MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > 🛠️ Dang! I hate this! 🛠️

🛠️ Dang! I hate this! 🛠️

posted a year ago by GlenEllyn (21118)
19 replies | jump to latest

I'm really annoyed with manufacturers whose instructions for assembly or modification of their products only have pictures/drawings. No information about what you should do first. The drawings show what needs to change, but they don't tell you how to do it! 😠 Also, they include only a partial list of the tools you'll need to accomplish what you need to do.

Why am I posting this? It's because I bought a new refrigerator on which I need to reverse the hinges. They mention you need a 5/16 hex-head socket/wrench for the screws, but they don't tell you that you also need one of those star-shaped screwdrivers. They don't tell you how to remove hole plugs (does it unscrew or does it just pop off?). Grrrr!

Can you tell I'm cranky over this?? 😡

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[–] [deleted] a year ago

Do they have at least arrows or something suggesting motion? Not supplying a torx screw is cheap especially for a large purchase like a new refrigerator.

I moved recently and lost many screws/bolts for my furniture.. So gathering the replacement fittings has been educating and VERY frustrating

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[–] GlenEllyn (21118) a year ago

I'm also annoyed that they don't show the order in which steps should be done. In particular, there's also a step that they neglected to even mention. 🙄😠

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[–] Where (1273) a year ago

Sounds like a bad case of Ikeaitis.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21118) a year ago

I know what you mean.

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[–] moviechatterer (13440) a year ago

5/16 hex-head socket/wrench
urrrgh!

Its mind boggling the US hasnt at least partially converted to metric , especially for nuts and bolts and wrench sizes etc

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[–] GlenEllyn (21118) a year ago

Well, we have, sort of, with some things. I have two socket sets, one imperial and one metric because some things are metric. I wish we'd join the rest of the world and just go all metric. Sheesh! It's not hard. Stubborn Americans seem to think that they'll have to constantly convert everything back and forth. Once you go metric, everything's metric! Argh!

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[–] AndyKing1967 (34108) a year ago

Agreed! It’s a terrible development.

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[–] nyctc7 (41369) a year ago

It's a misprint. Get Puddy on the job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsC8sKIZjL4

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[–] GlenEllyn (21118) a year ago

Okay! Thanks for the solution. 🤣

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[–] howgamer (3652) a year ago

I can't believe you only got pictures for instructions for a fridge, that is crazy to me. Any major appliance should have decent instructions. The only time I can recall just picture instructions is for really small and extremely shoddy made things.

If you don't own one already, you should really just pick up a star bit screwdriver set. Probably can get a set with numerous bits at any major hardware store for $10-20 and it's a great and useful tool to own.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21118) a year ago

Thanks. I have a screwdriver set that comes with a tray of many different screw heads and it's definitely a godsend, so I had the proper type, but still, they should have mentioned it. The folks who owned my house before me used so many different types of screws for a single project that it drove me crazy when I had to undo something they'd done.

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[–] howgamer (3652) a year ago

Haha sometimes I am that person on a project because I either didn't buy enough hardware or try to reuse old hardware of the same lengths to save some $$!

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[–] GlenEllyn (21118) a year ago

I get it. I have a supply of random nails and screws leftover from a number of projects because I don't want to have to buy some when I only need one to finish. Guess I got this habit from my dad.

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[–] howgamer (3652) a year ago

Sometimes before throwing something out, I'll take out all the screws and put them in my hardware section in the garage. Never know if you could use them!

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[–] db20db (16228) a year ago

I once read an article that this is a trait typical of many men, that they think along the lines of, "Hey, this could come in handy someday." I'm certainly that way. I have a utility room full of all manner of tools and odds and ends. I actually still have framing nails from my construction days of decades ago. Yeah and sure enough, a problem situation will present itself and I will find something in there that will resolve it.😁

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[–] GlenEllyn (21118) a year ago

Same here. I can't count the number of times I've found in my stash the one screw I need to finish what ever I'm working on.

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[–] db20db (16228) a year ago

When I was young, I once had a temporary gig working for a self employed handyman. In fact , that was his business moniker, The Handyman. The guy had a lot of skills and experience, some of which he passed on to me.

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[–] howgamer (3652) a year ago

You can never have enough screws, washers, nuts, and bolts. All different shapes and sizes, never know what you will need.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21118) a year ago

I finally finished, but I'm concerned that I have two screws left over. 🤔 I have no idea where they should have gone. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Thanks "no step-by-step directions." 🙄

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