What to buy at Ikea?

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Muzzer on 27/01/2018 13:36:12:

Posted by Bazyle on 26/01/2018 23:23:25:

I thought maple was a nice hardwood?

It's possible that natural maple would look nice but you rarely see it there. Mercans can't seem to stop themselves from staining maple in bizarre colours like dark brown or even black so you can barely see the grain. They seem to regard maple as a bulk material, not a natural and potentially interesting product.

Except when making guitars…

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Fortunately we can buy American White Oak and Maple here, both are very light coloured. IKEA make extensive use of Birch plywood and from a distance both these woods look the "same" colour.

[Wout MoermanParticipant @woutmoerman25063]

I just returned from my shopping trip. I bought a Forså instead of a Jansjo. The Jansjo didn't impress me. The flex was to much to my liking. But http://www.ikea.com/nl/nl/images/products/forsa-bureaulamp__0438833_PE591860_S4.JPG in pale grey green looks very workshop like and all joints are adjustable.

I bought a thick piece of bamboo meant to serve as a smart phone stand. But I like to use chunks of it to clean my files. A piece of anti slip under carpet followed me home just as a 230 V lead with switch and euro plug. In the clearance section there was exactly the same lead but with 30% discount so the first one was left at the counter.

And the clearance had a big box of fittings. You could fill a paper bag for 2 euros. I collected a lot of dowels, hex rods with xorious 90 degree bends, bolts, hydrolic door dampers, spring mechanisms to open doors and drawers and all other interesting stuff.

And on the way out I grabbed a jar of that seaweed caviar.

I liked shopping at Ikea, never thought I would!

[StueeeeParticipant @stueeee]

Posted by Bazyle on 26/01/2018 23:23:25:

I thought maple was a nice hardwood?

These drawer sets that are suggested above – are they real metal or plastic? Can't tell from the pictures.

The Helmer drawers are steel. I have two sets of them bolted together storing taps, dies and thread chasers. They're a useful size being bigger than the Bisley drawers. The Helmer drawers are made of thin sheet. I put thin plywood liners in the base of mine.

[VicParticipant @vic]

I bought a pair of floor standing steel cupboards from Ikea that have proved to be very useful for my tooling.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

I found the Moppe wooden draw sets quite handy in the workshop. Inexpensive and you can take a drawer right out easily to dig around for what you are looking for.

They sold these some time ago but dropped them amid a chorus of complaints but have just brought them back.

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

I bought some of the steel drawers. Pretty handy for tooling.

Some of the smaller clip on lights as well.

B

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Posted by duncan webster on 25/01/2018 22:23:47:

Posted by Muzzer on 25/01/2018 13:46:38:

Our nearest Ikeas are about an hour away, so unfortunately we don't get there as often as we'd like. Murray

I go very rarely, and that's far more than I'd like, once you're in you can't get out, the only sure fire way is to follow the fire exit signs

Good strategy Duncan. I think these places are a complete wind-up and avoid.
Strategy can also be used for all supermarkets, shopping centres and places with 'outlet' in their name.

[Nigel Smith 4Participant @nigelsmith4]

I'm not one for visiting shops, however my wife wanted to go and my son offered to take us both. The nearest Ikea is an hour away. I have to say it was not a nice experience, the place was crowded and the patronising theme of following 'the arrows' didn't go down well. There was nothing in the place that remotely interested me apart from the 'Exit' door, it was an experience I would never wish to repeat. However, Ikea does have it's followers though I'm unsure why anyone would put themselves through such an experience

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

When I'd just had my left knee replaced I couldn't sleep in a bed, and needed a chair I could sleep in for a few days or weeks until things improved. I remembered a type of springy-wood-framed armchair they did that wasn't expensive, so staggered around Ikea with the missus they day after they let me out of hospital, till I found it.

They do try to make sure they march you past all their retail opportunities before they let you go, so it wasn't as merciful an experience as it might've been, but I also made sure of my hot dog sausages, Scandi choc and fake caviare before we left.

It was also a fairly grim business assembling the thing once we got it home, in the condition I was in at the time.

But that was six years ago now, and I still nod off in that chair on tired evenings – so do other people who sit in it… 😀

Edited By Mick B1 on 31/01/2018 14:37:17

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

I think I have been to Ikea twice, I can only think my lapse of concentration resulting in the second visit was a rare blip.

From memory I went to buy some bedroom wardrobes and matching cupboards etc.

After selecting only some of what was required (I think large furniture had to be collected after payment), we queued for ages at the checkout, only to be told that the stuff we had picked was discontinued, they did not have some of it in stock, and they could not guarantee the order and could supply all that we wanted.

Hours had been wasted at this point, so I politely told them to keep their furniture, and got a refund.

I vowed at that point never to set foot in Ikea again, and some 16 years later that is still the case.

As far as I can see the whole basis of the way Ikea is set up is to maximise profits for the company, and make shopping there a miserable experience for customers.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Nigel Smith 4 on 31/01/2018 14:23:55:

I'm not one for visiting shops, however my wife wanted to go and my son offered to take us both. The nearest Ikea is an hour away. I have to say it was not a nice experience, the place was crowded and the patronising theme of following 'the arrows' didn't go down well. There was nothing in the place that remotely interested me apart from the 'Exit' door, it was an experience I would never wish to repeat. However, Ikea does have it's followers though I'm unsure why anyone would put themselves through such an experience

Just be glad you didn't have a prospective university student in need of two trolleys full of stuff with you… I did p[ick up a couple of Jansjos and one of those tables people use for 3D printers (not sure why, I made a plywood stand which is much more rigid and includes storage).

