Domino and pin nailing?

[Mark]

Would this be considered "cheating"? I'm clamp challenged and am trying to wean myself from using pocket screws much as I love them for their speed and strength. I know the purists would probably shun any use of a fastener with a domino but my view is that if its not going to be seen its OK.

 

[Dane]

Once I learned that Sam Maloof used wood screws with regularity and called them "steel pegs", all bets were off.  I like to think of the occasional pin as a "permanent micro-clamp", makes me feel better.  I my opinion, if you can't see it and it has no detrimental effect on the joint, use it.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I don't see anything wrong with it as long as it works. Just make sure you pull the joint together tightly with a clamp before pinning. I am assuming you are using yellow glue, and that will set up on the joint very rapidly with the clamp pressure. However, if you are the type to follow Norm Abram's advice that you only need a little bit of clamping pressure, then you could end up with joint problems, as the glue wouldn't tack quite as quickly with less pressure. You also have to make sure to handle the workpiece carefully, because if the tacked glue loosens up, the joint will be weak.

 

[Brice Burrell]

....You also have to make sure to handle the workpiece carefully, because if the tacked glue loosens up, the joint will be weak.

I can vouch for that. I've used pins often with good success so long as you follow Rick's advice.

For those of you that might not know what we are referring to as pins, headed or most often headless 23 gauge pin or nails from a pneumatic nailer. The Domino joint is constructed as normal and clamped to draw the joint together tightly. With the piece clamped pins are shot through the material and through the Domino tenon on each side of the joint holding the joint tight. Often pins can be shot from the back side of the piece concealing the holes. The small holes made the pins are nearly invisible if you can't hide them. 

 

[honeydoman]

I concur also.  I also use pins when I make my cabinet doors to help hold the joint together, but I still clamp them.... but pins are great and do not really show.

 

[BMH]

I have also used bamboo skewer in a project where clamping the piece for long period was not feasible and I didn't want to use pins. I drilled through the Domino tenon hammered the skewer in and then cut it. I got the original ideal from a post on this site.

Bruce