Domino sheer strength?

[cflansbaum]

Hello all,

I'm working on a stand for a ceramic water container for my wife's office.  The legs are attached to the top by 5x30 dominos as is the middle support piece.  As there's no "lip" on the lips to carry the weight, I figured that this setup would be just to weak to carry the weight (the container is probably 20 pounds + probably about 3 gallons water) and so have been planning to put in an additional support element.  However it does look pretty nice like this -- any thoughts on what the sheer strength of the 5x30 domino's are and if this structure would hold the weight as is?

thanks

Carl

 

[tallgrass]

as long as the load is static and the bonding between the domino and "parent material"  is solid you should be ok. if the load is dynamic  than the mode of failure is more complex. I am an ME and this does not scare me as long as the bonding agents have done their job. it looks nice,, by the way.just a thought, i would be more worried about the adhesive performance rather than a mechanical failure of the domino. fill er up and enjoy.  ;D

 

[woodshopdemos]

Carl,
  A nice design and TG is an ME so I am reluctant to add, BUT water is heavy and the stand seems a little underdesigned to my way of thinking.  I think I would rather have seen the top shelf let into the legs AND Domino'd and with a little more stability in the lower section.

 

[danrush]

The static weight is only about 45-50 lbs.  Most cabinet shelves are rated for that weight with dinky little shelf clips in partical board.  I believe you are fine.  Nice design.  very sleek.

Dan

 

[tallgrass]

i will add "static" is the operative word. if you start "wiggling"  technical term,  : like many joints, if you rock this thing or repeatedly put the full tank on the stand carelessly ,you might have to worry about working the joint....if you fill in place it should be fine. since there seems to be a little worry here put 80 pounds on it and give some gentle wiggling....if all goes well than enjoy.

 

[dirtydeeds]

ive seen a festool designed sun lounger with open joints so that the dominos are visible

perhaps someone at festool can dig it out for us

 

[Mike_Chrest]

It's like Tall Grass says. The static load is not the problem. The peg will hold the shear forces fine. The danger is if the stand racks(sideways force across the table top=torque). The weak spot looks like the mortise in the leg (your mortise cuts across the grain). How about a curved brace from each leg to table?

Mike

 

[cflansbaum]

A curved brace is exactly what I plan.  I wasn't happy with the legs in the pics above so I worked the past two days on a new set.  Because I "domino" the mortises when the stock is square and before I cut the curves, even with the deepest setting, the mortise isn't very deep.  Because of this and also because I think the brace will add a little more "bulk" to the overall design, I'm going to go ahead with the braces.  It will be a week or so before I have them done, but I'll be sure to post some pics here!

thanks guys!

Carl