Do I have to use screws

[busterno1]

I was wondering do i have to use screws on the outside of the box or can i get a way with just glueing & clamping the sides & front ,back of a box together

I am going to use shelf braces + corner bracing inside. I plan to screw these in .

Am trying to get away from using filler in holes . I cant get it to look right .

I hate sanding as well

[synergy]

you don't have to use screws at all

the glue is far stronger than the wood anyway all the screws are there for is to hold the joints together whilst it is setting

just make sure your edges are perfectly straight and clean and you'll have no problems with just clamping them together

if you've got a perfect joint on the panels of your box you won't need corner bracing either it just takes up more volume in the box

[macky888]

G'day Buster

PVA wood glue without screws will work just fine. Applying pressure to it, such as clamps is reccomended as well, or simply put something heavy on top while drying, such as conrete slabs or bricks (with a scrap piece of wood in between so any slabs etc don't scratch the wood).

Adrian

[Ouroboros]

Don't forget with MDF, to abrade the surface before you PVA glue it. MDF has a pressed surface that needs to be sanded so that it absorbs the glue.

Chris Morriss.

[5th element]

Ive never abraded MDF once and everything is rock solid, ie you can stand on the boxes with no damage sustained.

Edit - I may try doing this to see if joint strength is indeed affected.

[qwad]

I concur with 5th element, I think you are worrying unnecesseraly about very little.... cheers TC

[GrahamnDodder]

I accidentally glued my fingers together with Superglue as a kid once. It held well -- really well -- without screws. It probably would have held even better with screws, but I chose not to try it.

And having to use the palm sander on my fingertips would have been a bear, I'll agree.

[slowmotion]

Originally posted by Ouroboros
Don't forget with MDF, to abrade the surface before you PVA glue it. MDF has a pressed surface that needs to be sanded so that it absorbs the glue.

Chris Morriss.

Never had a problem, but I'll try it your way next time.

Thanks for the tip

cheers

[slowmotion]

Originally posted by GrahamnDodder
It probably would have held even better with screws, but I chose not to try it.

Why not ?

heheh