Screws and MDF

[Jackpilot]

Most of us know that wood screws tend to split MDF even with a pre-drilled hole.
I found out that Gypsum boards screws (the black ones) used with a tiny pre-drilled hole really do a good and clean job and hold the two parts really strong with no sign of splitting.
One condition :tighten slowly with a screwdriver , drills are two fast.

[autocadplease]

If you want to tap MDF - I find that if you glue / epoxy the inside of pilot hole (allow to dry) then tap, it makes a huge difference (no splitting to date).

[NigelD]

Hmm... I'm either doing something wrong or I have the luck of the Irish. This has not happened to me! Does this mean that in three months time my entire project will unzip itself and split right down the middle?? That would be a bad thing!

To create a little thread slippage though, I spend all day yesterday working and there is progress! Not a lot to see yet, but my new computer has been ordered and I've finished building the seats. Work is advancing on the...well, I'm calling them monitor stands for Captain, F/O and ECAM monitors. I can see actual progress, and you know what? It feels good!

Hope to have something worth showing the masters of the art here in the next couple of months. Keep the sniggering to a minimum when you see it please!!!

Nigel.

[Jackpilot]

Hi Nigel
You were probably very careful doing it because when it splits, it does! and shows!
I understand your excitement, I am in the same stage, having spent months if not years assembling major components like overheads, pedestal, Mip (Flying it nevertheless) and now putting it altogether is exhilarating!!
Still have to built my ultimate throttle based on my prototype built a few years ago.

Cant rush those things, takes time takes time..lol