Cutting a Domino-sized mortise with no Domino

[Dane]

Hello all-

I have to build an assembly that needs to use knock down hardware- it's a bed.  I do not have a DF700, only a 500.  I think I need the size and strength of the larger connectors- even if the smaller ones were available right now.  So, I am wondering if I can use a router to create the appropriate mortise for the Domino Connectors.  Anyone done this?  Any advice on bits you have used?  Of course, I am hoping that there is just an off the shelf bit that will work.  Thanks!

 

[ChuckM]

If it is a one-time job and you don't mind testing it out on scrap first, it is doable. I have done dominoing  table members with a DF500 and then deepening the mortises with a drill bit/guide bushing so they could accept the long dominoes intended for the DF700.

 

[nvalinski]

Any reason a standard bed rail fasteners wouldn't work? Or is there something specific in the design that needs the domino connectors?

 

[Mario Turcot]

Just an idea for you, one of my future project is making a Murhpy bed. I was planning to joint the outer frame (hard wood) with DF 500 10mm through dominos for appearance. And have the inner frame (18mm ply) joinery using pocket hole. veneer the inner frame to hide pocket holes. The inner frame I am referring to is what hold the mattress. It can be made of hardwood too.

Mario

 

[RKA]

The benefit to the festool fasteners is it gives you more flexibiilty if you already have a domino.  Since you don't have a domino XL for this project, I'm not seeing a strong reason to use Festool's fasterners.  Here are a few options for knock down hardware for beds. 

http://www.leevalley.com/us/Hardware/page.aspx?cat=3,40842&p=43730

 

[Dane]

Thanks for the input, everyone.  Here is a picture of the bed that I am trying to emulate.  This one appears to be built with permanent, doweled joints.  But, I need to be able to move this around.  So, my issue is that connection between the top rail and that intersecting side rail on the ladder side.  I thought about using a cross dowel, but the width of that top rail is about 5-6 inches, and I am not that confident about drilling a straight hole all the way through.  So, i thought the domino connector would be ideal....I'm very open to other ideas.

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

I don't see dowels, I see screws affixing all those joints. Pretty easy and straightforward. Half lap joints for the top rail mating both ends at the head and ladder. Just find some fancy looking screw "heads" for the aesthetics and easy disassembly.

 

[Birdhunter]

I built a king size bed using the knock down Festool fasteners and the 700 Domino. I had to move the bed from my shop to my young friends’ house so the knock down feature was mandatory.

The fasteners paired with a solid tenon at each corner worked great and the joints are tight even after several months of use. Their 2 year old boy enjoys using the bed as a trampoline so the joints get a workout.

I was surprised how very precise I had to be in cutting the mortises and other holes. There just isn’t any room for slop either in location or depth. I think it would be extremely difficult to use the fasteners without the Domino 700.

Perhaps, this is a justification opportunity for buying the 700?

 

[Dane]

I don't see dowels, I see screws affixing all those joints. Pretty easy and straightforward. Half lap joints for the top rail mating both ends at the head and ladder. Just find some fancy looking screw "heads" for the aesthetics and easy disassembly.

Jeez- I didn't even notice that those were screw holes.  I never enlarged it enough to see- looked like plugged screws or dowels when I looked at it.  Thanks for looking harder than I did.

I guess I am still a bit hesitant to rely on removable screws for that half-lap.  They will only be biting in about 1/2 inch of material- seems like they could get wobbly over time.  I wonder if a T-nut would work better...

 

[Dane]

I was surprised how very precise I had to be in cutting the mortises and other holes. There just isn’t any room for slop either in location or depth. I think it would be extremely difficult to use the fasteners without the Domino 700.

Perhaps, this is a justification opportunity for buying the 700?

Thanks, that's the kind of feedback I was initially after.  It's good to know that the connectors are robust enough, but if the mortise has to be perfect, maybe it's not a great idea...

 

[Birdhunter]

Another learning from my bed project....

The instructions that came with the fasteners were excellent. But, you must totally understand them before cutting the mortises. I practiced on scrap of exactly the same dimensions as the bed frame wood. I found the marking the mortise location, depth, etc on the wood was very helpful.

I found my connectors on eBay. The Festool packaging of 32 far exceeded my needs. The eBay guy sold packages of 8 connectors.

I don’t know what experiences others have had with the connectors, but I really liked them.

I bought my Domino 700 based on a large outdoor bench project. I find I use it a lot more than I thought I would and I also have the 500. I don’t think you would regret buying one.

 

[Cheese]

I thought about using a cross dowel, but the width of that top rail is about 5-6 inches, and I am not that confident about drilling a straight hole all the way through. 

So, i thought the domino connector would be ideal....I'm very open to other ideas.

If you use a cross dowel with a 3/8-16 thread, you won't get much deflection if using a 3/8" diameter drill in a drill press. Make a trial piece, drill the hole and measure how close you are.

If you want to use the 14mm Domino connector, CMT manufactures several 14mm diameter router bits that have 8mm shanks.