MDF Tables

[Danno30008]

Good morning everyone:
I picked up some round tables made from MFD at a store closing and need to put them together.

My question is what do I use to anchor these? Do I just use wood screws or should I glue a block onto the joining areas and then screw it together? I am worried that if I just use wood screws, the MDF will crumble and not hold.
It is kinda hard to explain the table, but what I need is ideas on how to attach two pieces of MDF together.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
take care
Dan in Atlanta. :)

[Don]

Hey, Dan. Kinda hard to get a grip on what the joint actually is. MDF has pretty fair screw holding ability by itself, most of the cheapo component furniture is made from the stuff as you know. The secret with MDF is like most composites, it's so dense that you have to make a proper size pilot hole first. If not, the screw has to push the surrounding material out of the way and this fractures the area around the hole. Another trick is to put some glue into the pilot hole as well. Naturally the larger the diameter on the fastener, the sharper the threads, the better off you are.

Now, with that being written, you have to use some judgement. Expected life. Quality of the end product, etc. all comes into play. Your idea of glue blocks is good if it is applicable to your assembly. In critical areas, such as on MDF interior house doors, you will find a solid wood edge glued to the assembly. This keeps screws intact and allows trimming as well.

Keep us posted on your progress.

All the best, Don

[Danno30008]

Hey Don:

Thanks for the input.

These tables are r e a l cheap.. Teh top is about 36" round an dthe legs are notvhed out so one fits into the other, then you open them up and put the top on it an it just kinda all sits together. My wife doesn't even want thempainted as she is putting a table cloth over them and they are not for looks.. :)
I will use some simple "L" brackets, drill a pilot hole and use Gorilla glue, that should do it!

I will take a photo and post tomorrow.

Thanks again an dtake care
Dan