Frameless Cabinet Joinery test results

[stvrowe]

I wanted to share some of my test results of various frameless cabinet joinery.  I used 8mm dowels, #20 biscuits, and 5x30mm Dominoes to create sample joints and load them up to failure.  The location and number of connecting members used was based on judgement of what I felt was necessary to obtain adequate load carrying capability.  I chose the upper cabinet bottom shelf as being the most limiting since when I construct lower cabinets, I use leveling feet with a flange that provides additional support to the joint. 

I was a bit surprised at how much load each of these methods would absorb before failure and concluded that all three methods would adequately support a cabinet full of dishes.  In all cases, the plywood was the failure point and not the connecting member.  For the dowel and biscuit, the bottom shelf failed while for the Domino, the side of the cabinet was the failure point.  Given the bad rap and bashing that biscuits usually get, I was quite surprised at just how strong that joint was. 

These are my first ever Youtube videos so your constructive criticism is welcome.

Dowel frameless cabinet joint test

Biscuit frameless cabinet joint test

Domino frameless cabinet joint test

 

[mastercabman]

interesting testing
I would of assume that the joints on the first 2 video would failed at the bottom of the side piece like the domino test

I would like to see the same test done with particle board since a lot of frameless cabinets are built that way.

 

[John H]

Interesting (but then again I own a Lamello Top 20)

 

[stvrowe]

interesting testing
I would of assume that the joints on the first 2 video would failed at the bottom of the side piece like the domino test

I would like to see the same test done with particle board since a lot of frameless cabinets are built that way.

Before doing this test, that is exactly what I thought would happen too especially with the dowels.  The materials used for this were from a salvaged entertainment center and scrap from another project.  If I had particle board, I would have done this test as well. 

 

[James Biddle]

It'd be interesting to see how 2-1/2" screws would have performed.

 

[stvrowe]

I took some closeups of the test joints this morning that show the failure points more clearly.

Closeup of Joint Failures

 

[leakyroof]

Biscuit joint strength is often surprising to people who don't work with them that much or who heard 'bad' things about them. [wink]