Domino sanity check?

[Riparian]

Hi FogHeads,

I'm building a bunk bed for my kids, and could use a little feedback...

My design calls for nine slats at each of the head and foot boards (so
36 in total). Each slat will be 2 5/8" wide x 14 1/2" high x 1/2" thick.
This wood I'm using is hard maple.

Does using two 5mm Dominos at each slat/rail junction seem a good
way to go? With as many as I have to do, traditional M+T will take me
longer than I'd like to spend. Also, I realize 5mm is more than 1/3 the
thickness of 1/2" stock, but I don't have the 4mm cutter (should I just
suck it up and buy one for this application?).

Thank you for your observations and suggestions!

-Andy

 

[Tim Sproul]

Hi FogHeads,

I'm building a bunk bed for my kids,

Beds are almost always some sort of knock-down joinery so you'll want some knockdown bolts or such to go with the Dominos......and 2, 5mm dominos is not beefy enough for me.  Use the biggest ones you got - 10mm for the standard Domino machine.  You'll want to sand the domino's down a bit because you want a slip fit joint that is reversible.  I would probably make custom 10mm dominos that fit the widest mortise the Domino machine cuts.

Can't wait until the XL lands on North American soil.

 

[stairman]

for head/footboards,  as i am understanding this...  i would think 2x5mm domino's ea should be fine,  you are gluing this, right?

-actually, now that I remember how destructive my two oldest sons were,  -eh...  I would have screw the hell out of it for a wrecking crew like them,  -but they were,  REALLY hard on things...  "steel furniture bolted to the floor" type kids  [tongue] my 4 yr old wouldn't scratch it and if he did, he'd sand it out on his own...  totally different kid

for the rails,  the hardware you can get from Rockler type places is tough to beat.  it is metal, you mortise in, screw the plates in and they will join and disassemble as many times as you want without weakening. 
something like this perhaps?
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10230&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PLA&gclid=CJOZ8NLhlKwCFYpb7Aodcx1Utw

 

[stairman]

I can't wait for the XL either, Tim  -but i would rather have a BS105E Set than any other "non US market Festool"

It's not that hard to mortise bigger and deeper with the existing Domino,  and if I have more than a few "big" mortises, I just use my chain mortiser...
but I am eager to get my hands on a Domino XL just the same...  8)

 

[JeromeM]

Hi FogHeads,

I'm building a bunk bed for my kids,

Beds are almost always some sort of knock-down joinery so you'll want some knockdown bolts or such to go with the Dominos......and 2, 5mm dominos is not beefy enough for me.  Use the biggest ones you got - 10mm for the standard Domino machine.  You'll want to sand the domino's down a bit because you want a slip fit joint that is reversible.  I would probably make custom 10mm dominos that fit the widest mortise the Domino machine cuts.

Can't wait until the XL lands on North American soil.

You would use 10mm dominos in stock that is 1/2" thick!!! I don't think so.

The 5mm dominos will be OK.

 

[mouppe]

I can't wait for the XL either, Tim  -but i would rather have a BS105E Set than any other "non US market Festool"

It's not that hard to mortise bigger and deeper with the existing Domino,  and if I have more than a few "big" mortises, I just use my chain mortiser...
but I am eager to get my hands on a Domino XL just the same...  8)

Alas, of all the NAINA festools, this is one which will never make it over here. It's only produced in 230V. A rep in the UK recently told me that when Festool launch new products, the production line is geared towards 230V tools, and only after the initial run is done does it switch to 110V. This is one of the reasons why North America gets its new Festools later than Europe.

 

[JLB builders LLC]

I would just get the 4 mm cutter and dominos.

 

[davee]

I would just get the 4 mm cutter and dominos.

I agree with the suggestion of getting the 4 mm cutter and dominos.  I think the 5mm would work for you, but the 4 mm gives options down the road for other projects.  They are great in making drawers and boxes in 12mm plywood or hardwood.  I use my 4mm more often than I thought I would.

 

[nydesign]

I just made a bunch of radiator covers using 1/2" stock for the slats.
I found the 4mm worked best.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I don't see a big deal in using the 5 mm dominos.  If you want to get technical, 1/2" = 12.7 mm, so 4 mm isn't exactly 1/3 either.  Sure, it's still close, but I don't think that going a little bit over the 1/3 rule will have a significant difference.

...but if you need an excuse to buy more goodies, we'll gladly help out!  [wink]

 

[Tim Sproul]

oops.  Thinking rails to head/foot board connections.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Since the slats aren't really providing structural support, you have a lot of leeway.  A single 5mm domino at each end should be fine.  Two along the width would be okay too, but probably overkill.

On the other hand, its nice to have the 4mm's around just in case.  I bought them, they are collecting dust, but one of the days I will need them and won't have to wait for shipping.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Since the slats aren't really providing structural support, you have a lot of leeway.  A single 5mm domino at each end should be fine.  Two along the width would be okay too, but probably overkill....

Well, the slats are providing resistance against racking.  If the kid on the top bunk is anything like stairman's you'll probably want the head/foot boards to be fairly rigid.

....On the other hand, its nice to have the 4mm's around just in case.  I bought them, they are collecting dust, but one of the days I will need them and won't have to wait for shipping.

Jesse, I bought the 4mm cutter/tenons for the same reason.  Of course the one day I could have used them I forgot I had them. [doh]

 

[woodwreck]

Hi FogHeads,

I'm building a bunk bed for my kids, and could use a little feedback...

My design calls for nine slats at each of the head and foot boards (so
36 in total). Each slat will be 2 5/8" wide x 14 1/2" high x 1/2" thick.
This wood I'm using is hard maple.

Does using two 5mm Dominos at each slat/rail junction seem a good
way to go? With as many as I have to do, traditional M+T will take me
longer than I'd like to spend. Also, I realize 5mm is more than 1/3 the
thickness of 1/2" stock, but I don't have the 4mm cutter (should I just
suck it up and buy one for this application?).

Thank you for your observations and suggestions!

-Andy

Check your PM, I might be able to help and I live just up the road from you.

 

[John Stevens]

FWIW, I'd go for the two 5mm domis, but I'd leave them un-glued, and add two pocket screws.  That way, it would be easy to take it apart.

Regards,

John

 

[Kevin Stricker]

Use the 10mm cutter on the widest setting and cut the slats to fit in the mortise. Much stronger than 4 or 5mm dominoes.

 

[JeromeM]

FWIW, I'd go for the two 5mm domis, but I'd leave them un-glued, and add two pocket screws.  That way, it would be easy to take it apart.

Regards,

John

Humm..  unless you have the Micro Pocket Hole Jig and drill bit it's going to weaken the 1/2" slats and will use 144 pocket screws.  [eek] :

There is no point in being able to take apart the head and foot boards.

 

[woodwreck]

Use the 10mm cutter on the widest setting and cut the slats to fit in the mortise. Much stronger than 4 or 5mm dominoes.

Amen with Kevin, 8 or 10

 

[nydesign]

Andy, one more thought. I made myself a bed last year and used Jeff Milers book 'Beds' as a guide.
There's a chapter on making a bunk bed, he stresses a few safety factors and gives some good tips on assembly.
It's worth picking up or at least looking at to get some ideas.

- Jonathan

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Use the 10mm cutter on the widest setting and cut the slats to fit in the mortise. Much stronger than 4 or 5mm dominoes.

Amen with Kevin, 8 or 10

Does it matter?  It's the glue that's handling most of the holding power as long as the joints are clamped with enough pressure during glue-up.