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Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: loraith on August 31, 2009, 02:25:00 pm

Title: Are screws enough?
Post by: loraith on August 31, 2009, 02:25:00 pm

Foe ledger boards, is it enough to just screw them into 3/4 MDF? Or should I also glue them?
Building Right now so any fast responce would be great lol^^
Thanks
Jimmy

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: bungy on August 31, 2009, 03:18:48 pm

I only use 2" coarse thread drywall screws, but my ledger boards are 2x3s and 2x4s.  And I put the screws in two rows on the broad side.

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: loraith on August 31, 2009, 03:22:54 pm

Thanks!

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: Encryptor on August 31, 2009, 04:27:30 pm

It will be much stronger if you use glue as well.

Encryptor

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: Chadwick on September 01, 2009, 08:58:30 am

I would use glue too.  If you are only going to use screws in MDF, make sure they are coarse thread.

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: ChadTower on September 01, 2009, 11:28:02 am

It only takes 5 seconds to put a little glue in there so if you have it put it in.

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: javeryh on September 02, 2009, 03:17:39 pm

I'm not sure what a ledger board is but I trust glue more than I trust screws.

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: bungy on September 02, 2009, 04:35:31 pm

I took ledger board to mean the wood on which the front, back, and top panels are mounted to.  I haven't been using glue, but I have been going crazy with screws, two rows & every 4" to 6".

After I installed the 2x3s to set the top on my cabinet, I decided that the marquee space was too short.  So I just unscrewed the 2x3s and replaced with 2x4s for added height.  Since I'm basically building my cabinet without plans, the screws only approach gives me some flexibility.  Probably a good idea to put some glue under the boards when I'm satisfied with it.

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: Haterot on September 03, 2009, 01:01:04 pm

2" coarse drywall screws here also Hot Glue.

2x4s for ledger board? wow that's adding a ton of weight.

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: loraith on September 03, 2009, 05:56:10 pm

I ended up using glue on all of my ledger ? support boards. They are not ever moving lol.
Thanks for the advice everyone^^
Jimmy

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: saint on September 14, 2009, 07:59:33 pm

For anyone else reading this with the same question.

Use wood glue, use wood glue, use wood glue. Any carpenter I've ever asked says wood glue holds better than screws. (I always use a combination of both)

--- saint

Title: Re: Are screws enough?
Post by: BobA on September 24, 2009, 11:02:06 am

Glue is much better than screws.  The screws are really only needed until the wood glue sets.