I need to fasten some steel brackets to the face of 3/4" melamine. Anyone
have some suggestions for the type of screw, preferrable something that is
available at the Borg. I've had good luck with coarse thread #6 or #8 deck
screws when screwing into the edge because I can use long screws. But with
only 3/4" to work with....I'm stumped.
TIA
In article <YFY2d.815$vd1.637@trnddc03>, "TOM" <[email protected]> wrote:
>It depends on how much stress, and the direction of the stress that you are
>applying to the bracket.
>
>If the force tends to try to pull the bracket away from the surface of the particle board, then you
>probably should drill completely through the board, and use a bolt,
>washer(s), and nut. This allows the rear washer to increase the surface area
>on the particle board to spread out the force.
>
>The bad situation is one where the force tries to pull a wood-screw out from the board, the
>strength then is just the small area of thread contact against the fairly weak particle board.
>
Absolutely correct. If there is not enough clearance on the back side of the
board for a nut, washer, and bolt, consider using tee-nuts. They sit almost
flush with the surface, and provide essentially the same mechanical benefits.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
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It depends on how much stress, and the direction of the stress that you are
applying
to the bracket.
If the force tends to try to pull the bracket away from the surface of the
particle board, then
you probably should drill completely through the board, and use a bolt,
washer(s), and nut.
This allows the rear washer to increase the surface area on the particle
board to spread
out the force.
The bad situation is one where the force tries to pull a wood-screw out from
the board, the
strength then is just the small area of thread contact against the fairly
weak particle board.
-- Tom
"Newshound" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I need to fasten some steel brackets to the face of 3/4" melamine. Anyone
> have some suggestions for the type of screw, preferrable something that is
> available at the Borg. I've had good luck with coarse thread #6 or #8
> deck
> screws when screwing into the edge because I can use long screws. But with
> only 3/4" to work with....I'm stumped.
>
> TIA
>
>
I work in a furniture mfg shop that uses melamine-lam'd particle board for
almost everything. The assemblers use standard black drywall screws along
with some special white glue for both edge and face mounting. I don't know
what application you're using this for or how much weight/pressure will be
on the steel brackets but if it's particle board under the melamine, it
won't bear much weight without blowing out.
If you can supplement the screws with adhesive, that would be advisable too.
Hope this helps
On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 02:29:59 GMT, "Newshound" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I need to fasten some steel brackets to the face of 3/4" melamine. Anyone
>have some suggestions for the type of screw, preferrable something that is
>available at the Borg. I've had good luck with coarse thread #6 or #8 deck
>screws when screwing into the edge because I can use long screws. But with
>only 3/4" to work with....I'm stumped.
>
>TIA
>
pan head sheet metal screws.
Ideally you should use screws that have been designed for this purpose.
I've heard them called melamine screws, particle-board screws, etc. The
trade name I know is "confirmat", I believe. I think Rockler sells
them.......yep, here's the link:
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?&offerings_id=652. A
better source is likely McFeely's:
http://store.yahoo.com/squaredrive/fasteners-screws-specialty-screws-european-cabinetry-screws-confirmat-style-screws.html.
These really do a better job than anything else I've ever seen, in both
melamine and MDF. The use of the proper step drill bit makes assembly
extremely painless and clean.
That being said, I've never been able to find these screws in less than 1"
lengths, so I've resorted to using coarse thread machine screws. I tried
deck screws, as you did, but found them a bit brittle. The key is to make
sure you always drill sufficient pilot holes, and remain a good distance
from edges - or else you'll split the MDF (I'm not sure if this is as big a
problem in melamine). Anyway, I've built several shop cabinets using only
machine screws out of MDF and had no problem. You can easily find 5/8"
machine screws, so for your particular job that's what I'd use.
Mike
"Newshound" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I need to fasten some steel brackets to the face of 3/4" melamine. Anyone
> have some suggestions for the type of screw, preferrable something that is
> available at the Borg. I've had good luck with coarse thread #6 or #8
> deck
> screws when screwing into the edge because I can use long screws. But with
> only 3/4" to work with....I'm stumped.
>
> TIA
>
>