Dismantling self build furniture

karcher

Has anybody ever successfully done this?

It's highly likely I'll [STRIKE]have to[/STRIKE] be moving soon and I have a king size, solid frame bed with drawers underneath, bought from the huge yellow and blue warehouse/shop.

It took me hours to construct it (not easy with only one pair of hands) so the idea of dismantling it leaves me in a cold sweat, never mind re-constructing it!

I have bookshelves too, but they are less daunting.

Anyone ever done it and if so, can you offer any words of wisdom?

TIA

getmore4less

sounds like more hands would be usefull.

if you don't have the original instructions(assuming they were any good) then label all the parts and take photos as you go.

make sure you have suitable containers for the smaller bits like bolts and if not too confident label them as well.

Doozergirl

You don't have to take apart as many pieces as you originally put together. It won't be as bad as you think.

You want head, foot, sides, cross bracing and drawers. It doesn't need to go flatpack again. Don't leave any of the little wooden dowels sticking out - they break very easily in transit.

All of Ikea's instructions are available online and customer service is great - they will replace any missing screws for you at the service desk in the shop.

Ikea furniture moves house once very well. After that it gets rickety.

karcher

getmore4less wrote: »

sounds like more hands would be usefull.

if you don't have the original instructions(assuming they were any good) then label all the parts and take photos as you go.

make sure you have suitable containers for the smaller bits like bolts and if not too confident label them as well.

No more hands at my disposal so just mine will have to do.

I did keep the instructions but reading them in reverse I imagine is trickier.

Thanks for your advice

ETA I would have done anything for another pair of hands but I improvised..my books came in very handy to support panels whilst I secured the other end

karcher

Doozergirl wrote: »

You don't have to take apart as many pieces as you originally put together. It won't be as bad as you think.

You want head, foot, sides, cross bracing and drawers. It doesn't need to go flatpack again. Don't leave any of the little wooden dowels sticking out - they break very easily in transit.

All of Ikea's instructions are available online and customer service is great - they will replace any missing screws for you at the service desk in the shop.

Ikea furniture moves house once very well. After that it gets rickety.

Duly noted, many thanks Doozergirl.

This is my first foray into their furniture and I hadn't expected to be moving any time soon/ever again.

I have small sandwich bags I can collect the dowels and screws etc into, I just need to label them as I go.

Thanks for your help

Geoff1963

Try to determine how small the parts need to be, to be moved ; and consider that sub-assemblies might be a bit fragile.
I managed some MFI furniture, but that tells you how long ago it was.

Apodemus

I've taken a few pieces apart and re-assembled, without major problems. The most difficult bit is getting any dowels out, or if you leave them in, matching up the specific pieces the right way round. It might be worth marking the pieces in some way so that you can mate them correctly again. A rubber mallet helps get the pieces apart without damaging the wood (assuming you have all the bolts out first!).

Norman_Castle

If it uses barrel nuts remember to either remove these or put tape over the holes to stop them falling out.

casper_g

I have an inexpensive IKEA double bed frame that is in its seventh bedroom, so they can certainly be moved successfully with care.

robatwork

I just took an Ikea double baed partly apart to move temporarily. Don't take out the dowels, just the locknuts.

All went back together fine.

Geoff1963

Take lots of photos as you go ; and where common parts become unique ( e.g. nailed-on slats ) mark them up so they go back in the same place.