Need Help With Angled Holes/Cuts in MDF...

[Baz]

Hi All,

Novice here (very novice!) - I need to make/have made some rectangular hole slots in 18mm MR-MDF. The two height sides of the hole need to be cut at an angle of either 30 or 35 degrees - this is so I can slot in Satellite Speakers for both the left & right sides so they face the listening position.

I have bought the MDF & thought I could get a local timber place to make the cuts for me but none were able to. As I have quite spare bit of MDF left, I thought I would at least try to see if I could do it myself - can anyone be kind enough to let me know how it can be done by hand & what tools I might need?

The Speaker dimensions are H154mm x W78mm x D85mm - what sort of margins should one allow so that the speakers can slot in snugly over these dimensions & then can be further secured to stay in position by means of something like silicone sealant at the edges if this is a good idea?

Is it possible to file MDF - I was thinking (purely as a novice) to cut the holes with a smaller width & file the MDF back till I can get close to the correct angles but this is just me purely guessing in the dark so I do not know if that is advisable!

If you suggest that I try & find someone to do it for me instead, will it be costly to have it done? What sort of money are we talking about?

I have enclosed some images to better describe what I need done so I hope they help!

Many Thanks!

 

[deema]

Cut the holes out square sided initially. Find a nice piece of something a little longer than the side you need to chamfer preferably about 35 ish mm thick. Plane or rip this to the desired angle. Clamp the template onto the edge of the board and use a sharp chisel to chamfer the edge you require, the template is used to Gide the chisel to achieve a uniform chanfer along the entire edge.
Alternatively make a chamfered base on a router and with a very thin straight bit cut the majority of the chamfer and finish off the edges with a chisel.

If you don't have the tools / expertise is probably about an hours work for someone who has.

 

[Knot Competent]

Welcome to the forum!

It would be useful for you to post your location. Someone local to you might offer some help.

 

[Baz]

Hi,

BTW, I am in Harrow, NW London!

 

[Baz]

@deema

Many thanks for the advice & I think I can see what you mean - what great mind! I do not have a clamp, router & planer but have some chisels lying about somewhere. I have access to a Makita Drill Set with a bunch of accessories & thought there might be a grinding/sanding tool option that I can get & use on it much like that which you see on the Dremel types of hobby tools but am not sure if they exist.

In view of the fact I would have to buy the clamp, router & planar etc - would I be better just off trying to find someone who can do it? How much would an hours work reasonably cost?

Many Thanks!

 

[Shultzy]

A simple way would be to buy / have machined a 30deg decorative moulding. Cut the hole square and glue and pin the mouldings to the hole.

 

[Baz]

A simple way would be to buy / have machined a 30deg decorative moulding. Cut the hole square and glue and pin the mouldings to the hole.

Hi,

Thanks for this option - may I ask, if a moulding like you say is glued to the hole in the middle, will the "join line" be visible after the panel has been painted? It is MR-MDF which will be primed & the painted in an Eggshell finish.

Many thanks!

 

[Shultzy]

Depends on how much time you spend sanding it flush and how many coats of paint. You should be able to create a finish with no visible join line.