Hello!! also advise please.

[Chipmunk007]

Hello to everyone, just signed up so going to have a look around shortly.

The main reason for joining is to get some help on the 2 projects that I have. The first is fairly easy. I need to build something similar to this: Cant post links yet, but if you google Bunk bed Buddy, you will see what I mean. (as an aside £50+ for a a few small bits of timber and some paint!!)

I have some 12mm MDF to use (out of the b&q offcuts bin) but I am wondering the best way to do the joints. Having done some research, I was planning on drilling, countersink and screwing. However, I noticed that many people dont recommend drilling too near the edge of MDF, so I was wondering if people could offer any alternative suggestions?

The second project is to turn the old Dining Table into a bench. This will be slightly more complex, but I need to plan a bit more before I have a proper Idea of how best to use the timber available and ask for your advise.

So if anyone has any thoughts/tips please feel free to chip in.

Thanks,

 

[dc_ni]

Bunk bed Buddy:

http://www.cardiffcashandcarry.com/uploads/products/bbbwl.jpg

Download sketchup, its simple to use and loads of videos on you tube on how to use it. Probably wouldnt need it for the Buddy but it would be a simple project to learn on for the bench build. Reason I recommend it is that as you are new to this it will help you work out how the joints would go together and from it you can make a cut list.

Download from here:

http://www.sketchup.com/download

When it comes to cutting/drilling the MDF make sure to wear a decent mask as the dust is nasty stuff. The more experienced members will be able to tell you the best way to fix the buddy together.

Welcome to the family chipmunk

 

[marcros]

You could insert a dowel into the mdf, so when you screw I to it you are screwing into the long grain of the dowel.

 

[RossJarvis]

Depending on the joint you could batten it, I.e having a batten inside the joined edges and screw into this, this keeps you further from the edge.

 

[DiscoStu]

I've done quite a few MDF projects like you're describing and with 12mm you're likely to split the MDF when you screw it even if you've drilled it. You could use dowels and glue. A domino is ideal but I'm assuming from what you've said that you won't have a domino and therefore i'd suggest that pinning and gluing it would be a good option and you you don't lose space to battening. It doesn't look like it needs to carry loads of weight so I'd be inclined to go for that option. If you have a nailer then 18g would be ideal but if not you can just get some nails. Ideally get a centre punch so you can drive the heads below the surface of the MDF and then a little filler so you won't see where they have been. I'd also recommend a good MDF primer as MDF just soaks up paint. As others have said, watch out for MDF dust it's dreadful stuff and you need to wear mask and goggles.