Can I Use Dominos for fence construction?

[Kevin D.]

Would it be suitable to use Dominos for fence construction?  I'd like to use Dominos to fasten the horizontal boards to the posts, and also the fasten on center on width the vertical boards to the top and bottom horizontal boards.  Would give a nice clean look imo with no nails or bracket hardware, and with minimal spacing between the verticals, would give a lot of privacy, and not have one ugly side and the other pretty.  Both sides would be the same/symetrical that way.  I don't like the staggered board fence look where you create a semi privacy, where you can't see thru looking straight on, but is viewable in ones yard at an angle.

Or am I missing something in the suitability of using Dominos for this purpose, maybe not so much for fastening the verticals, but I'm unsure about the horizontals being the right method fastening them to the posts?  I would be using 6X6 posts, 2X4 horizontals, and 1X6 for the verticals.  Any thoughts appreciated.

I realize that SIPO Dominos would be needed here, and hopefully the XL will be out by the time I'm ready for this work, along with a slew of other outdoor projects that I need to do this summer.

 

[Kevin Stricker]

Sure it's possible, I have built  deck handrails with a similar design although I morticed the rails into the posts for added strength.  A couple thing to consider are that it is going to at least double or more the time to build ( more likely 4-6 times as long).  You will find that gluing the verticals into the rails is challenging, especially if you glue up whole sections at a time.  You will want to use 8/4(2x) stock for the rails for several reasons including stability and durability.  Most cedar is not kiln dried so your fence slats will shrink exposing a gap, so make sure you buy the stock well in advance and air dry in a suitable location.  

The distressing part is the fact that it is very difficult to get high quality cedar for such a project in most of the country.  The best projects I have done were from recycling old growth cedar, but milling on a large scale takes tons of time.  

 

[waho6o9]

That would be a clean looking fence.  I would suggest using 2 x 6's for the horizontals. I think it looks better with the 6 x 6 posts.
Pictures upon completion would be nice. Have fun.  [smile]

 

[fritter63]

I think that one of the most important (and difficult) lessons to learn in home construction is that sometimes things are built a certain way for maintenance concerns rather than longevity. You have to be careful not to fall into what I call the "Tim Allen Syndrome" (ref: "Home Improvement" sitcom - i.e., "I can make that better").

For instance, baseboard trim is nailed with finish nails. Should it look better if they were glued, but in the future you may need to remove the baseboard, and the nails work better for that.

Same with the fence. Think about the repercussion of building it like a piece of furniture, i.e., non-dismantleable, and if you would even need to do that. What if you need to replace a slat? What if a car runs through your fence? How would you fix it?

 

[fisheye]

Building fence is plenty hard already. Screws and/or nailguns are the way to go.

 

[extiger]

I don't have a Domino machine, but I use them often by ploughing the Mortise with a router. Actually, with a device called a WoodRat. When I started using floating tenons I read up on woodworking joints and learned that there is a limit to the tenon size imposed by wood movement. They didn't recommend any tenon longer than 2 1/2 inches (about 60+ mm).

 

[RC]

How about cutting the horizontal boards like this to enhance privacy in one layer?

[attachthumb=#]

Fence board sideprofile