Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: Hawk75 on April 10, 2018, 08:42:14 pm

Title: Joining MDF together.
Post by: Hawk75 on April 10, 2018, 08:42:14 pm: Wondering if the side of the machine should be routed out say 1/8-1/4 inch and then the front be placed and glued in the slot, or is it out to just nail or screw it with a 1x1 inch support inside of the machine?
Title: Re: Joining MDF together.
Post by: bperkins01 on April 11, 2018, 07:58:46 am: If this is what you are talking about:

(http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Simple-Rabbet.jpg)

Yes it is a good idea - it provides a lot of glue surface and adds rigidity.
I would rabbet the front and have the side go into the rabbet. That way the joint is on the side of the cabinet - not the front.
HTH
Title: Re: Joining MDF together.
Post by: nipsmg on April 12, 2018, 09:15:18 am: Is this really any "better" then gluing and screwing a supporting piece (1x2, 1x1, etc) on the inside surface and securing the piece to that? It seems like a LOT of extra work for little extra benefit.
Title: Re: Joining MDF together.
Post by: bperkins01 on April 12, 2018, 09:31:33 am: Better? In what way? strength wise? It doesn't matter much on this style of construction - so that can be debated I suppose.
Cleaner, neater, less likely to get out of alignment, fewer screw holes to fill..
Its a more professional joint..

It you have a router/router table.. this is much simpler that cutting a corner brace.
The work is relative to the tools available..
Title: Re: Joining MDF together.
Post by: Slippyblade on April 12, 2018, 03:10:23 pm: If you are gluing internal battens and screwing from the inside... there's no screw holes to fill. Also, that's how most original cabs were made. Granted, there are quite a few that run rabbets into dados.
Title: Re: Joining MDF together.
Post by: bperkins01 on April 12, 2018, 03:57:41 pm: Quote from: Slippyblade on April 12, 2018, 03:10:23 pm
If you are gluing internal battens and screwing from the inside... there's no screw holes to fill. Also, that's how most original cabs were made. Granted, there are quite a few that run rabbets into dados.

Fair enough ;) Again - I think it comes down to tools at hand.
Title: Re: Joining MDF together.
Post by: morton on May 29, 2018, 02:49:45 pm: There are plenty of ways to build a cabinet.

If you use battens, I would say that dadoes and rabbets are unnecessary. If you're not using battens, then dadoes and rabbets are beneficial.

My experience has shown me that dadoes and rabbets can help with glue up and keeping pieces from wandering away too much. It also will ensure a stronger overall structure, which can never hurt, especially when it doesn't come with any weight gain.

Tools on hand will probably be the biggest factor here, but if you have a router or table saw, then cutting grooves ain't that hard IMO.
Title: Joining MDF together.
Post by: 1500points on May 30, 2018, 09:59:34 am: I like to use simple tools and don’t own any expensive equipment.

You can make battens out of 1x2 pine that screws internally to the mdf.

More than solid enough for an arcade cabinet but you have to be mindful of overtightening and stripping out the screws.

If you dont use glue it becomes convenient to be able to break a cab down into a flat pallet for transportation. Gave a cab to a friend that way he was in a suv with his whole family and luggage, it still fit in.