Unexpected DIY!

The other year I bought a potting bench that was greatly reduced at Homebase [I've always wanted one]. When I came to put it together I realised you had to use a drill [which I don't have]. Thankfully a friend came round and assembled it for me. Even though he's an experienced carpenter it took him hours and even then one of the legs was a bit wonky [it gives it character]. There's no way I could have done it myself and I would have had to pay someone quit a lot given the amount of time the job took. You have my sympathy, when .

They need to know.

Yes, I do need help with this one rosequartz. I was knackered after taking the pieces round to the back garden, and now I've had a good look at it.......the instructions are missing! Just exercising my pointy finger before I email them and give them some advice about being a bit more customer friendly with their information

Oh, good! It would not have been good to hurt your back or something trying to do it, then being unable to plant the strawberries.

Sometimes we just have to admit we need help.

Thanks for the tips, Culag. If I was younger and fitter it would have been assembled and full of compost by now. I have done lots of DIY in the past, and still paint ceilings and lug stuff around, but this one needs two pairs of hands.

No neighbours to ask, rosequartz. The only one I would have asked till recently has had a stroke.

I've got all the pieces in the back garden now and there are no pre-drilled holes for the screws, so I'll ask my younger son to come and do some of it for me. I'm taking him out to lunch tomorrow and he'll happily offer to help.

Have you got a friendly robust neighbour who could help, whenim?
( not saying you can't do it, but you will have all the filling and planting to do. And the neighbour might enjoy some strawberries or a pot of jam later on)

I actually love doing DIY. I just wish I'd got more strength. It does limit what what you can do.

I did the first part in the kitchen, then stood in the middle of it, if you see what I mean, and walked it outside that way. Then I put the base slats in outside. Hope that helps.

One tip I learned that if you rub the screw against a candle it will screw in more easily.

Culag wasn't it heavy when you had put it all together? I'd have to stand it on my table to assemble it in the kitchen, as it's so long and wouldn't fit otherwise. My weight-lifting days not that I ever DID weight-lift are over

No, I'm not out there, Iam. I took one piece round to the back garden and came in for a cup of tea. The DIY was imposed on me. I'll give it a whirl and if the first screw doesn't go in easily, I'll be shouting for help from one of my family, who will laugh like drains because I didn't notice it was self-assembly.

Yes, I'll cover the strawberries with net - marauding squirrels take lumps out of my strawberries, even the green ones, and the dog likes to shove her head in them on the off chance she'll like them. She doesn't, but never remembers!

I have done just that, with possibly the same item as yours.

I constructed most of it inside in my kitchen, so the neighbours couldn't hear the expletives! (I live in a terrace).

Take it calmly and carefully and you'll be fine.

I'm impressed When, selecting, buying and now putting together a veg trough on legs. Growing strawberries on a raised bed sounds a good plan. will you cover them with net to keep the birds, mice, squirrels and dogs from eating them?
No, I don't do DIY these days, well, apart from painting walls that is, I don't do nail or screw knocking in - it isn't raining, so I bet you're out there now, industriously building