The Usage of Particle Board in Constructing a Wooden Playhouse
You should not attempt to nail particle board when constructing a wooden playhouse. Usually this results in splits, even after a hole has been drilled for the nail. A nail must not be expected to cut its own way in. A hole must be drilled only slightly undersize and taken further than the nail will be expected to penetrate.
Because of the need to drill almost as large as the nail diameter, there is little grip in a nailed joint, even if splitting does not occur. If dowels are not used, it is better to rely on screws.
Common wood screws will grip particle board, but you must drill to clear the unscrewed neck and a root diameter hole for the screwed part (Fig. 17-7A).
Because of the need to drill almost as large as the nail diameter, there is little grip in a nailed joint, even if splitting does not occur. If dowels are not used, it is better to rely on screws.
Common wood screws will grip particle board, but you must drill to clear the unscrewed neck and a root diameter hole for the screwed part (Fig. 17-7A).
In wood, it is common to not drill right to the tip of the screw and leave it to cut its way into this last part, but in particle board the hole should be deeper than the screw will go (Fig. 17-7B).
Although the wood screw thread suits wood, it is not the ideal form for particle board. There are special screws for the material that look something like screws intended for sheet metal (Fig. 17-7C).
The thread goes to near the head, so there is no plain part that needs a clearance hole. Gauge thicknesses are the same as for wood screws. You should choose lengths slightly more than would be used for joining wood parts of similar sections.
If a countersunk screw head is used, the hole must be countersunk fully for it. It cannot be expected to pull in much, as it would with most woods. An exposed screw head is unattractive.
If it has to be left visible, there are metal and plastic screw caps that act like washers under the head (Fig. 17-7D) and may have covers to go over the screw head, so they look neater than bare heads. Oval or round heads look better than flat ones. I used a bunch of oval heads for building my kid’s pirate play ship and they don’t look distracting at all.
If a countersunk screw head is used, the hole must be countersunk fully for it. It cannot be expected to pull in much, as it would with most woods. An exposed screw head is unattractive.
If it has to be left visible, there are metal and plastic screw caps that act like washers under the head (Fig. 17-7D) and may have covers to go over the screw head, so they look neater than bare heads. Oval or round heads look better than flat ones. I used a bunch of oval heads for building my kid’s pirate play ship and they don’t look distracting at all.
Anyway, it is better to counterbore the screw heads by drilling partly through the particle board so the head is sunk, then a plastic plug with a shallow head may be glued in. The plugs are obtainable in colors to match surface veneers.
Another way of using screws without going through the surfaces is to have strips of wood inside with screws both ways (Fig. 17-8A). For playhouses, shelves and the undersides of parts that will not show, this is a good method of joining.
The strips are best made of hardwood and need not be of large section, providing they will take holes without splitting. Predrill them. Attach a strip to the piece that will butt against the other.
It will help in drawing together a tight joint if the strip is kept back marginally from the end (Fig. 17-8B), then the screws the other way will get the maximum pull.
Holes in the wood strip should allow the screws to slide through, but they should be drilled to suit the thread in the other part.
There can be strips behind a plinth along all the joints instead of dowels (Fig. 17-8C). Similar strips can be used at the back of a playhouse, where a piece of plywood or hardboard has to be supported (Fig. 17-8D).
Another way of using screws without going through the surfaces is to have strips of wood inside with screws both ways (Fig. 17-8A). For playhouses, shelves and the undersides of parts that will not show, this is a good method of joining.
The strips are best made of hardwood and need not be of large section, providing they will take holes without splitting. Predrill them. Attach a strip to the piece that will butt against the other.
It will help in drawing together a tight joint if the strip is kept back marginally from the end (Fig. 17-8B), then the screws the other way will get the maximum pull.
Holes in the wood strip should allow the screws to slide through, but they should be drilled to suit the thread in the other part.
There can be strips behind a plinth along all the joints instead of dowels (Fig. 17-8C). Similar strips can be used at the back of a playhouse, where a piece of plywood or hardboard has to be supported (Fig. 17-8D).
Although screws must be used into the particle board, there could be fine nails instead of screws through the back. In all of these joints there can be glue as well as screws, but the glue should suit the materials. If your playhouse’s panels have wood veneers, any of the usual wood glues are suitable, but otherwise follow the suggestions given earlier.