What i want is the box to be smooth, without being able to see the screws so i can paint the box and have it look very smooth. I have to ways im thinking of going about this.

1- This is the one i feel as the better of the two....sink the screws a little further into the mdf and put a filler then sand it smooth

or

2- After the box glue has dried take the screw out then use a filler and sand?

Is there any reason for the screws to stay in the wood or can i take them back out?

Thanks,

Jack3d

Did you countersink the screws when you put them in?

Andrew

You can do either way. Just make sure you use enough glue and let it fully cure before taking out the screws.

glue should hold it.

I've seen ppl use no screws at all, but hella clamps.

only problem i see with drilling them deeper into the wood is you breaking the wood accidently.

Did you countersink the screws when you put them in?

Andrew

I havent started it yet but when I do I am going to.

You can do either way. Just make sure you use enough glue and let it fully cure before taking out the screws.

thanks...i think i might just leave the screws in though, just to be safe. the box isnt for me and i dont want it falling apart..lol

glue should hold it.

I've seen ppl use no screws at all, but hella clamps.

only problem i see with drilling them deeper into the wood is you breaking the wood accidently.

ya, im going to get a counter sinking bit today on my way home so then i wont have to drill further into the wood to put filler on top.

thanks guys!

If you countersink you will have enough room to fill over them.

Plan ahead, working twice on such a small detail is not smart.

Counter sink for sure, and make sure to use the bit small enough to allow for a good bite usually 1/2 the size of the screw diameter. And if your drill has a torque setting, set it for when the head of the screw is tight, but doesn,t break the head off. And with saying this, leave them in.

I agree with the above statements. Countersink and leave the screws in, won't hurt anything. It's easy enough to take body filler, wood putty, etc. and fill in the holes, then sand it all down. If you look at pictures of the box I built for the van you can see the before and after on the screws that hold the MDF ring that seats the plexi in the box. It does look WAY better than leaving the screws and countersinks visible.

EDIT: Nevermind, I just went and got the links to the pics.

Before..........

After......

If you countersink you will have enough room to fill over them.

Plan ahead, working twice on such a small detail is not smart.

For sure!

Counter sink for sure, and make sure to use the bit small enough to allow for a good bite usually 1/2 the size of the screw diameter. And if your drill has a torque setting, set it for when the head of the screw is tight, but doesn,t break the head off. And with saying this, leave them in.

Thanks for the tips

I agree with the above statements. Countersink and leave the screws in, won't hurt anything. It's easy enough to take body filler, wood putty, etc. and fill in the holes, then sand it all down. If you look at pictures of the box I built for the van you can see the before and after on the screws that hold the MDF ring that seats the plexi in the box. It does look WAY better than leaving the screws and countersinks visible.

EDIT: Nevermind, I just went and got the links to the pics.

Ya, thats what im going to end up doing. Your box looks awesome BTW...love the plexi

I'll post some pics on a build log once I get everything ready to start the box and install.

Edited May 19, 201114 yr by Jack3d SPL

I pre-drill the hole and torque the screw a little bit past the surface, then putty and sand.

You could also use something like this on the inside of the box.

You could also use something like this on the inside of the box.

not sure I understand what that is... lol

It's a tool that allows you to install screws at a very sharp angle into the face of a board. Only way this would do a person any good on an enclosure to keep screw heads and countersinks from being visible like he suggested would be to use it on the inside of the enclosure, however you'd have to build the enclosure so that you put the bottom on last in some cases due to clearance issues for the drill. The bottom would have to be traditionally attached on smaller enclosures or slot ported enclosures where the port wasn't large enough or too long to get the drill in it to do the work, but otherwise a pretty decent suggestion.

I still don't get it...

http://www.kregtool.com/pocket-hole-jigs-prodlist.html

there ya go Danny. (and anyone else curious as to what that tool is.

it comes in handy on certain projects.

It is called a pocket screw jig. Very handy.

I still don't get it...

x2

http://www.kregtool.com/pocket-hole-jigs-prodlist.html

there ya go Danny. (and anyone else curious as to what that tool is.

it comes in handy on certain projects.

it is deff a weird littel tool but you never know what you need until you need it..lol.

thanks for the link

http://www.kregtool.com/pocket-hole-jigs-prodlist.html

there ya go Danny. (and anyone else curious as to what that tool is.

it comes in handy on certain projects.

thank ya sir... I'll just be forking over cash for labor... lmao

Its one of those things that needs to be seen or used before you realize how awesome it really is.

Its one of those things that needs to be seen or used before you realize how awesome it really is.

like sex???

Its one of those things that needs to be seen or used before you realize how awesome it really is.

like sex???

Its one of those things that needs to be seen or used before you realize how awesome it really is.

like sex???

x2