Biscuit vs Pocket Screw vs Domino...
- Thread starter Steve R
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sancho57
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To The OP:
How does one know which one to use? Simple which ever one will give you what you want with min effort. Its all about ROE.
For example Kitchen Cabs, I use 2 dominos per joint and 2 screws. Wham Bam Im done on to the next. Why?
In this case Less effort/ less time, no glue don't need it so no clamping time, dominos give the strength, screws act as clamps. The screws I use have nibs under the head to countersink themselves.
In this case a biscuit would need to be glued and clamped or pocket holed. Biscuits wouldn't add any thing to the joint and pocket holes would do it all.
many many scenarios and its all personal preference and to which ones to use either alone to in combo
How does one know which one to use? Simple which ever one will give you what you want with min effort. Its all about ROE.
For example Kitchen Cabs, I use 2 dominos per joint and 2 screws. Wham Bam Im done on to the next. Why?
In this case Less effort/ less time, no glue don't need it so no clamping time, dominos give the strength, screws act as clamps. The screws I use have nibs under the head to countersink themselves.
In this case a biscuit would need to be glued and clamped or pocket holed. Biscuits wouldn't add any thing to the joint and pocket holes would do it all.
many many scenarios and its all personal preference and to which ones to use either alone to in combo
I would say that, besides ease of construction and assembly, as a hobbyist, I always do what gives me the most satisfaction. Obviously this doesn't apply to people who do this for a living. For them, it is all about getting good results in the most efficient way possible. What gives me satisfaction is getting the highest quality result, regardless of time. I've done M & T joints by hand and with various accessories, as well as cutting tenons on the tablesaw. Using the Domino on my last furniture project gave me the most satisfaction with a final result of any other tool I've ever used. The final piece went together perfect and with very little problem. Plus, I would have to say the joints all fit better than if I would have used any other method I've ever used (including biscuits and pocket holes). It's strong also, certainly as strong as any other joints I've used in other projects. So, as a hobbyist, it's not necessarily about what is the easiest and fastest. For me, it's really mostly about ther results, the way the project looks, and my satisfaction with how I did it. That's me, though . . .
Holmz
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jobsworth said:
Maybe...
The Tenso is just as easy and probably quicker.
I would say it is better tool for the job if you have it.
However the Tenso would not be suitable for a gate.
There are optimal tools and techniques for each job. And there are other methods that also can work 'non-optimally'.
Whether they are worth it depends all the usual , how many you do etc...
GhostFist
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No tenso would not be suitable for a gate and the zeta is a pricey machine for hobby work, but so is a domino. I merely bring up the clamex as comparison to domino + pocket screw as knock down fittings. clamex is cleaner and stronger. Tenso is fast and aids in clampless glued joints, which is beyond the capabilities of the domino. Mind you there are things a domino can do quickly that other machines can't, for cabinet construction I prefer my zeta
I do not have a Domino but they are interesting. I use my biscuit jointer for gluing up large panels. I find it helps a lot keeping the boards reasonably flat during glue up. I know I could use a Domino for that but I wouldn't get it for that. I've tried the biscuits for structural things, like joining an apron to a table leg, and they aren't strong enough.
Pocket screws are tough to keep from moving when you tighten the screw but otherwise are great. Substantial strength increase. I've used them for the leg to apron joint too and they worked fine. I don't use them on nicer pieces unless they are in a spot where they won't show.
Dominos make lose mortise and tenon joints. I have a hollow chisel mortiser and shoulder plane and often use mortise and tenon joints. I think they are the best for things like doors. A domino allows making this great joint quicker and easier than my mortiser, table saw, and shoulder plane.
I only do half blind dovetails with a jig but I like to use them even on shop drawers and even in the back. I made a little drawer with them today. Only 1 3/4 wide but I cut all the dovetails in about 5 minutes.
Pocket screws are tough to keep from moving when you tighten the screw but otherwise are great. Substantial strength increase. I've used them for the leg to apron joint too and they worked fine. I don't use them on nicer pieces unless they are in a spot where they won't show.
Dominos make lose mortise and tenon joints. I have a hollow chisel mortiser and shoulder plane and often use mortise and tenon joints. I think they are the best for things like doors. A domino allows making this great joint quicker and easier than my mortiser, table saw, and shoulder plane.
I only do half blind dovetails with a jig but I like to use them even on shop drawers and even in the back. I made a little drawer with them today. Only 1 3/4 wide but I cut all the dovetails in about 5 minutes.
idratherplaytennis
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A side note for hobbyists or non-high end, pocket holes can work GREAT when you are working with built-in cabinets. Just this week, restoring 30-40 or 50 year old cabinets, adding a spot for a dishwasher in one of our rentals and altering the cabinets, I was able to put in a new stile to make the face frame look right, and able to throw in a couple pocket holes in the top rail that I couldn't take off (staining the cabinets so we needed to do as little obtrusive stuff as possible) and one in the rail supporting the drawers. Pocket holes in the new side panel which attach to the face frame, dadoed the slots for the mid and bottom shelves, removed the quarter to half inch of warpage on the mid shelf, and got a very sexy tight fit (Eep, can I say that here? It would be good to go on public television I think...). I couldn't get the pocket hole kreg to fit on the bottom rail so I just countersunk a couple holes, drove in some 3" construction screws with glue and used some hole plug cutters on the matching wood for the new stile and except for a VERY small difference in coloring from the new and 40 year old wood, the patch is going to barely be noticeable with the gel stain. Much faster to put together where clamps would have been very problematic. Again- this is a rental but they work in this situation. Also had a long spanning overhead cabinet where the center stile was separating from the bottom rail (they used standard glue and dowels to assemble the face frame) and I was able to clean the joint, re-glue it, prop a wedge under it over the counter, and again, a couple of pocket holes to the back to help add the screws for the downward forces. That and the new glue should help it last a long enough time until the cabinets are ready to be replaced. Again- it's a spot you won't ever see, and its quick and efficient when you can't exactly put in a new dowel or clamp the joint.
That said- I can't WAIT to get a Domino for some new cabinet and other project work... that will be fun [big grin]. I think the biscuit while a good idea just falls short with the advent of the Domino. It's just been around longer.
That said- I can't WAIT to get a Domino for some new cabinet and other project work... that will be fun [big grin]. I think the biscuit while a good idea just falls short with the advent of the Domino. It's just been around longer.