What if ikea made instructions

If you have found yourself struggling to assemble any other products, including American-made goods with instructions given in well-phrased English, then you should be realistic and not be surprised by difficulty with IKEA furniture. Individual items that come packaged in more than one or two boxes can be an epic challenge for first-timers to assemble.

To anticipate when a given product might be above your skill level:. Picture this: You just returned from your IKEA shopping trip and discovered that the flat-packed bookcase you purchased is damaged. For most retailers, this wouldn't be that big a problem, but with IKEA, you should avoid buying any product inside a damaged shipping box.

IKEA flat-packs their furniture using minimal packaging materials, and it doesn't include familiar padding materials such as bubble wrap or crinkled cut paper. This is why a dinged package so often is an accurate prediction that the goods inside the box are also damaged. Don't let this happen to you. Here's how:. That melamine veneer we love on IKEA furniture because it is so easy to clean is also fairly easy to chip and scratch during the assembly process. You can avoid scratching or nicking your new purchase by prepping your work area before beginning assembly.

You will need:. Baffled by IKEA's wordless assembly instructions? Here's the key to understanding each step:. Flat-packed furniture that is loose after assembly looks cheap and will have durability issues.

IKEA's hardware should ideally make for tight-fitting, secure joinery between pieces, but in practice, this isn't always the case. To make your IKEA furniture look more professional and expensive, use glue during assembly. When applied correctly, the glue will prevent wobbling and make for strong, good-looking furniture that will last for many years. Assembly experts recommend using either white Gorilla glue or Gorilla construction adhesive. White gorilla glue is a fast-drying, percent waterproof glue—a polyurethane glue that is much stronger than standard carpenter's glue.

It is excellent for a wide range of materials, including wood, plastic, and metal. Gorilla construction adhesive is an even stronger version of the classic polyurethane glue, and it will bond to almost everything.

It is applied in caulk-gun tubes, making it good for large projects. Be aware that polyurethane glues expand to fill available space.

This is helpful for bonding the porous edges of particle board panels, but it also means the glue needs to be used sparingly to avoid being visible along seams. Used correctly, either Gorilla Glue product will make for rock-solid furniture pieces. Use a hammer or rubber mallet to place wood dowels accurately and to seat them fully into the bored holes. Then use Gorilla glue to install them. The tiny openings make it nearly impossible to insert the wood dowels far enough down to create an entirely flush fit for the connecting pieces—unless you use a hammer to drive the dowels.

Note : It is also a good idea to use a dab of glue to bond each screw and cam lock permanently, too. Now you need to make sure the wood dowels you just added will fit flush when the next component is fitted onto them.

It may be possible to do this by using a rubber mallet to tap on the back side of the joining panel as you try to join them, but an easier strategy is to slightly enlarge the predrilled dowel holes on the panel piece. To do this, you'll need a drill bit that is exactly the same diameter as the wooden dowel. Remember, IKEA tends to make the holes slightly smaller than the dowels.

Just like you, IKEA makes mistakes. If the furniture piece you purchased is missing parts or hardware, the retailers will send them to you free of charge. You'll need to contact their customer service department with the following information:. If you're not very handy or dread the thought of putting together flat-packed furniture, you should know IKEA understands your pain and can offer assistance.

This service is available only at select stores, so check to see if it is offered at your store. Before assembling, prepare necessary tools as mentioned in the assembly instructions. Use the screwdriver corresponding to the shape and size of the screws if needed. Check the assemble instructions beforehand to confirm the necessary number of persons. Pay careful attention during transport or assembly as some products are very heavy. Be sure to protect the floor, wall or surrounding furniture with carpet, blanket or shock-absorbing materials during assembly in order not to damage them.

Assembly work should be done where there is enough space. Assemble your IKEA product according to the steps mentioned in the assembly instructions. If you tighten every screw firmly at first, it may result in the distortion of the finished product. To avoid this, tighten screws lightly until the product is assembled to a certain extent and them fasten the all screws firmly. Be careful not to tighten screws too firmly, otherwise the screws or the parts might be damaged.

Select store See opening hours and more. Customer Services Product support Let's Assemble. Let's Assemble. Assembly instructions are available in each Product information page.