Connector Joints

[Birdhunter]

I’m making a large table using the 700 connector and a 14mm tenon at each joint. The “aprons” are 7” wide and 1 1/2” thick.

I know the connector mortises have to be 14mm, but I’m curious about the mortise for the 14mm tenon.

Should I elongate the mortise for the tenon to accommodate wood movement? The connector stays in place but the tenon would be able to slide inside the elongated mortise yet still serve its anti twisting role.

 

[thudchkr]

I’m making a large table using the 700 connector and a 14mm tenon at each joint. The “aprons” are 7” wide and 1 1/2” thick.

I know the connector mortises have to be 14mm, but I’m curious about the mortise for the 14mm tenon.

Should I elongate the mortise for the tenon to accommodate wood movement? The connector stays in place but the tenon would be able to slide inside the elongated mortise yet still serve its anti twisting role.

If the two pieces have the grain running in opposite directions, you should then elongate the mortise.  That is typically only going to be required if joining a long grain piece to a cross grain piece, where the two will expand/contract at different rates.

If you are, however, using the domino to join long grain to long grain, an elongate mortise is unnecessary.

I'm not sure where you are using the dominos per your description, so can't say with certainty which method you should use. Are these to be used to join the apron to the legs? Also would be helpful to know how many dominos you plan to use at each joint. 

 

[Birdhunter]

The connectors are to join the legs to the aprons. The legs are 3” by 3” and 29” high. The leg grain runs vertically. The aprons are 1 1/2” thick and 3 1/3” high. The apron grain runs horizontally. I place the wood 14mm dowel near the top of the apron and the connector near the bottom of the apron.

 

[Svar]

No need to elongate mortises. The apron is narrow. I would not bother allowing for expansion on anything narrower than 10"-12".
Also, I'd put connector as close to the middle as possible. Perhaps connector in the middle and smaller dominos or dowels on edges.

 

[Birdhunter]

OK and thanks for the advice. With only 3.5" to work with, there is only room for the two mortises.