Carcass fixing

[anobium]

Can anybody please help. I am about to build a built in wardrobe using mdf for the carcass, and I am thinking of using metal cam bolts and dowels to fix the frame together.
Has any body out there any experience of using these and if so what are the advantages /disadvantages of using them.
These cam bolts I am thinking of are the type that are usually supplied for fixing flat pack kitchen base units together.

 

[petewood]

Don't do it. They are very good fittings if the drilling has been done on a cnc machine but a pain if you have to jig up for a one-off. They are not designed for this kind of work.

Maybe a better way would be to use biscuits, glue and screws. If the screws will be seen they can be plugged or filled.

 

[anobium]

Thanks for your response petewood, not quite what I was expecting but I will take your comments onboard. It would appear on the surface that my proposed method of fixing is not generally used as I have so far not been able to find a supplier of the cams and dowels. This would therefore also add weight to your thoughts on the matter.

 

[Mark!!!]

http://www.trendmachinery.co.uk/phjig/

This is what you need. I've been using a pocket hole jig to build wardrobes for the last 3 years.
can't beat it.

You can also get one by an american company called kreg who came up with the idea.

 

[petewood]

pocket holes work ok and you can use them well with biscuits, but it's not very easy to hide the screws (or so I have found). I used to use these for fixing legs to rails under coffee tables etc where it can't be seen.

 

[gord55]

I've never used a pocket hole jig, but I fear that MDF will delaminate as the screw goes in... also a bit dodgy on chipboard? Mark!!! have you used one on these materials successfully?

 

[chappers]

just pilot glue and screw and you will be fine alternatively use screwfix turbo gold screws they screw fine into the edge of MDF without piloting

 

[anobium]

Many thanks to everybody for your helpful comments.I have decided to go along with the old tried and tested method of wooden dowels using a very simple jig obtained from a major diy warehouse. It costs less than £25