Domino, white oak and sipo tenons

[Rick Herrick]

I am planning my first outdoor project which is a couple of side/end tables with a 12x12 tile top.  I want to use white oak.  The plan is from Woodsmith and they used pocket holes.  I have used them many times but I don't really want to use them on this outdoor furniture.  I couldn't find their 'blue coated' screws in the right size and I had read that their stainless steel screws are softer and could be problematic.

I am thinking the Domino is a better solution.  I have a bunch of 8mm sipo, that I over bought for another project.  The intended thickness of my material is 3/4".  I know the 8mm breaks the 1/3 rule so looking for opinions on whether or not this could be an issue.

 

[ChuckM]

8mm dominoes are totally acceptable for 3/4" hardwood (6mm for plywood). Your Domino machine manual says so too. Check the related page there (p. 10?).

 

[Rick Herrick]

Thanks Chuck.  I did just find that section:

It is acceptable to use a tenon that is slightly thicker than 1/3 when the width of the Domino tenon is relatively narrow compared to the width of the joint. This is why 8mm Domino tenons are the most common for joining 3⁄4-inch lumber.


It did not specifically say hardwood but the associated paragraphs do talk about softwood and plywood, so this statement appears to be hardwood related.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Thanks Chuck.  I did just find that section:

It is acceptable to use a tenon that is slightly thicker than 1/3 when the width of the Domino tenon is relatively narrow compared to the width of the joint. This is why 8mm Domino tenons are the most common for joining 3⁄4-inch lumber.


It did not specifically say hardwood but the associated paragraphs do talk about softwood and plywood, so this statement appears to be hardwood related.

To me, lumber was the key word in that statement. I don't think of plywood (or any other sheetgoods for that matter) as lumber.

I generally use 6mm for 3/4"  sheetgoods. That can be 18mm or 19mm depending on specific type.
Those are the ones I stock in large quantities. Thicker solid wood items get either 8mm or 10mm, again based on size/application. Once in a while a few 5mm get into some small projects. I still have most of the original bag of 4mm. I bet I have only used 30-40 of them.

 

[Birdhunter]

I’d use a thin coating of glue on the tenons as you don’t want the hydraulic pressure to blow out the wood as you are using large tenons. I use TB III on outdoor projects. It seems to hold up as well as epoxy.

 

[Rick Herrick]

I’d use a thin coating of glue on the tenons as you don’t want the hydraulic pressure to blow out the wood as you are using large tenons. I use TB III on outdoor projects. It seems to hold up as well as epoxy.

Thanks for the reminder [member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] .  I have been doing a lot of 4mm tenons in some 1/2" Baltic Birch and man, you need to get the amount on the tenons just right to keep from having problems.  Hoping though, that the tougher white oak will be a little more forgiving.  Also going to see if my stock is thick enough that I can plane it to 20mm instead of 3/4" just to help a little bit more.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
Once in a while a few 5mm get into some small projects. I still have most of the original bag of 4mm. I bet I have only used 30-40 of them.

I've used the 5mm cutter in half a dozen projects, but only three with the 4mm cutter. In one of them, I used the 4mm cutter to cut a slot for a utensil handle. The Domino Joiner makes a good "drilling" tool.