Need advice re attaching control panels

[DarkSoul1]

My project cocktail cab is nearly finished.  One thing I need help with is how to attach the control panels to the actual cab and be strong enough.  The gap where the old panels were measure 36 cm (~14") wide and 16 cm (~6") high. The are 7 old bolt holes around the edges and I intend to use MDF rather than metal as I think it will be cheaper.

Any suggestions re how to build the cp's or reinforce them?

 

[Ken Layton]

Hmmm.... looks like a Nintendo cabinet. The control panels on these cabinets had a piano hinge at the very bottom of the control panel which was bolted to the cabinet so the panel tipped down for servicing. Three carriage bolts went thru the top to fasten it from the inside and there were two metric screws on each side of the panel also to bolt it into position (redundent).

[neuromancer]

The piano hinge sounds like a good solution, but don't try to put the little screws into MDF.

Make the back of the CP out of a solid piece of wood, so the screws and the carriage bolts have something to bite into.

Bob

[eightbit]

The piano hinge sounds like a good solution, but don't try to put the little screws into MDF.

Make the back of the CP out of a solid piece of wood, so the screws and the carriage bolts have something to bite into.

Plywood would be better than solid wood.

[jcoleman]

MDF is fine to screw into as long as you use long screws and predrill the holes.  I have a shelf mounted to my wall built of nothing but MDF.  I used drywall screws to hold the shelves themselves together, as well as longer drywall screws to mount the shelf to the studs in the wall.  MDF is fine, just don't over-torque.

John

[zzsprade]

DarkSoul1,

Mate you don't happen to be from Australia do you? That there is an a-typical cocktail cab found here in Australia, which quite frankly, I have to say, given that I grew up with them, would be my choice in cocktail cab... to bad I am not building one like that though.  

-Alex