Domino Weather Resistance

[Birdhunter]

I'm planning to make some outdoor benches for my club. I was hoping to justify a Domino XL for the project, but was worried the Domino tenons would not hold up in an outdoor environment. I'll glue the Dominos but there could be some degree of seepage into the joined wood that could reach the tenons. If they rot, the bench would fall apart.

I intend to use the "artificial" decking wood product.

Input would be appreciated.

 

[dpetrzelka]

I just used the Sipo Mahogany tenons to build some cedar bee hives - they are marketed as outdoor Dominos with greater rot resistance. In my research I found very few reviews or accounts of their long-term viability our in the weather, but here's hoping they hold up.

Cedar Bee Hives - TS55 and Domino

 

[jacko9]

Birdhunter, Sipo tenons will last a very long time much more than "artificial" decking wood product at least out here in California.  I know several contractors that have been ripping out these wood substitutes after a few years when the binders fail in the UV environment.

Sipo will work really well with TITEBOND III glue in redwood, Western Cedar or other outdoor type woods.  Finewoodworking did a review of woods suitable for outdoor applications and if I can find the issue I'll get back to you.

Jack

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

My domino has held up fine even when I forget to put it back in the box and leave it outside for a few days. 

 

[BobcaygeonJim]

My domino has held up fine even when I forget to put it back in the box and leave it outside for a few days. 

Lol......I see what your doing.

 

[PaulMarcel]

My domino has held up fine even when I forget to put it back in the box and leave it outside for a few days. 

I'm guessing its all that Armor-All that helps protect it from the elements.

 

[RC]

I built some storage boxes for the backyard two years ago with sipo dominoes and TB III and they have held up for now just fine twice through all four seasons here. Can't say how they hold up in the longer term.

 

[Birdhunter]

Thanks for the replies. I'll "goop up" the dominos and the surrounding areas with Titebond III really well.

I built some gun racks for the club 6 years ago with treated lumber and stainless screws. The screws look like new but the lumber split in some areas. I replaced the defective pieces with decking material and it looks like new.

The decking material is expensive so I'll use it for the sitting area and treated lumber for the legs and under structure. The large stainless screws cost more than the lumber for the gun racks so dominos will be a lot less expensive. I have to make 15 benches and any cost reduction adds up quickly.

This is a perfect excuse to add a Domino XL to the fleet!

 

[pugilato]

I can't confirm this, but I have heard that SS screws don't do well in treated wood, at least with the recipe they use here.

 

[leakyroof]

I can't confirm this, but I have heard that SS screws don't do well in treated wood, at least with the recipe they use here.

  Hmm, my suppliers and the info I've read is just the opposite. Galvanized Screws or Fasteners aren't recommended for the new type Treated or Pressure Treated woods, and Stainless is the prefered material of a fastener for the new treated wood since the 'recipies' got changed for what was previously used to treat the lumber with.
However, and this may be what you're talking about, there are different grades of stainless steel being used for screws and nails as sold to us for end user usage. To lower the cost of using stainless steel.  McFeely's has a write-up on this somewhere in their web Site and def. in their catalogs.  They explain it nicely, worth a look.

 

[leakyroof]

You should be fine, I built outdoor/garden items with the plain Beech Biscuits in the years before we got the Domino and its 2 different Tenon material options. Using titebond glue, the Beech actually held up really well.  Now with the Sipo available, you're set, no real worries.

 

[jacko9]

I can't confirm this, but I have heard that SS screws don't do well in treated wood, at least with the recipe they use here.

  Hmm, my suppliers and the info I've read is just the opposite. Galvanized Screws or Fasteners aren't recommended for the new type Treated or Pressure Treated woods, and Stainless is the prefered material of a fastener for the new treated wood since the 'recipies' got changed for what was previously used to treat the lumber with.
However, and this may be what you're talking about, there are different grades of stainless steel being used for screws and nails as sold to us for end user usage. To lower the cost of using stainless steel.  McFeely's has a write-up on this somewhere in their web Site and def. in their catalogs.   They explain it nicely, worth a look.

I've used the McFeely"s stainless steel screws and they have held up for over 10 years now.  They even have 316 grade stainless for marine applications if you want better protection.

Jack

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

My domino has held up fine even when I forget to put it back in the box and leave it outside for a few days.  

I'm guessing its all that Armor-All that helps protect it from the elements.

Not me, I don't bother cleaning these things, unless I manage to pack mud inside them.  Then I might get the hose out and spray them off.

I have 1000's of sippo dominos outside in all types of south american hardwood projects, all just fine.