Domino for Table Apron to Table Leg Joints - Large Kitchen Table

[ergnut]

I'm going to build a kitchen table as an Island (here is a picture of what the wife wants -http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/modern-farmhouse-style) and I'm planning to do this using the Domino.  I expect that my Apron will be 12 - 14 inches high, and probably 5/4 width hard maple, or maybe birch. 

I thought I woukld use the largest tenons, and I place a tenon with 2 - 3" spacing between down the end of the apron, and use a metal corner brace in each corner (http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1340.0) will this thing hold up?  As pictured it will have a counter top and sink installed. 

If there is a good reason it wouldn't, I'd guess I'd be looking at using a larger M&T.

Thanks

 

[Warrior]

8 x 50 tenons with 1 - 2 " between the tenons plus a few pocket screws should do it. If you are goining to paint it or or use a pigmented lacquer why not use plywood? a 12 - 14" apron in solid wood is going to want to move. In solid wood I would just glue the top three tenons and enlarge the pocket screw holes to allow for movement.

Eiji

 

[ergnut]

I thought the domino would hold better in the endgrain of a solid wood.  Does plywood have the strength to hold the domino as well?

Thanks

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Good morning Ergnut.  Eiji has it right, 12 inches of hard maple is gonna move one way or another.  If you glue those dominoes, it will crack.  Plywood is a much better solution here, plenty of strength.

 

[Jerry Work]

Hi ergnut,

As others have said wood movement will be an issue if those wide aprons are made from solid wood.  Given the design, I would attach the aprons to the legs with sliding dovetail joints.  Glue only the top 3" and pin them so the top edge of the apron and leg always stay aligned.  Stop the grove 10mm or so short of the bottom of the apron and cut back the male dt on the bottom of the apron 20mm so you will have 10mm of hidden range for the apron to expand and contract.

If you prefer to use dominos, then make the top domino tight and glue it.  Keep the rest of the dominos loose and glued only into one half of the joint.  As others have said, use a pocket hole screw or two to keep the joint together at the bottom but still allow for wood movement.  Not as strong as the sliding DT but will be very serviceable.

Good luck with your project and enjoy!

Jerry

I'm going to build a kitchen table as an Island (here is a picture of what the wife wants -http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/modern-farmhouse-style) and I'm planning to do this using the Domino.  I expect that my Apron will be 12 - 14 inches high, and probably 5/4 width hard maple, or maybe birch. 

I thought I woukld use the largest tenons, and I place a tenon with 2 - 3" spacing between down the end of the apron, and use a metal corner brace in each corner (http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1340.0) will this thing hold up?  As pictured it will have a counter top and sink installed. 

If there is a good reason it wouldn't, I'd guess I'd be looking at using a larger M&T.

Thanks

 

[butzla]

If you prefer to use dominos, then make the top domino tight and glue it.  Keep the rest of the dominos loose and glued only into one half of the joint.  As others have said, use a pocket hole screw or two to keep the joint together at the bottom but still allow for wood movement. 

Good luck with your project and enjoy!

Jerry

Jerry,  How can you allow for wood movement if you use pocket screws? 

 

[paulgordon]

Dear Ergnut,

Sorry to have taken you to the top of this slippery Festool slope.  Now you have got quite a project on your hands and C wants a new pair of shoes everytime you need a new tool.  Perhaps I could convince her that the cheapest pair of shoes that I can find on Overstock.com is all the rage somewhere fancy so that you can get the chip collector for under $1000 ($400 to Festool, $600 for shoes!).

Seemed like a good idea at the time to bring some fancy green tools over.  As a bachelor, how was I to know about the 'you get a tool, the wife gets some shoes rule?'  I guess its all fun and games until you put a first class tool in front of a guy building a house!

I should probably come over sometime to help on this.  I know you always have cold beer and Mama Mimi's around the corner.

PG

 

[Warrior]

If you prefer to use dominos, then make the top domino tight and glue it.  Keep the rest of the dominos loose and glued only into one half of the joint.  As others have said, use a pocket hole screw or two to keep the joint together at the bottom but still allow for wood movement. 

Good luck with your project and enjoy!

Jerry

Jerry,  How can you allow for wood movement if you use pocket screws? 

I'm not Jerry but got this method from him. Just bore out the pilot hole to 3/16 or so and now the screw can wiggle around a bit.

Eiji