Replacement for screws?

[GeniX]

Hey all,

After many many months of overtime including the last two months of 7-day weeks, a work project has come to an end. THis sees the perfect opportunity to finish a pair of bookshelf speakers I started making LAST YEAR (!)

Situation is, I have the cabinets almost done - just the back to put on. Cabinets are made out of MDF, and are screwed & glued together. THe problem is that despite the pilot holes, it turns out the head of the screw is a little wide and I cant get them flush with the sides of the cabinets (some are sticking a couple millimeters out).

My query is this -- the cabinets are glued together as well, so what if I took the screws out and found some kind of really hard filler for the holes? Any recommendations/suggestions welcome.

The sooner the better as I plan on buying the last bits I need for this project today sometime.

[Volenti]

Assuming you've used a good quality wood glue you should be fine to remove the screws and fill the holes.

I've "destructively tested" (with a sledge hammer) old enclosures where the glue joint had torn the wood apart instead of failing it's self.

[mwmkravchenko]

As long as you had good construction practices and the joints are smooth and tight glues rules.

Mark

[purplepeople]

By using screws at the time of the gluing, you were effectively clamping the glue joints together. In the finished joint, the glue is doing almost all of the work so removing the screws would be akin to removing a bunch of clamps. This method is used quite often in various industries and is considered to be one of the most time and space efficient ways of "setting" a bond between two materials. Of course, in most cases the fasteners are never removed because it costs more time and they provide an extra failsafe for the connection. But, we don't expect you to "abusing" them anyway...

:)ensen

[Pete Mazz]

Instead of trying to force putty into those screw holes, buy a length of 1/8" dowel and use this with some glue insted. Then just use putty for what's left.

You can also use the dowels while doing assembly to save clamps. Just glue and clamp as usual, drill a hole for the dowel and pound it in, break it off and move the clamp(s) to the next spot.

Pete

[Volenti]

Originally posted by Pete Mazz
Instead of trying to force putty into those screw holes, buy a length of 1/8" dowel and use this with some glue insted. Then just use putty for what's left.

You can also use the dowels while doing assembly to save clamps. Just glue and clamp as usual, drill a hole for the dowel and pound it in, break it off and move the clamp(s) to the next spot.

Pete

That's a brilliant idea, I'll have to try that on my next enclosure

[purplepeople]

Or use really nice looking brass, stainless or titanium screws for a decorative effect and leave them in. There are some nice looking lag bolts for the industrial look.

:)ensen.

[GeniX]

Thanks very much for the responses! Before I take the screws out - Im gonna try one last attempt at getting them sunken a little and filling up with woodfiller.

My construction is much akin to a schoolboy project. :-/