DIY "Domino" (loose tenon) making

[TealaG]

HI!  I would really like to make my own "domino" tenons.  I don't think I can afford a Festool Domino so I'm going to use Stumpy Nubs' machine with my Bosch colt and some spiral up cut bits. 

I normally join only 3/4" or 1/2" wood.  Based on my reading, I'm planning on making loose tenons 1/4" for 3/4" wood and 5/32" for 1/2" wood.  I would have used 5mm and 4mm respectively, but I can't find the 4mm bit here and I fear that finding the wood at the right thickness for the tenons will also be difficult.

I found 5/32" Finnish Birch plywood at a store that specializes in scroll saw work and I can find 1/4" Finnish or Baltic birch or 1/4" poplar very easily.  Is there a reason why Finnish birch would be a bad choice for making loose tenons?  I don't have a planer and can only do basic work on a table saw so I really wanted to buy the correct thickness.

Do you have any thoughts or ideas on this???  I don't want to mess it up too badly.    I'm a beginner, but I am capable of cutting the mortises with a jig, even if the Stumpy Nubs machine didn't work out.  Just need the loose tenons and I'm sure I can route the curves on the side...just need the wood. 

 

[flair woodworks]

I would not recommend using plywood.  Even with a table saw, you should be able to mill suitably sized hardwood for floating tenons.  Do you have/use hand planes?  They can be used to accurately thickness stock quite easily, albeit more slowly.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Chris nailed it.

If you totally don't do hand tools, buy your wood at a lumberyard that does milling (call first) and they will mill your boards to any thickness you want.  You will still probably have to tweak the tenons, but you can do that with a file and/or sandpaper. 

But do learn how to use a handplane - it will set your free.

 

[TealaG]

Thanks guys...i was trying to avoid the lumber yard because they are far but it can be done.  May I ask what type of wood you'd recommend for this???  I messed up on another project and used expensive wood when I would have had better results with cheap stuff.  I don't want to use the wrong stuff and over pay. 

I do have a sharp hand plane and am almost finished with my workbench with dog holes so that I can plane flat.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]Have a look at reply no 1 in this thread, and scroll down to where He makes his own dominos.http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/loose-tenon-breadboard-ends-demonstration/

[size=8pt][member=59699]TealaG[/member]

 

[flair woodworks]

Any fine-grained hard wood would be suitable.  Maple, birch, beech...

 

[AndyUK]

Beech would be preferable I imagine.

 

[#Tee]

the grooves on the dominoes arent just there to look sporty lol