This may be a stupid question but please bear with me. I am building
what I would essentially call face frames. I have been using biscuits
to join the pieces but the gluing and clamping time is taking too long
so I thought that I would run down to Lee Valley and buy the Kreg Jig.
Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF? What I am doing
doesn't have to be overly structurally sound. It just has to stay
together and look nice.
TB wrote:
> This may be a stupid question but please bear with me. I am building
> what I would essentially call face frames. I have been using
biscuits
> to join the pieces but the gluing and clamping time is taking too
long
> so I thought that I would run down to Lee Valley and buy the Kreg
Jig.
> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF? What I am doing
> doesn't have to be overly structurally sound. It just has to stay
> together and look nice.
I have learned a little trick with mdf, if you pre-drill the screw hole
just enough to get started into the second piece (this is after you use
the jig and the stepped drill bit) I used a bit slighly smaller than
the small diameter of the stepped bit. Oh, be sure to use the course
threaded kreg screws. Even these may want to strip out so be careful
when you seat them.
> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF?
The problem with MDF is that it splits rather easily, some brands are worse
than others. The Kreg jig works really well, but with MDF you need to be
really careful. Maybe even put a C-clamp on the portion that's going to be
taking a screw and keep it in place until the glue sets.
"TB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This may be a stupid question but please bear with me. I am building
> what I would essentially call face frames. I have been using biscuits
> to join the pieces but the gluing and clamping time is taking too long
> so I thought that I would run down to Lee Valley and buy the Kreg Jig.
> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF? What I am doing
> doesn't have to be overly structurally sound. It just has to stay
> together and look nice.
--------------
It will work fine. I have used a Trend pocket-hole device very similar to
the Kreg with good results on MDF. Just one caveat, stay at least 1/2" away
from the edge of the MDF or it may well split. I don't even both with glue.
It's messy and unnecessary, and on the end of MDF not probably any use
anyway.
"TB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This may be a stupid question but please bear with me. I am building
> what I would essentially call face frames. I have been using biscuits
> to join the pieces but the gluing and clamping time is taking too long
> so I thought that I would run down to Lee Valley and buy the Kreg Jig.
> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF? What I am doing
> doesn't have to be overly structurally sound. It just has to stay
> together and look nice.
The "jig" will work just fine. The screws however will probably not hold
any better than any other screw in MDF.
I went from using a Castle machine to a Kreg pro set up. I thought that
spending $130 on a suitcase of pocketholers was ridiculous. I love it. I
think it is faster than the floor model electric version.
max
> This may be a stupid question but please bear with me. I am building
> what I would essentially call face frames. I have been using biscuits
> to join the pieces but the gluing and clamping time is taking too long
> so I thought that I would run down to Lee Valley and buy the Kreg Jig.
> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF? What I am doing
> doesn't have to be overly structurally sound. It just has to stay
> together and look nice.
There are special; screws for MDF that have tremendous holding power. It is
difficult to overdrive them and strip out the mdf.
max
> Works quite well. A little glue on the joint then screw it together. The
> resulting joint is stronger than the MDF. Use course thread screws.
>
> "TB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> This may be a stupid question but please bear with me. I am building
>> what I would essentially call face frames. I have been using biscuits
>> to join the pieces but the gluing and clamping time is taking too long
>> so I thought that I would run down to Lee Valley and buy the Kreg Jig.
>> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF? What I am doing
>> doesn't have to be overly structurally sound. It just has to stay
>> together and look nice.
>
>
Steven
Do you have a picture of your planer stand? I need to make one and can't
decide on a design.
max
> I made a planer stand from MDF last weekend. I used a combination if
> biscuits and pocket holes.
>
> What the poster said below is exactly my experience. If you are close to an
> edge there can be some splitting. IF I could to it again I would to more
> biscuits to mdf. That said the biscuit joiner made a terrible mess spewing
> fine dust.
>
> I love my kreg jig, and it will work with mdf, but it's not the best
> appllication. I generally avoid buscuits, but if I were to use mdf and be
> particulary concerned about joint strength, I'd opt for biscuits.
>
> -Steve
>
> "mp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF?
>>
>> The problem with MDF is that it splits rather easily, some brands are
> worse
>> than others. The Kreg jig works really well, but with MDF you need to be
>> really careful. Maybe even put a C-clamp on the portion that's going to be
>> taking a screw and keep it in place until the glue sets.
>>
>>
>
>
I have used the Kreg pocket hole joiner on wooden face frames and it makes a
strong, attractive joint. I have not tried it on MDF because threaded
fasteners frequently fail. That's why cam locks and cross dowels are often
used on MDF. Maybe I'm too timid...perhaps others have successful
first-hand experience.
"TB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This may be a stupid question but please bear with me. I am building
> what I would essentially call face frames. I have been using biscuits
> to join the pieces but the gluing and clamping time is taking too long
> so I thought that I would run down to Lee Valley and buy the Kreg Jig.
> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF? What I am doing
> doesn't have to be overly structurally sound. It just has to stay
> together and look nice.
I made a planer stand from MDF last weekend. I used a combination if
biscuits and pocket holes.
What the poster said below is exactly my experience. If you are close to an
edge there can be some splitting. IF I could to it again I would to more
biscuits to mdf. That said the biscuit joiner made a terrible mess spewing
fine dust.
I love my kreg jig, and it will work with mdf, but it's not the best
appllication. I generally avoid buscuits, but if I were to use mdf and be
particulary concerned about joint strength, I'd opt for biscuits.
-Steve
"mp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF?
>
> The problem with MDF is that it splits rather easily, some brands are
worse
> than others. The Kreg jig works really well, but with MDF you need to be
> really careful. Maybe even put a C-clamp on the portion that's going to be
> taking a screw and keep it in place until the glue sets.
>
>
Sure... I'll post to ABPF tonight. It's shamless ripoff of the vintage
unisaw-esque router tables recently posted - only mine is Jet - JTAS white
:-)
"max" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:BE2CD276.4590A%[email protected]...
> Steven
> Do you have a picture of your planer stand? I need to make one and can't
> decide on a design.
> max
>
> > I made a planer stand from MDF last weekend. I used a combination if
> > biscuits and pocket holes.
> >
> > What the poster said below is exactly my experience. If you are close to
an
> > edge there can be some splitting. IF I could to it again I would to more
> > biscuits to mdf. That said the biscuit joiner made a terrible mess
spewing
> > fine dust.
> >
> > I love my kreg jig, and it will work with mdf, but it's not the best
> > appllication. I generally avoid buscuits, but if I were to use mdf and
be
> > particulary concerned about joint strength, I'd opt for biscuits.
> >
> > -Steve
> >
> > "mp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >>> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF?
> >>
> >> The problem with MDF is that it splits rather easily, some brands are
> > worse
> >> than others. The Kreg jig works really well, but with MDF you need to
be
> >> really careful. Maybe even put a C-clamp on the portion that's going to
be
> >> taking a screw and keep it in place until the glue sets.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
Works quite well. A little glue on the joint then screw it together. The
resulting joint is stronger than the MDF. Use course thread screws.
"TB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This may be a stupid question but please bear with me. I am building
> what I would essentially call face frames. I have been using biscuits
> to join the pieces but the gluing and clamping time is taking too long
> so I thought that I would run down to Lee Valley and buy the Kreg Jig.
> Does it work well? Does it work well with MDF? What I am doing
> doesn't have to be overly structurally sound. It just has to stay
> together and look nice.