Corner joints in 12mm plywood -- doable with 4x20 dominos?

[thender]

I've searched on this, and the threads I've found seem to be inconsistent...  hence this post.

I'm planning several small shelf units out of 12mm ply.  Butt joints at the corners and the shelf-to-side joints.

I don't own a domino, but am considering the purchase if I can use the 4x20 dominos for this project.

I'm comfortable with the 4mm domino thickness in 12mm ply.

But I'm confused by the depth adjustment.  Am I correct that when using the 4mm cutter, the mortise depth is 10mm less than what is indicated on the depth adjustment?  So the 20mm setting makes a 10mm deep mortise when using the 4mm cutter?

Is a 10mm mortise depth acceptable for 12mm ply?  Or do I need to offset the tenon?

Just wondering if the domino is a good choice for 12mm ply butt joints.

Thanks in advance for your help!   

 

[grobkuschelig]

But I'm confused by the depth adjustment.  Am I correct that when using the 4mm cutter, the mortise depth is 10mm less than what is indicated on the depth adjustment?  So the 20mm setting makes a 10mm deep mortise when using the 4mm cutter?

...

Just wondering if the domino is a good choice for 12mm ply butt joint..

Hi Tom,

Your statement on the depth of the 4mm wide cutter is true.
The cutter is shorter than the other, thus leading to a 10mm deep hole on the 20mm setting.

Works flawlessly on 12mm ply.

Regards,
Uli

 

[Birdhunter]

As an engineer, I think the design will have major racking issues.

 

[thender]

But I'm confused by the depth adjustment.  Am I correct that when using the 4mm cutter, the mortise depth is 10mm less than what is indicated on the depth adjustment?  So the 20mm setting makes a 10mm deep mortise when using the 4mm cutter?

...

Just wondering if the domino is a good choice for 12mm ply butt joint..

Hi Tom,

Your statement on the depth of the 4mm wide cutter is true.
The cutter is shorter than the other, thus leading to a 10mm deep hole on the 20mm setting.

Works flawlessly on 12mm ply.

Regards,
Uli

Thanks Uli. 

Any thoughts about how the 4x20 tenons will work in 12mm ply corner joints?

-Tom in SoCal

 

[Michael Kellough]

“ I'm planning several small shelf units out of 12mm ply.  Butt joints at the corners and the shelf-to-side joints.”

Not enough information.

 

[grobkuschelig]

Any thoughts about how the 4x20 tenons will work in 12mm ply corner joints?

Those were my thoughts.
They work perfectly well. Most of my kitchen drawers are 12mm Baltic birch ply with 4mm dominos.

Also my desk and a lot of Workshop drawers.

I even have some made from 9mm ply, where the dominos show on the outside.

I usually use two Dominos per joint. All butt-joints. Glued.
No nails, no screws.
Clamps while glue is drying (30-60mins).

Go for it.

 

[jeffinsgf]

...

I even have some made from 9mm ply, where the dominos show on the outside.

...

Go for it.

Glad you mentioned this...I'm doing some 9mm drawers right now. How did you space your 4mm Dominos in the 9mm thickness?

 

[thender]

Those were my thoughts.
They work perfectly well. Most of my kitchen drawers are 12mm Baltic birch ply with 4mm dominos.

Also my desk and a lot of Workshop drawers.

I even have some made from 9mm ply, where the dominos show on the outside.

I usually use two Dominos per joint. All butt-joints. Glued.
No nails, no screws.
Clamps while glue is drying (30-60mins).

Go for it.

Thanks grobkuschelig.

Did you center the tenons?  I'm just wondering if a 10mm mortise into the face of 12mm stock will be OK, or if I need to offset the tenons into the edge a few mm.

 

[grobkuschelig]

Glad you mentioned this...I'm doing some 9mm drawers right now. How did you space your 4mm Dominos in the 9mm thickness?

If you use the adjustable fence, I think the minimal position gives you a distance of 6mm from domino-center to fence.

So if you want to center in 9mm material, you can use any „shim“ thicker than 1.5mm.
I usually have 2mm and 5mm thick MDF around and adjust the fence accordingly.

I always try to center the dominos.

 

[grobkuschelig]

Thanks grobkuschelig.

