Mounting to ABS

[Jdunk54nl]

Hey All,
I am building a new amp rack for the back wall in my truck. I am going to use 1/4" ABS so that I can form it better with heat to the mounting points. Normally I use t-nuts/hurricane nuts in wood to mount my stuff to the rack. I could use those in this case but I am never really satisfied with them.

I have thought about some rivnuts but from my research it doesn't seem like plastic will be strong enough for that.

I don't like the idea of just using screws, I want something better than that!

I have thought about using nuts/bolts but then I really have to remove the entire thing if I need to do anything minor on it. Would rather just be able to remove a single item if I need to.

What are your suggestions?

[DavidRam]

Hey All,
I am building a new amp rack for the back wall in my truck. I am going to use 1/4" ABS so that I can form it better with heat to the mounting points. Normally I use t-nuts/hurricane nuts in wood to mount my stuff to the rack. I could use those in this case but I am never really satisfied with them.

I have thought about some rivnuts but from my research it doesn't seem like plastic will be strong enough for that.

I don't like the idea of just using screws, I want something better than that!

I have thought about using nuts/bolts but then I really have to remove the entire thing if I need to do anything minor on it. Would rather just be able to remove a single item if I need to.

What are your suggestions?

You can use a large flange cross cut rivet nut like this: https://www.amazon.com/S25MG280-PRE-...l&sr=1-1-fkmr1

I have also used washers on regular rivnuts...

[dumdum]

I use split brass inserts, basically a slightly tapered, knurled outer, threaded tube, either with a flange or literally just a tube... you drill a slightly undersized hole, insert the threaded insert and then when you insert a bolt it opens it up slightly and ‘grabs’ the plastic

that’s an m3 in the pic but you get the idea I hope

called threaded brass expansion inserts on eBay, not sure if that’s the widely used name mind, I have them at work upto M5... I doubted how strong they’d be, but once I’d used one in the dash of my van that was only M3 I was very impressed ��

[Justin Zazzi]

If you find 1/4" thickness is not enough, you can make a slurry of abs shavings and acetone. That slurry can be used to weld pieces of ABS to itself. You could for example use some tee nuts and then make a captive plate/flange on the back side if you want to make super sure the tee nut doesn't fall out. Or one of the other good ideas above.

[DIY Audio Guy]

I just use screws and zip ties. But I would like to find a good rivnut solution.

[dumdum]

If you find 1/4" thickness is not enough, you can make a slurry of abs shavings and acetone. That slurry can be used to weld pieces of ABS to itself. You could for example use some tee nuts and then make a captive plate/flange on the back side if you want to make super sure the tee nut doesn't fall out. Or one of the other good ideas above.

I used the ‘acetone glue’ made exactly like that to fix partitions in my fishing seat box trays to make dividers, works a treat! Never moved despite a few seasons use! It’s effectively like welding for abs as it involves a filler and a method of melting the plastic (acetone) and so is as strong as hell vs any kind of glue I’ve ever stuck plastic with

from memory I think I just filled a jar with acetone and bought some abs ‘Spaghetti’ sticks and cut them into 1cm pieces and kept adding them until I had a consistency of a pva wood glue ����

[mumbles]

I don't like the idea of just using screws, I want something better than that!

Sounds like you are shooting for something good looking like button-head hex screws (Ex: https://www.amazon.com/Hex-Screw-But.../dp/B079C8FKNH)? I have seen very few "good looking" screws that are only 1/4" long which is what a 1/4" thick rack will limit you to unless you are planning to drill through the truck wall to use something longer. Are you wanting to mold the rack to the back wall for space reasons or looks?

[Theslaking]

I would abs weld the nuts with some washers and be done with it. Then you can use whatever decorative bolt you want.

[Jdunk54nl]

Wow all of these are some great ideas. I like the idea of using t-nuts and using some ABS slurry to weld it in place. Mainly because it doesn't require me to buy anything extra since I already have them and the bolts.

[lowcel]

Not sure if these would be an option or not. They are just a little longer than 1/4".

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1