.

basically get some basic tools from your local supermarket and or pound shop

youtube will help with how to videos for different tools and screws etc

This is what I was going to recommend, I’ve used one for years and even with arthritis in my hands, I can still use it very easily. It’s better than a cheap rechargeable screwdriver, always available and the ratchet mechanism means you don’t need to do a full turn.

I live alone so if a part needs supporting, I prop it on a chair or another piece of furniture at the right height.

This.

Funny drill story that op might like

Left my xDH many years ago. I had never been allowed to use any of his tools or do any diy because I’d probably “get it wrong” etc.
I moved out, bought myself a load of tools (including a drill) and was in the middle of doing some job or other when he picked up the DC. He was absolutely HORRIFIED to see I had a drill and demanded to know where I had bought it from. I was almost laughing too much to tell him that they actually sold them to women, what a shock hey!

Never needed a drill for any flat pack stuff though. I prefer a manual screwdriver most of the time as I love putting it together and otherwise it’s done too quickly 😂 Last bed I put together just used the tools it came with, I think a lot of them are like that now.

OP perhaps you could give us some more information.

Do you already have the bed?

Have you unpacked it and are there instructions?

Is there a packet of "fixings" with the bed, screws, wooden dowels etc? If you post a picture of the screws we maybe able to advise you better.

If it's IKEA you can Google "how to assemble IKEA (insert model) bed and YouTube will show you exactly how to do it.

If you already have a mattress then it won't hurt to make that up on the floor until you work out how to assemble the frame.

Try not to panic, it might feel overwhelming but once you've done it once it will become easier.

Electric screwdriver is your friend. Its not a bad idea to buy a screwdriver set either. They are always handy. I do all the flat packs. Allen keys are great. But if you can get a set of scre drivers and an electric screwdriver. A ratchet and a set of wrenches in different sizes
You don't need them all for the beds but handy to have in the home.

Love my ratchet. Makes everything easier

@FOJN “OP perhaps you could give us some more information.”

Good grief, honestly? Wanting more information so we can help someone? Nah mate, can’t do that 🤔😁.

My go to electric screwdriver. Brilliant for most jobs. If you goggle the bed you brought often people have made videos

www.diy.com/departments/mac-allister-3-6v-1-x-1-3-li-ion-cordless-screwdriver-msd36-li/5059340252735_BQ.prd?storeId=1318&&&&&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw4f6zBhBVEiwATEHFVn67Ep-zRBlVkhTGahdygOw4fslJGk-i_Iq6zF9usnZ-82R7kQ9dbhoCxRYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have a set of basic screwdrivers that was about a fiver, that, a hammer, and the supplied allen key is all I've ever needed for assembling furniture.

Sorry, I don't understand your point.

We could recommend lots of tools which maybe utterly useless.

If it's flatpack IKEA furniture it's probably an Allen key, you can pick sets of different sizes up in most DIY stores and often Aldi has them too in the aisle of tat

I used to get huge DIY angst but I'm a pro now! Keep calm, get the instructions where you can read them, put everything in order flat on the floor and go through methodically.

I’m saying OP could have had really specific help if she’d given more information eg “I’m buying this bed from IKEA, help me.” Posters could have commented things like “I have this bed too, you need this and that equipment, it’s very easy”.

But without any specific question, OP is very limited as to the amount of help she will receive from us.

You probably don't need a drill.

Assembly is mostly screws and allen bolts these days, and the furniture will likely come with the tools needed. A basic set of screwdrivers is handy. I'm also rather fond of my electric screwdriver, which I initially thought was a bit of a gimmick but now gets regular use for odd jobs about the house (it's a Bosch Professional Bosch GO cordless screwdriver, about £60 on Amazon but often on reduced).

Read the instructions - Often known as rtfm sarcastically - sorry for that
It will tell you what tools you need to complete the task
Then lay the components out in forensic fashion to see if they are all there in rows
Take a deep breath
Do it a bit at a time
I constructed a bed and I was dreading it.
It was fine
Be clinical

Most assemble yourself furniture comes with holes already drilled so you won’t need a drill, but a hand held electric screwdriver will make life much easier. Allen keys are usually provided.

THE IMPORTANT THINGS

Clear as big a space as you can preferably in the room the furniture is going to live in.

Unpack carefully and make sure everything is out of the box, don’t throw the packaging away until everything is put together.

Find the contents sheet and check that you have all the bits. Look at each furniture piece and identify it.

Get a tray, or something like a plant pot saucer with a good rim. Undo the plastic bag with the fixings and sort them out into piles. Count them and check against the instruction sheet that you know what each one is called and that you have the right number. KEEP THEM IN THE CONTAINER SO THEY DONT GET LOST.

Read the instructions carefullyTwice,!

Have a cup of tea. Time to start.

Start slowly, check each stage twice,

Dont rush, be careful. Check, check, check.

I do loads of DIY and have boxes of tools.
This is what I'd put in a toolbag if my son was leaving home.....

Set of Allen Keys (sometimes also known as Hex keys) - £1shop.
Flat head screwdriver - also £1shop.
Crosshead (also called Phillips) screwdriver (I use a short stubby one and a long handled one) - do not recommend £1shop one, they wear down.
Hammer - £1shop.
An adjustable wrench (handy when you can't get the stopcock to turn off) - £1shop.

Nice but not needed:
Electric screwdriver - about £10 on Amazon.
If you want to put up shelves etc then a hammer drill and bit set - something like this (not needed for flatpack etc) BLACK+DECKER 500 W Hammer Drill Power Tool with Side Handle, BEH200-GB & A7188 Drill and Screwdriver Bit Set 50-Piece - £40 Amazon.

Most flatpack furniture comes with its own Allen key so you'll probably only need a crosshead screwdriver and a hammer.

I save all the "free" Allen keys/screwdrivers from Christmas crackers in a butter tub in a drawer. I started off with only the above things and I've bought more as I got better (or braver) at DIY. Best thing I ever bought? A wallpaper steamer, got those layers off in one afternoon! The only thing I won't have a try at is electrics, although I have rewired sockets and lights).

EDIT to say:
Flatpack = lay everything out on the floor. Pop all the "fixings" (screws, bolts, dowels etc) in a bowl. Don't tighten everything up fully until you know you've got it all the right way around. I can't tell you how many times I thought I'd finished only to find that the last piece was actually the first piece or I'd put the left hand side on the right.
Lots of swearing and a strong cup of tea.