Best way to assemble everything?

[BOONY]

Hey guys.

I am building a bartop arcade machine and am wondering what the best way is to assemble it all?

Im thinking of just counter sinking then screwing it in from the outside.. Then woodfill it and paint later on

Would there be a better way.. Maybe something that avoids screw holes on the outside of the side panels?

Thanks.

[yaksplat]

There are a few ways:

cut blocks that go in the corners and screw into both connecting pieces (i used glue as well)



Use biscuits or dowels

Screw from the outside

[kahlid74]

There are a few ways:

cut blocks that go in the corners and screw into both connecting pieces (i used glue as well)



Use biscuits or dowels

Screw from the outside

Yak's got you covered here.  The best way is the corner pieces with screws on both sides and wood glue for extra support.  I however do it differently by drilling from the outside in, then counter sink/wood putty/Bondo.  Works out really well.

[Woodshop Flunky]

I don't know about "Best".... but I also drilled through the side panel and screwed them from the outside.



This works well for MDF sides and plywood center panels.  Also, I like that the screw is actually pulling the panels together... rather than pulling blocking to a panel.

Either way will get you a solid cab. 

[walker_tr9]

Here is a dumb question for yaksplat.  Is there any problem with getting your cordless drill to drill a hole parallel to the walls through that corner block?  It seems that the drill would butt up against the wall, and the hole would be angled.  Although, maybe that is ok...

[yaksplat]

I pre-drill all of the holes and then start all of the screws before putting the block on.  Then with an extension on the screw gun there's no problem getting them in.  Also I like to use torx screws, because you don't have to put any pressure on the screw when putting it in.  The rotation of the screw alone will pull the screw through the wood.

[walker_tr9]

But you only pre-drilled the corner block.  Don't you want the hole to go through the cabinet wall too?  Or is that not necessary?

[yaksplat]

Not necessary, the screw will take care of that and make its own hole.

[kahlid74]

By torx you mean self tapping right Yak?

[yaksplat]

Nope, i mean torx.



No pressure is needed when screwing one in, unlike a phillips head, which will slip out.  In tight spaces you can put a torx screw with nothing more than a torx allen wrench.  The torx design gives a lot more contact area to the tool than a basic hex, so they have a very low instance of stripping, almost 0 at low speed.  Screws will have no problem tapping into soft woods like pine or the plywood.  However, plenty of the torx screws are also self tapping as well.

[kahlid74]

Nope, i mean torx.



No pressure is needed when screwing one in, unlike a phillips head, which will slip out.  In tight spaces you can put a torx screw with nothing more than a torx allen wrench.  The torx design gives a lot more contact area to the tool than a basic hex, so they have a very low instance of stripping, almost 0 at low speed.  Screws will have no problem tapping into soft woods like pine or the plywood.  However, plenty of the torx screws are also self tapping as well.

I knew this as torx but I also figured you meant self tapping since you didn't pre-drill on the other side.

[wonger]

I'm partial to pocket screws. You can hide all the screws on the inside and it's simple to use.

http://www.kregtool.com/Pocket-Hole-Jigs-Prodlist.html

The jig isn't cheap, but it's so easy you'll feel like your cheating

[kahlid74]

I'm partial to pocket screws. You can hide all the screws on the inside and it's simple to use.

http://www.kregtool.com/Pocket-Hole-Jigs-Prodlist.html

The jig isn't cheap, but it's so easy you'll feel like your cheating

I like pocket screws too but only in hard woods.  On stuff like MDF/Plywood I prefer the blocks like Yak showed because you're not only screwing into a hardwood piece that has less change to slip/fray but you've also got more contact for glue, which is usually the main source of your strength.