Quick Bracing Question

[Puppet Master 10+ year member]

Hey all, I'm buildin my first box and I've got a question for ya. For bracing, how should I do it? I am thinkin about putting 3 "pillars" of 3/4 MDF in the middle of the box. I know that would brace the top and bottom, but do the sides need any bracing? The box is 4.25 cubic feet, with a 4'' port(if that is necessary to the topic). Another way I was thinking was making a full divider and cutting holes in it, so it would form a square with a cross in the middle(best way I can describe it). Anyone here got any ideas of how I could brace the box, or if I even have to?

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[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

A very easy method is using threaded rod and bolts.

 

[xpl0it 10+ year member]

Yeah but don't you have bolts and stuff sticking out of the box with threaded rods?

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Not if you pre-drill holes for the bolt heads to sit down in.

 

[knotslck 10+ year member]

using the threaded rod method the end of the rod and washer and a nut sticking out of the box, however the rods takes up almost no space inside the box and they are very strong.

 

[Puppet Master 10+ year member]

I COULD use threaded rods and bolts, but would the MDF way work?

 

[knotslck 10+ year member]

Not if you pre-drill holes for the bolt heads to sit down in.

yes that will work just don't drill to far.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[knotslck 10+ year member]

I COULD use threaded rods and bolts, but would the MDF way work?

yes the mdf method will work just take up more space just make sure you tie all the walls together that means there should be horizontal bracing also.

 

[Puppet Master 10+ year member]

so if I made a cross out of MDF, that would work?

 

[j3bus2k3 5,000+ posts]

yes, the MDF frame works well. You can also corner brace with "45's" or what I did just for shits and giggles...I had some 1x2 plywood pieces that I cut to fit from front to back to tie them together...