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Anyone help,

Im trying to make simple square frames from MDF, the MDF frame is 24 x 20 inches and the MDF is 1 inch thick, square.

Im doing a butt joint and not mitring the corners.

I pre-drill the holes, but when I put the screws in it splits right down the middle...

am I doing it wrong? are there any types of screws or drills I should use? I just bobbed to B&Q today and purchased a Makita drill and a 4mm drill bit.

any help would be appreciated!!

MDF is murder to drill into through the side, I made something out of mdf last year and I had to glue and pin a strip of real timber to the edges and screw into it through the timber because it would just split, maybe you should try that, quarter inch timber.:)

unfortunately a common problem when drilling into the edge of MDF.

try a larger pilot hole and tightly clamp a couple of scrap pieces of MDF top and bottom of the piece that you are screwing into - this may help prevent it splitting.

darrenwooly wrote:Anyone help,

Im trying to make simple square frames from MDF, the MDF frame is 24 x 20 inches and the MDF is 1 inch thick, square.

Im doing a butt joint and not mitring the corners.

I pre-drill the holes, but when I put the screws in it splits right down the middle...

am I doing it wrong? are there any types of screws or drills I should use? I just bobbed to B&Q today and purchased a Makita drill and a 4mm drill bit.

any help would be appreciated!!

clamp tight the side of the screw holes b4 screwing

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