Buttons for dresser top

[bevans]

I have made cabinets and tables in the past and made buttons to secure the top typically 5x30mm but the dresser I just made is likely to be lifted and moved by the top. I used 3/4” oak and will make buttons with the same dimensional wood. I’d like to use 8x40mm dominos and am wondering if I can get by with the settings 15mm into the frame and 25mm into the buttons. It appears as though they would work without punching through the same and not sure if I even need glue as it is such a tight fit. Logic tells me to use the 12mmx25 but am wondering what the experts use.

 

[JonathanJung]

I've always felt that the screw bite is more important than the thickness of the button. It would be very hard to snap a short piece of 8mm or even 6mm domino.

 

[CeeJay]

In my experience the key is 2 things.

Firstly that the button lip is a nice tight fit into the rail, so it can’t rotate when you tighten the screw.

Secondly that the button surface is ever so slightly below the top of the rail, maybe 0.5mm, so the top is pulled down tight.

The embedment in the top depends on the top thickness. I would aim for 50-70% embedment in the top.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ChuckM]

I agree with JJ that screw bite is an important factor.

Check out FW Dec. 2016 for the use of ledger strips which are stronger than buttons.

 

[Birdhunter]

Rockler sells a table top fastener that I use often. I call it a Z clamp. Very strong yet able to accommodate wood movement. I create the required recess using a Domino with the 4mm bit.

 

[bevans]

Your responses make perfect sense, thanks. I understand now that it's not the domino that supports the top of dresser when lifted but the screws.....mostly. I am embarrassed that I didn't realize that. The Z clamp sounds interesting I will pursue that option also.

 

[Birdhunter]

Table Top Fastener Rockler item #34215

The trick is to make the mortise so that the clamp exerts connecting force when the screw is tightened. I use the Domino with a 4mm bit. Also, be careful to not drill through the top when predrilling the hole for the screw.

 

[ChuckM]

There're many metal fastener options if wood is not the desired choice:
https://www.fastcap.com/product/izzy-skirt-washer
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...rs/50311-figure-eight-connectors?item=13K0150
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...s/40146-tabletop-mounting-clamps?item=13K0101

 

[waho6o9]

I like using Dominos with some GRKs
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