Putting enclosure together question.

[BushJ311 5,000+ posts]

Do you pre drill the holes for the screws? or jsut screw them in with out doing anything.

The mdf is cracking a little bit when i put the screws in? what process do you guys use to pout screws in?

Click to read more...

 

[BuckyBoy 10+ year member]

You already answered all of your questions.

Yes, pre-drill and stay a few inches away from the edge.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

When screwing into the edge of mdf, you MUST predill. MDF is simply too dense to allow screwing into it without buckling. And when it buckles/cracks, it loses much of the strength you purchased such a dense material for.

 

[BushJ311 5,000+ posts]

what can i do to prevent the cracking. i predrilled the holes. (all the way threw with 3/32 and half way with 5/8 then threw this board into the board its going on with the 3/32 about 1/4 an inch mayb more)

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

what can i do to prevent the cracking. i predrilled the holes. (all the way threw with 3/32 and half way with 5/8 then threw this board into the board its going on with the 3/32 about 1/4 an inch mayb more)

There is a fine line between having a drill bit too small that allows the wood to bust out, and having one too big that it removes more material than you want (so screws cant bite). I suggest using a test piece on the bench, trying a few different drill bit sizes till you find the smallest one possible that doesn't make the wood buckle when the screw is added.

 

[BushJ311 5,000+ posts]

should i go up form 3/32 or down?

 

[Wkbdkid 10+ year member]

I usually get a bit thats bout the same size of the shaft of the screw. That way the threads have plenty to grab onto. An i stay atleast 3inches away from the end, kinda depends on how big of screws im using.

 

[BushJ311 5,000+ posts]

how 3 inches when board is 3/4 thick

 

[BushJ311 5,000+ posts]

i used to 3/32 so should i try next size up or next down?

 

[BushJ311 5,000+ posts]

sorry for the post of that again.

 

[Wkbdkid 10+ year member]

I stay 3inches away from the corner when screwing 2 pieces together.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

i used to 3/32 so should i try next size up or next down?

Are you being serious? Dude, with the drill bit you are using now.. is the screw bucking the wood? If so, drill a bigger pilot hole. If not, try one size smaller. This aint rocket science.
No offense meant, but really not following why you would need to ask such a basic question.

 

[BushJ311 5,000+ posts]

Are you being serious? Dude, with the drill bit you are using now.. is the screw bucking the wood? If so, drill a bigger pilot hole. If not, try one size smaller. This aint rocket science.
No offense meant, but really not following why you would need to ask such a basic question.

its my first one so i want to do it right

 

[Wkbdkid 10+ year member]

Invest in a brad nailer then. Way easy to use an makes the build go much faster

 

[BushJ311 5,000+ posts]

I am building it at school. we have on there should i use it or screw it together?