Best type of screw to use with MDF

[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

What is the best type of screw to use with MDF? Will be using 3/4 board if that makes any difference. Screws will be used to mount speakers in box.

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[Oh6AcCoRd 10+ year member]

ive used drywall screws but you should pre drill no matter what.

 

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

drywall screws. pre-drilling is a good idea, but i hardly ever do it personally (I'm a knucklehead)

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

Coarse thread drywall screws with a little drill bit to pre-drill with.

1-1/8" for sub mounting and 1-5/8" for box building.

 

[SpeedEuphoria 10+ year member]

some people like deck screws

also some like T-nuts for sub mounting others say there a pain

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

I use dry wall screws.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Make sure you pre-drill holes first because the wood might crack if you don't.

 

[Lonnie 10+ year member]

Drywall? I was just gonna use some wood screws ...since it is wood.

Hmm...what would actually be the difference...

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

Drywall? I was just gonna use some wood screws ...since it is wood.
Hmm...what would actually be the difference...

The coarse thread drywall screws have threads that protrude more than normal, so they grip the MDF better. MDF really have the same structural make-up as normal wood, and as you know it's a ton easier to strip a screw in MDF than a 2x4. Plain wood screws have too narrow and small threads to really hold in MDF(at least the ones I've seen do). You need something with more grip because of that.

At least that's how I justify my use...I've never stripped a coarse thread drywall screw, so I guess it's working ok.

 

[roarzorz 10+ year member]

+1 for coarse dry wall

 

[Spooney 10+ year member]

coarse thread drywall screws pre drilled and counter sunk for the seams. I like using #8 or # 10 1 inch long stainless steel screws for sub mounting. I've seen plenty of heads pop off of those drywall screws although I used them for sub mounting for years until I started using the stainless screws.

 

[mbrooky 10+ year member]

Make sure you pre-drill holes first because the wood might crack if you don't.

pre-drilling also helps in drilling the screw in easier and straighter and help preventing accidental slippage of the drill and oops the drill just punctured the surround or cone //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

i like to use these...they counter sink real well in mdf and hold my speakers in really good:

what's up dennis?! we'll get you up and runnin and get some tunes goin this weekend! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

^^^Only thing I don't like about those is how the threads stop a little bit from the head.

Notice how the thread on these go all the way up.

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

I am very amatuer at box building, but in my few attempts, I have always used drywall screws (I do drywall, I have a grip of em) and as stated above, the seem to work well because they are threaded all the way to the head. Used some that were not one time, and I didnt like em

 

[KRYPTO 10+ year member]

What about the bolt idea I've seen on some builds? (with the backer plate thing)