Using Dowels to build box and where to start w/ putting together a box

[Mikey Bates]

i heard that glueing and using silicon is really the best way to build a box. and obv to let it cure and such. and i also heard that using screws and nails just aren't the way to go, how about predrilling a few major points, like the corners and centers, and using dowels? stupid idea, not bad idea? i have a new box design and i want to build it very accuratly and make it look very good and i'm not sure how to "build" the box. like which piece to start from, how to hold it together, and which parts to build first, and even if i should build sections, et them dry, and then add. any help would be great. thanks!

[Bigsix]

I screw and glue all my boxes together, never had one come apart either. the strength comes from the glue really, pre drilling and adding some screws acts like a clamp while it dries, and I dont cheap out on the screws either, can't hurt to have them in there.

[Mikey Bates]

ok, description on screws? my first box, and only one so far, they tended to strip out the mdf and i couldnt really sink the screws :/

[Mikey Bates]

so thats why i was thinking dowels, cus they blend way better and you can sand them perfectly flat

[Bigsix]

you need to counter sink the holes for the screws to set them below the surface a bit, and use body filler to cover the holes. And just dont buy cheap ass wal mart screws, hit home depot and get some decent black drywall screws. And if you are stripping them you either drilled the holes to big or need to quit going apeshit when you screw them in. Ive never had that problem.

[n8ball2013]

silicone is bad.

[SnowDrifter]

I put mine together with screws to hold it in place until the glue dries, than I take the screws out.

No reason to use silicone unless you are trying to fill in a huge gaping hole in the box, in which case, ditch the box and try again. That's a significant structural weakness.

Oh, and the fumes from the silicone can degrade the surround.

[skittlesRgood]

always predrill. mdf splits very easily. when predrilling, choose a drill bit that is the size of the shank of the screw. i always assemble the box on top of the bottom plate and build up. its easiest to put the back of the box on last. that way you can silicone the edges on the baffle, then assemble the back wall and you can easily reach the back plate's edges from the sub cutouts.

Edited May 7, 2012 by skittlesRgood

[mbdblue]

always pre-drill using screws on MDF. and you won't even need to seal the box if your cuts are accurate and you have no gaps.

edit: gadamn super ninjas

Edited May 7, 2012 by mbdblue

[Mikey Bates]

haha ok so countersink. didnt do that.

i did predrill but i think i did to big so i'll try smaller and hopefully they won't strip. and i always see people using silicon to seal their boxes. . . but they let it cure for a few days first. still bad? and what else could i use for minor minor air leaks? and thanks guys