ᐅ Which tools are useful for remodeling the Ikea Hemnes?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to modify an Ikea Hemnes piece of furniture and want to gather the right tools for the job. Since I want to avoid buying unnecessary tools or power equipment that I don’t actually need, I thought I’d ask here: From your experience, which tools are truly useful for modifying an Ikea Hemnes? Specifically, I am interested in which hand tools or power tools work best for tasks like adjusting drawers, cutting wooden parts, or treating the surface. I’m also looking for recommendations on particular drill bits, types of screwdrivers, or tools that make the work easier without breaking the budget.

I look forward to your tips and advice on what has proven effective in practice!

For modifying an Ikea Hemnes, I recommend the following tools:

- Cordless drill with a fine drilling function, ideal for precise screwing and pre-drilling
- Flathead and Phillips screwdrivers in various sizes for fine adjustments
- Circular saw or jigsaw if cuts are necessary; use fine-toothed blades
- Sandpaper in different grits for surface finishing
- Tape measure and square for accurate measuring and marking

A cordless drill is especially important since Hemnes is mostly assembled with screws. For cutting, if possible, I would recommend a circular saw with a guide rail for straightness. These tools are sufficient and moderately priced.

In summary: a cordless drill, jigsaw, sandpaper, and screwdriver are sufficient. For cutting, possibly a Japanese saw if you don’t have power tools.

I would like to add a few tips on handling tools. It is not only important to have the right tools but also to use them correctly. When driving screws with a cordless drill, you should reduce the speed and pre-drill the holes to prevent the wood from splitting.

For cutting: If you don’t have a large circular saw, a fine handsaw—such as a Japanese saw—is a good alternative. Practice on scrap pieces beforehand to ensure clean cuts.

It is also worthwhile to have sandpaper with grits ranging from 120 to 220 ready—start sanding coarser and then finish with finer grit for a smooth surface.

Don’t forget safety goggles and work gloves—safety comes first!

You can quickly handle all screws on Hemnes with a cordless screwdriver. For minor adjustments to the wood, a jigsaw and sandpaper are sufficient. Screwdrivers are usually only needed as a supplement for fine-tuning.

Juan31 schrieb:
Cordless drill/driver with fine drilling function, ideal for precise screwing and pre-drilling

I think cordless drills are often seen as a cure-all. Of course, they are practical, but if you only want to modify one or two drawers, a good ratchet with the right bits can be much more efficient and quieter. Not everyone needs power tools right away for something like that.

Tudogo schrieb:
For cutting: If you don’t own a large circular saw, a fine handsaw—like a Japanese saw—is a good alternative.

I agree with that. Plus, a handsaw saves storage space and gives you more flexibility when working in tight spots. A circular saw hardly makes sense if you only plan small adjustments.

My advice: Don’t rely on a large tool collection—better to have a few well-chosen tools.