Did you center the tenons?  I'm just wondering if a 10mm mortise into the face of 12mm stock will be OK, or if I need to offset the tenons into the edge a few mm.

You are welcome.

I think I don’t really understand.
Do you want to do butt-joints?
Then I would just center the dominos in the material.
Meaning you would end up with a 4mm Domino and 4mm material on either side.
I would suggest to keep the center of the Domino to at least 15mm from the edge.
But as mentioned above, I usually used 2 Dominos per joint, inset to the standard Domino-Stops or the edge of the Domino, depending on drawer height...

Do you want to do miter-joints?
Then you should do some tests to make sure you do not domino through the face of the material.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Thanks grobkuschelig.

Did you center the tenons?  I'm just wondering if a 10mm mortise into the face of 12mm stock will be OK, or if I need to offset the tenons into the edge a few mm.

Tom, if you're worrying about the tenon being too close to the outside of the stock...don't be. 2mm is plenty of material behind the end of the Domino.

 

[thender]

Thanks grobkuschelig.

Did you center the tenons?  I'm just wondering if a 10mm mortise into the face of 12mm stock will be OK, or if I need to offset the tenons into the edge a few mm.

Tom, if you're worrying about the tenon being too close to the outside of the stock...don't be. 2mm is plenty of material behind the end of the Domino.

To Jeffinsgf -- thank you;  that was exactly my concern. 

To All -- thank you for taking the time to post.  FOG is an awesome resource.

I took the plunge (forgive the pun) and brought a Domino 500 home yesterday.  I'm looking forward to putting it to use this weekend.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Tom,

You'll love it...mine's about 10 months old and I've used it on almost every project I've done since I bought it.

Concerning drawer construction specifically, consider doing an exposed tenon joint. Your plan for 4mm Dominos done blind will work, but I just did several drawers where I clamped the stock in place and cut a 5mm mortise through the side and into the drawer front in one cut. Then it's just a matter of pushing the tenon stock through. From the side with the drawer open it has an interesting look that wouldn't be there on a blind joint (the "clean" look may be just what you want...in which case, ignore me).

I did some exposed 4mm joints in 9mm plywood, too. But, they're harder to do. You have to cut each piece separately, since you can only cut 10mm deep with the 4mm cutter.

 

[jcrowe1950]

Thanks grobkuschelig.

Did you center the tenons?  I'm just wondering if a 10mm mortise into the face of 12mm stock will be OK, or if I need to offset the tenons into the edge a few mm.

Tom, if you're worrying about the tenon being too close to the outside of the stock...don't be. 2mm is plenty of material behind the end of the Domino.

Hi Jeff, Tom, et al,

    What Jeff said is true about 2mm being enough. As a practical method of work in such a situation, during glueup, you might want to glue up the "end grain" domino holes first and insure they are fully seated before adding the "side" elements of the box. This is more precautionary method of work but if you get one domino a bit cock-eyed it can cause a blowout of the 2mm veneer surface. Don't ask me how I know..... [scared]

 

[thender]

Thanks grobkuschelig.

Did you center the tenons?  I'm just wondering if a 10mm mortise into the face of 12mm stock will be OK, or if I need to offset the tenons into the edge a few mm.

Tom, if you're worrying about the tenon being too close to the outside of the stock...don't be. 2mm is plenty of material behind the end of the Domino.

Hi Jeff, Tom, et al,

    What Jeff said is true about 2mm being enough. As a practical method of work in such a situation, during glueup, you might want to glue up the "end grain" domino holes first and insure they are fully seated before adding the "side" elements of the box. This is more precautionary method of work but if you get one domino a bit cock-eyed it can cause a blowout of the 2mm veneer surface. Don't ask me how I know..... [scared]

Great suggestion -- thanks for sharing!  FOG is an amazing resource....

 

[thender]

Concerning drawer construction specifically, consider doing an exposed tenon joint.

I saw some pix of that on another thread (your work perhaps?) and I loved the look;  that will be an option next time...

 

[jeffinsgf]

No...my inspiration. I just installed some in an assembly table I'm building. 9mm ply with 5mm through Dominoes. I'll try and get some pictures tonight.

I did a couple of the drawers with 4mm through Dominoes, but they're more work...you have to cut the mortises in each piece separately. With 5mm, I clamped the joint together in assembled position and made one cut straight through.