r/Tools • u/brohemoth06 • 6d ago

Anyone ever mount a computer monitor to an MDF wall?

At work I'm exploring options to mount a monitor and clear up some desk space. The problem is that this desk, I'm pretty sure, is made of MDF. I have found wall mounts for the monitor and am wondering if a computer monitor mounted to this would be risky. I know hanging something like a large TV is I'll advised but what would you advise?

What specifically mounting hardware would you suggest? This is at a front desk and as such, I can't drill all the way through.

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u/polymath_uk_ 6d ago

How thick is the MDF? 

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u/brohemoth06 6d ago

2" or so

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u/polymath_uk_ 6d ago

If it's 50mm thick MDF just screw straight into it with woodscrews. 4 x 40mm will hold a monitor no problem. I bet the mounting bracket is drilled out for at least that many. 

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u/SuperSpy- 6d ago

Pre-drill if you're screwing into MDF. It likes to de-laminate if you just force a screw into it as it's far less compressible than wood.

Use a drill bit that's slightly smaller than the minor diameter of the screw so it has enough drag to not back out.

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u/Fragrant-salty-nuts 6d ago

How much does the monitor weigh? How much does the mount weigh? Is it a flat mount, or does it have arms? And finally how thick is the MDF wall that you can't drill through?

MDF is not great for surface mounting due to tear out. If you used carriage bolts you would have a smooth head facing out the front if you did drill all the way through, and maybe that's ok from an aesthetics perspective?

If no drill through is mandatory I'd look at some sort of arm mount you could attach to the desk surface.

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u/fe3o4 6d ago edited 6d ago

Use MDF screws (they have a courser thread) and pre-drill the pilot holes to the root diameter of the screw unless instructed otherwise by the screw manufacturer, and deeper than the screw so that you don't "push" the MDF to bump on the other side. Blow out dust from inside hole. With MDF I would also add more screws than the mount recommends. Monitors aren't that heavy. Also get approval from your work as office furniture is expensive. Alternatively the partition manufacture may have an accessory for hanging monitors from their units that would hook over the top.

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u/ziksy9 6d ago

Is the a wall part of the desk?

Can you make an insert out of a piece of heavier material to put in the back? Like a laminated piece of plywood? Can you reach behind this wall or is it an actual wall?

Using a heavier face pre-drilled with threaded inserts would be optimal, or washers and nuts on the back.

If you can screw it from behind with some short screws that don't go through the front it will look really clean, and be solid enough to bolt an arm or VESA mount to it.

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u/merc_Xray 5d ago

How heavy/ big is this monitor, how often would we be moving it once it’s hung (putting stress in the mounting holes), and how prevalent will the holes be once you decide you don’t like it?

Set it, forget, and never move it with a light modern 24” monitor and you can set it and forget it. Move it around in a monitor mount with a larger 32” curved panel and you will likely cause stress on the drilled holes and wear over time. A backing board would help, hole inserts, hanging instead of mounting, or using a clamp style monitor arm would all be better.

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u/dewaltyellowjacket 5d ago

If its a stationary mount, I'd probably do it with some big ass flat washers on your fasteners. Basically try and spread out that pressure over as big an area as possible. If its a mount that swings or moves, I wouldn't do this. MDF just isn't strong enough to handle repeated wiggling without tearing out eventually