Flat Packs - love em or hate em?

**Julia** · 29-Feb-08, 18:42

Just spent most of the afternoon putting together a flat packed chest of drawers, as usual I have a few screws, nails and dowels left over but it's standing and looking just the picture. I quite enjoy putting them together when they go well but inevitably one bit always goes wrong, this one was missing two pilot holes. I bought one a few months back only to discover there were no instructions in the box, it was a challenge and I quite enjoyed it.

So flat packs, love em or hate em!

**ciderally** · 29-Feb-08, 18:54

i dont mind doing them as long as im left to do it on my own...i usually get it done ..use plenty wood glue...they wont fall apart...tee hee welllllllllll

karia · 29-Feb-08, 18:57

once got a garden table which turned out to have 2 holes for parasols when constructed... we just turned the other into a tumbler holder.

I get OH to do them..he had Airfix as a kid!

Do you think they put all the bits in the pack and then work out which ones to remove on the basis of which will cause you most hassle?

I think they are in cahoots with B&Q since we always end up there for necessary bits and bobs.

**justine** · 29-Feb-08, 18:59

cant stand them..Prefer real wood as you know what you are getting.....

better than having to deal with flat pieces, which you spend ours on only to find a few screws missing.....

karia · 29-Feb-08, 19:07

We know someone who bought a self assembly glass shelving unit and when they got it home the middle shelf was just fragments of glass that looked like it had been attacked with a toffee hammer.

They took it back to the shop...and the assistant looked at it and suggested that they glue it!

**justine** · 29-Feb-08, 19:09

Originally Posted by karia

We know someone who bought a self assembly glass shelving unit and when they got it home the middle shelf was just fragments of glass that looked like it had been attacked with a toffee hammer.

They took it back to the shop...and the assistant looked at it and suggested that they glue it!

well they do say that the AA have a good glass sealer.

**mums angels** · 29-Feb-08, 19:18

in my experience of flat packs they are awful once they go together you can never move them again without them breaking .. worst has to have been wardrobes or drawers with flimsy backs or bottoms in my opinion you get what you pay for i would rather save a little longer and get a good solid piece of furniture.

recently we did buy a homebase shed and it was really flimsy , hubby had to buy aload of wood to reinforce the walls , he could have done a better job of making one himself

**justine** · 29-Feb-08, 19:25

Originally Posted by mums angels

in my experience of flat packs they are awful once they go together you can never move them again without them breaking .. worst has to have been wardrobes or drawers with flimsy backs or bottoms in my opinion you get what you pay for i would rather save a little longer and get a good solid piece of furniture.

recently we did buy a homebase shed and it was really flimsy , hubby had to buy aload of wood to reinforce the walls , he could have done a better job of making one himself

They are the resons why we dont like them...Some are decent looking in the brochure but you get them home and they are flimsy and never goes together perfectly...
Unfortunately we do have some but that is more for convienience than love of them....

**Riffman** · 29-Feb-08, 19:29

I have built a lot of flat pack stuff.

The key to success is to use the fixings supplied, but double up everything with other screws/nails/glue.

I have yet to hear of anything I have made come to bits.

Overkill, but it works.

**Highland Laddie** · 29-Feb-08, 19:56

Originally Posted by justine

well they do say that the AA have a good glass sealer.

Justine, would that be AA Automobile Association
or AA Alcoholics Anonymous

**justine** · 29-Feb-08, 20:07

Originally Posted by Highland Laddie

Justine, would that be AA Automobile Association
or AA Alcoholics Anonymous

I meant Automobile Association but you could take it either, they both deal in glass......

**cuddlepop** · 29-Feb-08, 21:29

I hate them and my son whose a joiner hates them even more than I do.
He dreads me buying in anything flat pack because he knows he'll have to put it up.
Instuctions what instuctions.

**balto** · 29-Feb-08, 23:34

i love making flat pack things as long a the other half doesnt stick his oar in and make out he can do a better job than me and if we attempt to do it together(flat pack i mean) then we end up nearly killing each other.

**footie chick** · 29-Feb-08, 23:36

Originally Posted by balto

i love making flat pack things as long a the other half doesnt stick his oar in and make out he can do a better job than me and if we attempt to do it together(flat pack i mean) then we end up nearly killing each other.

With you one that one had to take down dunk beds after my other half "helped" me to put them together wrong.

**balto** · 29-Feb-08, 23:43

Originally Posted by footie chick

With you one that one had to take down dunk beds after he "helped" me to put them together wrong.

pardon you have got me a little confused

confused

**footie chick** · 29-Feb-08, 23:46

Originally Posted by balto

pardon you have got me a little confused

confused

OH tried to help me make the bunk beds ended up having to take them apart thanks to his "help"

**Cedric Farthsbottom III** · 29-Feb-08, 23:51

Flat packs are the spawn of the devil

.Have ye noticed the most complicated ones with all the instructions and hundreds aw bits are so easy to put together.See the easier ones with 2 or 3 pieces.......Murder I tell ye Murder......I have the blisters to show it.

**George Brims** · 01-Mar-08, 00:00

It all depends on luck I think. I have bought stuff at a range of prices over the years and had good and horrible experiences with both cheap and dear ones. Worst ever was an Ikea wardrobe/dresser thing I bought my daughter when she moved to Sydney to study. None of the drilled holes matched up, and the hole sizes were often off so either the screw wouldn't go in, or it wouldn't grip when screwed in. It took me about a day and a half! Worst of all, after I was done, I grumbled to her about this "cheap Scandinavian %^&*", and then noticed on the bottom of the instructions it said "Made in the UK"!!!