My reward was a veggy hot dog, two in fact as I put strawberry jam on my wife's instead of ketchup by mistake.

[Nigel Smith 4Participant @nigelsmith4]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 31/01/2018 14:48:18:

Posted by Nigel Smith 4 on 31/01/2018 14:23:55:

I'm not one for visiting shops, however my wife wanted to go and my son offered to take us both. The nearest Ikea is an hour away. I have to say it was not a nice experience, the place was crowded and the patronising theme of following 'the arrows' didn't go down well. There was nothing in the place that remotely interested me apart from the 'Exit' door, it was an experience I would never wish to repeat. However, Ikea does have it's followers though I'm unsure why anyone would put themselves through such an experience

Just be glad you didn't have a prospective university student in need of two trolleys full of stuff with you… I did p[ick up a couple of Jansjos and one of those tables people use for 3D printers (not sure why, I made a plywood stand which is much more rigid and includes storage).

My reward was a veggy hot dog, two in fact as I put strawberry jam on my wife's instead of ketchup by mistake.

Well at least you were rewarded for your efforts, albeit jam on your veggy hot dog. The fact you noticed the difference in taste does score Ikea a couple of points!

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 31/01/2018 14:48:18:

My reward was a veggy hot dog,

On what sad planet is a veggy hot dog a reward?

I could do with the drawers since advised they are metal but my nearest store is an hours traffic jam away so will just keep an eye on the used furniture store. If one survives long enough to get to be second hand they are probably useful.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by David Standing 1 on 31/01/2018 14:45:40:

As far as I can see the whole basis of the way Ikea is set up is to maximise profits for the company, and make shopping there a miserable experience for customers.

Given a little time, I could probably dream up many hundreds of companies and/or websites for which that is true. It's pretty ubiquitous these days (yes, I do know there are exceptions).

Can't say for the UK, but the local Ikea here in Mississauga/Toronto is not nearly as bad as some of you guys paint it. Yes they have the "follow the arrows" path that takes you past everything. But they also have very obvious shortcut doorways in the walls which let you short-circuit anything you don't want to see. They also have a shortcut to "Marketplace" just inside the main entrance, which is the place I usually most want to visit when I go (3 – 4 times a year) and skip the rest.

If you guys stay away on principle, that's entirely up to you – you're big boys. I can't help feeling though that it's your loss as well as Ikea's

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Posted by Bazyle on 31/01/2018 18:00:29:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 31/01/2018 14:48:18:

My reward was a veggy hot dog,On what sad planet is a veggy hot dog a reward?

+1

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 01/02/2018 01:48:25:

…

Can't say for the UK, but the local Ikea here in Mississauga/Toronto is not nearly as bad as some of you guys paint it. Yes they have the "follow the arrows" path that takes you past everything. But they also have very obvious shortcut doorways in the walls which let you short-circuit anything you don't want to see.

…

Yes, we have wormholes on this side too, but some of us mistrust them.

You get scant information as to which Supercluster of the Ikea Universe you'll emerge into, and sometimes none at all as to direction of travel when you do.

And, as with other cosmic voyages of such length, you're practically guaranteed to lose whatever grip you may've thought you had on Time…

[Enough!Participant @enough]

chuckle !

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Perhaps Elon Musk should pop down to IKEA instead of working on his BFR.

Mike

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Mike Poole on 01/02/2018 19:03:40:

Perhaps Elon Musk should pop down to IKEA instead of working on his BFR.

Mike

To test the Falcon Heavy they are going to put Musk's Tesla Roadster into orbit around Mars… seriously!

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Clive India on 01/02/2018 08:58:27:

Posted by Bazyle on 31/01/2018 18:00:29:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 31/01/2018 14:48:18:

My reward was a veggy hot dog,On what sad planet is a veggy hot dog a reward?

+1

Probably has more meat in it than a real one 😛

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Much to late for Wout's visit … I must add this to the 'What to Buy' list:

FLAKSA : 301.670.03

This 23cm / 9" long ceramic rod [plus rubber handle] is for honing steel knives.

There was a 'test' one the display shelf, so I tried it on the Swiss Army Knife and was suitably impressed.

My only concern is how quickly it might clog: Any advice on cleaning would be appreciated.

MichaelG.

.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/cookware/knives-chopping-boards/flaksa-ceramic-sharpener-black-art-30167003/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 25/02/2018 15:38:49

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Michael

I use a smaller ceramic rod for honing hunting knives.

I doubt it will clog, but it will discolour. If the instructions allow, bung it in the dishwasher.

If not, put it in a jug of boiling water, handle sticking out, with a strong washing up mixture mix in.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

I’ve got a wooden base thing by Spyderco or somebody with 2 ceramic rods sticking up at angles determined by which holes you choose. The blurb said clean the sticks with ‘kitchen cleanser’, whatever that is. I’ve used Fairy liquid, Cif and various mixture s in the Aldi ultrasonic cleaner. They all work to a degree, but like so many things in life, nothing’s shown as perfect so far…

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by David Standing 1 on 25/02/2018 15:46:51:

… bung it in the dishwasher.

.

… I am the dishwasher

Thanks for the advice though, David & Mick

MichaelG.

[Author]

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