>From what the buyer was saying is that most of the machines will sit
close to the edges leaving about 3" from the edge all the way around..
I was thinking about running a top strip (1 1/2" wide ) on the inside
by glueing and nailing to give more straighth. and also down all the
corners to give more to nail or screw into.
Again I was debating between 1/2 and 3/4" What is your thought?
Don D.
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> "pegleg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >I have been asked to built some slot machine bases for portables units.
> > The bases will be 22" high X 27" wide X 17" deep. They have to be able
> > to hold 250 - 500 LB in height.
> >
> > I was thinking of using MDF. Would I use 3/4 or could 1/2 hold the
> > weight?
>
> Sure, depending on the design. MDF has a lot of flex, but built properly,
> the edge strength can support a lot of weight. I'd run a couple of support
> strips under the 27" span on the top.
On Nov 18, 11:08 am, "pegleg" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I was thinking about running a top strip (1 1/2" wide ) on the inside
> by glueing and nailing to give more straighth. and also down all the
> corners to give more to nail or screw into.
An 1-1/2" on the flat still flexes quite a bit. 2" on edge would give
you more strength, but makes it harder to attach as MDF end-grain is
useless in terms of holding screws or nails. 3" wide would be better if
let in to an 1/8" dado with lots of adhesive.
>
> Again I was debating between 1/2 and 3/4" What is your thought?
3/4". 1/2" is really sloppy stuff.Besides, 1/2" certainly won't handle
screws worth a darn, unless loosely pre-drilled and soaked in glue
before inserting.
FWIW YMMV
r
>
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> I was thinking about running a top strip (1 1/2" wide ) on the inside
> by glueing and nailing to give more straighth. and also down all the
> corners to give more to nail or screw into.
>
Screws and nails don't hold very well in MDF. Use bisquits at 6" centres
for strength and durability -- and you can glue the 'endgrain' of mdf onto the
hardened surface just fine, b.t.w.
My 2 cent's worth -P.
--
=========================================
firstname dot lastname at gmail fullstop com
"pegleg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have been asked to built some slot machine bases for portables units.
> The bases will be 22" high X 27" wide X 17" deep. They have to be able
> to hold 250 - 500 LB in height.
>
> I was thinking of using MDF. Would I use 3/4 or could 1/2 hold the
> weight?
Sure, depending on the design. MDF has a lot of flex, but built properly,
the edge strength can support a lot of weight. I'd run a couple of support
strips under the 27" span on the top.
Slot machines full of coins or tokens are pretty heavy
and people will lean on them. I'd go with 3/4".
pegleg wrote:
>>From what the buyer was saying is that most of the machines will sit
> close to the edges leaving about 3" from the edge all the way around..
>
> I was thinking about running a top strip (1 1/2" wide ) on the inside
> by glueing and nailing to give more straighth. and also down all the
> corners to give more to nail or screw into.
>
> Again I was debating between 1/2 and 3/4" What is your thought?
>
> Don D.
>
"pegleg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >From what the buyer was saying is that most of the machines will sit
> close to the edges leaving about 3" from the edge all the way around..
>
> I was thinking about running a top strip (1 1/2" wide ) on the inside
> by glueing and nailing to give more straighth. and also down all the
> corners to give more to nail or screw into.
>
> Again I was debating between 1/2 and 3/4" What is your thought?
>
> Don D.
The furring strip idea is good, especially since the weight is squarely on
the top, not on the edges where the most strength is. I'd go with 3/4", but
1/2" can work as long as you have some interior bracing. You have some
trade off of weight, material cost, versus more labor for assembly.
If I used 1/2" for the top, I'd had two braces going the 27" direction,
probably 3 in the short direction. Plenty of strength that way, like a
honeycomb. Since the machines are portable, they are also subject to some
abuse in transit.