3 ms·

In my experience, the techniques can be quite different. Flat-pack furniture needs to buildable by just about anyone, using tools that they can be expected to

by larrik 11y ago

In my experience, the techniques can be quite different. Flat-pack furniture needs to buildable by just about anyone, using tools that they can be expected to have (screwdriver and hammer only, in practice) or you are willing to include (allen wrench). On top of that, it's usually also designed to be disassembled as well to a degree, since otherwise mistakes and can be permanent and costly. Also, and perhaps most importantly, flat pack furniture almost never uses glue, which is often a very important component of factory assembled furniture.

logfromblammo 11y ago
Factory assembled furniture often makes use of highly specialized and expensive equipment that most people don't even have access to. For instance, a wood steamer, to bend the back of a chair into a curve, followed by a few days of immobilizing and drying the piece. This sort of step is only cost effective when you are building hundreds of chairs. Or there might be staples from a staple gun, or springs that can only be installed with the help of a power tool. And, as already mentioned by parent, most factory-assembled wood furniture nowadays uses dowels or wafers and wood glue. The resulting join is much stronger than twistlock connectors in particle board. But you can fit more flat-pack chairs in one cargo container, which is about the only reason they even exist. If you are confident in your assembly abilities, a bottle of wood glue, clamps, and a framing square will produce better results on particle-board furniture than following the instructions as written. If not, you'll make a mess and ruin your furniture. And honestly, sometimes you just need something that's good enough to do the job, for $20, that you can just discard the next time you move.
- larrik 11y ago
  Thanks for validating and expanding on my post with more detail. I personally wouldn't try using glue on flat-pack furniture, though. For one, the pieces are generally finished there they connect, which means you are gluing to a lacquer on at least one side (possibly both!), and wood glue really wants a porous surface like unfinished wood. Another reason is that much flat-pack furniture (less so Ikea) is super cheap particle board that simply isn't strong enough to support the much weight from its surface like you would force it to with glue. When used properly, however, wood glue is indeed shockingly strong.
  - logfromblammo 11y ago
    You have to fit the pieces, mark the edges, score the veneer, and remove the strip. It's not usually worth the effort.

by larrik 11y ago

logfromblammo 11y ago

Factory assembled furniture often makes use of highly specialized and expensive equipment that most people don't even have access to. For instance, a wood steamer, to bend the back of a chair into a curve, followed by a few days of immobilizing and drying the piece. This sort of step is only cost effective when you are building hundreds of chairs. Or there might be staples from a staple gun, or springs that can only be installed with the help of a power tool. And, as already mentioned by parent, most factory-assembled wood furniture nowadays uses dowels or wafers and wood glue. The resulting join is much stronger than twistlock connectors in particle board. But you can fit more flat-pack chairs in one cargo container, which is about the only reason they even exist. If you are confident in your assembly abilities, a bottle of wood glue, clamps, and a framing square will produce better results on particle-board furniture than following the instructions as written. If not, you'll make a mess and ruin your furniture. And honestly, sometimes you just need something that's good enough to do the job, for $20, that you can just discard the next time you move.

larrik 11y ago
Thanks for validating and expanding on my post with more detail. I personally wouldn't try using glue on flat-pack furniture, though. For one, the pieces are generally finished there they connect, which means you are gluing to a lacquer on at least one side (possibly both!), and wood glue really wants a porous surface like unfinished wood. Another reason is that much flat-pack furniture (less so Ikea) is super cheap particle board that simply isn't strong enough to support the much weight from its surface like you would force it to with glue. When used properly, however, wood glue is indeed shockingly strong.
- logfromblammo 11y ago
  You have to fit the pieces, mark the edges, score the veneer, and remove the strip. It's not usually worth the effort.