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What is MDF ?

 
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jeffslife




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PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 4:55 pm    Post subject: What is MDF ? Reply with quote


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I was reading the post on how to mount a pj using unistrut and it says to use mdf. I have no idea what mdf is. Thanks in advance.

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AnalogRocks
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PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Medium Density Fiberboard. Commonly used for shelves and speaker cabinets
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jeffslife




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PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So am I understanding the directions correctly. Bolt up a large piece of MDF and then just mount everything to that ? How can that be right ? Maybe I will just turn it all the other direction. Sucks to have to do that but I just don't trust that MDF thing.
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Jeremy112




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PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MDF is a higher strength board than particle board, which is commonly used on cheap desks and furniture purchased at big box stores. MDF is stronger, and can hold more weight, but it is very heavy, and it like particle board is somewhat flexible in the 4x8 sheets it usually comes in.

I would use a solid piece of wood from a hardware store to mount anything… I wouldn't trust MDF or particle board to hold anything heavy. Unistrut is what I used when helping a friend setup his NEC 9PG Xtra, it works great for CRT PJ mounting if you don't have an actual CRT mount.

If this is a digital projector, and not the Sony Qualia, I don't think you'd have any issues with MDF. But I do not recommend using it for a CRT.

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jeffslife




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PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 10:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I want to hang a g70.
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ecrabb
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PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 10:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MDF is not structural, so I have no idea why anybody would recommend it to hang anything from. Where is this unistrut post that mentions MDF?

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paw




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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 3:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wouldn't want to be under that PJ for a SECOND! Don't use MDF.
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jeffslife




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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 5:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

here....http://www.curtpalme.com/MountingMethods.shtm
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jeffslife




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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 5:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

here....http://www.curtpalme.com/MountingMethods.shtm
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jeffslife




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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 3:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would like to set the room up with the pj perpendicular to the joists. Seems to be very difficult to go that route.
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garyfritz




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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 3:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nah, that's easy. Just span the joists with the unistrut, and hang from the unistrut. The only challenge is making sure you hit the joists with your lag bolts, but a stud finder makes that easy enough.

Those mounting instructions say you should bolt through the MDF **into the joist**, and only mount into the MDF if you can't hit the joist. I would disagree with that point, as has everyone above. You want to sink a lag bolt into the joist, where it can support plenty of weight. MDF won't safely support much weight.
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jeffslife




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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If the MDF wont safely support weight then whats the point ?
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ecrabb
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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jeffslife wrote:
If the MDF wont safely support weight then whats the point ?

To cover the ceiling, probably. I'm not sure who wrote that guide, but there are several things I'd take issue with, not just the part about bolting into MDF. For instance, he referred to "junk hardware at True Value or Ace hardware" because he "snapped two out of three from each of them" when he was "testing them out". No, the reason the heads snapped off is because you drilled the holes too small, then twisted the bolt until it snapped. Period. If you drill correctly-sized holes for the lag screw, you won't snap the head, and you won't even need soap or lubrication. It's the screws threads that engage the wood.

Personally, I've never been a fan of drilling and lagging into the edge of the joist. If the framing is open, there's a better way. Take a couple of lengths of angle (or square tube) steel and drill and bolt through the joist. No lags necessary. Then, use all-thread and hang the unistrut from that.

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ecrabb
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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 8:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here are the old pics of my G70, mounted perpendicular to the joists. I had the factory mounting plate on the G70, but it would work just as well with steel and/or unistrut.

Cheers,
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garyfritz




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PostLink    Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 1:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ecrabb wrote:
No, the reason the heads snapped off is because you drilled the holes too small, then twisted the bolt until it snapped. Period.

+1

And don't forget to soap the threads. Makes a HUGE difference.

Quote:
Personally, I've never been a fan of drilling and lagging into the edge of the joist. If the framing is open, there's a better way. Take a couple of lengths of angle (or square tube) steel and drill and bolt through the joist. No lags necessary. Then, use all-thread and hang the unistrut from that.

Nothing wrong with lagging into the joists, though. I put 4 bolts into each length of unistrut and I bet each strut would support at least 1000 lbs. (In fact a smart guy here Very Happy said a 3"x5/16" lag bolt would hold 368lbs, so each strut would hold 1500lbs.)

Now whether the joists would support a 3000lbs on 2 struts is another question entirely, but the lags are plenty strong for a CRT.
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jeffslife




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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just bumping this so I can access it easier. Sorry.
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ecrabb
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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jeffslife wrote:
Just bumping this so I can access it easier. Sorry.

You know what a bookmark is right Jeff?

Laughing

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paw




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PostLink    Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ecrabb wrote:
jeffslife wrote:
Just bumping this so I can access it easier. Sorry.

You know what a bookmark is right Jeff?

Laughing

SC


+1

Or copy the URL and save it.

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CasetheCorvetteman




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PostLink    Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 4:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Make sure you wear a mask if you cut MDF, don't breath in the dust.
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