Glue only for MDF cab?

[javeryh]

I glued up the panels for my cabinet this afternoon and it seems pretty sturdy.  DO you think I need to add screws or brackets or anything (I do have interior support pieces that reenforce the joints).  Any thoughts?  Pics: www.bellasarcade.blogspot.com

[Bill Mote]

What kind of glue?  Woodworking glue or liquid nails?

People actually playing on the cab won't be as hard on it as moving it.  With MDF your cab will likely weigh close to 400 lbs.  When you put all that weight on a dolly it might be a problem.  I'm speaking strictly from what I think and not from something I know

dot

[javeryh]

I used woodworking glue.  I'm building an 80% cab with an LCD monitor - it's heavy but not as heavy as some full sized cabs with CRTs in there...  I think I'm going to get some L brackets and install them on the interior of the cab - no one will see them and it will be peace of mind for me...

[WaRpEd]

The wood blocks and glue is a tried and true method of building and should hold up well. I've been building cabinetsof all kind for about 20 years and never had problem with breakage although some warping can occur if not braced enough.
My only suggestion would be to use polyurethane (Gorilla )glue on any joint that will house something heavy like a CRT.
Good luck on your project and keep posting updates.

[Pixelhugger]

Not sure how this translates to a composite material like MDF, but in the case of a wood to wood joint, the glue bonds as strong as the wood itself. Any screws or nails really only serve to align the joint and provide compression while the glue sets. Since MDF is fiberboard I'm sure its a bit different, but I'd think those reinforcing blocks you show on your website will add plenty of rigidity... much more than a handfull of screws I'd think.

[Bill Mote]

MDF is a glued product.  I just wasn't sure how well the glue would penetrate the surface and create a good bond.  Again, I'm not a carpenter or structural engineer.  Just speaking from what I "think."  I would think that Gorilla Glue or Liquid Nails would be best.  I glued and screwed every joint on my cab.  I used wood working glue.  I wasn't worried about using anything stronger due to the screws.  Also, I screwed from the inside on my blocks into the cabinet walls so I wouldn't have screw holes visible on the outside.

I've moved the cabinet 2x.  Once from the garage into my living room and another time to a new house and into it's basement.  I have *no* joint issues.  We're going to move in about a month.  I'm taking the TV out before we move this time

dot

[MYX]

My cab was fully built with glue (elmers wood). Asside from the day that the whole cab fell off the sawhorses and fell 3 feet to the garage floor and somewhat disassembling it, (this was due to some really bad judgment on my part) the cab has been suprizingly rock solid. Ghaw, if that wern't the run on sentance from hell. 

[arzoo]

Don't know about the glue thing, bug your marquee designs are very cool! 

[Fozzy The Bear]

MDF is a glued product.  I just wasn't sure how well the glue would penetrate the surface and create a good bond. 

MDF takes up the glue, very well indeed.. Beter than wood does. It's very porus in its raw state and quite literally sucks up moisture. So the bond should be very strong once set.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[eccs19]

When i built my bartop, I used glue on all joints, and for piece of mind, I also put a couple of brad nails in also. They have very small heads, so easy to hide.