Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 3:04 pm
Because of the layout of the frame, you may actually _have to_ mount to the metal, or at least below it. I had some wood spacers to match the height of the frame and drop the whole tray slide down to that level. Then you've also got a lot more thickness for screws.
In that case the strength of the attachment between the desk and the wood blocks could be your weak point. Pre-drilling the particle board carefully will help. That is actually extremely important for fastening into particleboard or MDF. (Ply will hold a screw much better, but in general pre-drillling is always much stronger)
Also there are melamine glues - the one I know is called Roo Glue. Probably somewhat difficult to find and expensive I think- maybe you know a cabinet maker who could lend you the bottle for a few dabs of glue.
The problem with attaching to the metal is that it's not necessarily going to be stronger with a screw... The tubes are thin-walled.
If your aesthetics allow, consider bolting _through_ the desk top with flathead machine screws countersunk into the top. washers and nuts below...
In that case the strength of the attachment between the desk and the wood blocks could be your weak point. Pre-drilling the particle board carefully will help. That is actually extremely important for fastening into particleboard or MDF. (Ply will hold a screw much better, but in general pre-drillling is always much stronger)
Also there are melamine glues - the one I know is called Roo Glue. Probably somewhat difficult to find and expensive I think- maybe you know a cabinet maker who could lend you the bottle for a few dabs of glue.
The problem with attaching to the metal is that it's not necessarily going to be stronger with a screw... The tubes are thin-walled.
If your aesthetics allow, consider bolting _through_ the desk top with flathead machine screws countersunk into the top. washers and nuts below...
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