Interesting Dominio gluing method

[hdv]

I've been using the small spatula's often used by artists. I have a few different shapes. Works like a charm for me and gives me a bit more control than a clipped throw-away brush (which I also use). They look very much like this one:

 

[luvmytoolz]

No glue is needed if the dominoes are for an edge /panel joint because even without the tenons, a panel joint is strong enough by itself with glue. Tenons are for alignment in that case.

All structural points will fail if glue is not used with the dominoes. E.g. a chair built with loose tenons could fall apart if someone sits on it or, worse, rocks it. The same goes for drawers, butt joints, miter joints, etc.

I know everyone's methods ar different, and yes most of the time for some cases gluing the tenons in might be overkill, but I've personally never understood why anyone taking the time and effort to machine and build items wouldn't then take advantage of the increased contact area and therefore extra strength by always gluing the tenons in.

I always assume anything I make will be horrifically abused, and build accordingly. ;-)

 

[Steve1]

I have yet to work out why a Domino has to be glued at all.

Depends on the application.
If gluing up a table top, one is using the dominos for location and I can see your point.
And they would provide bending strength to the joint even without glue.

But, for example the image in the original post, one is gluing end grain to straight grain.
Maybe the glue on the face would provide sufficient bond.
But gluing the domino will add a lot of straight-grain to straight-grain bonding area, and result in a stronger tensile strength of the joint.

 

[Mini Me]

Muchly increased surface contact area. No different to traditional mortise/tenons.

No, it is an alignment device the same as a dowl.

 

[luvmytoolz]

No, it is an alignment device the same as a dowl.

Nope.

You can choose not to glue dowels or tenons in and just use them for alignment, but it is extra surface contact when glued.

 

[Packard]

I consider that some of the worst advice I've seen on YouTube lately. I agree with some of the early replies...cover the Domino with a thin film, cover the entire walls of the mortises with a thin film and assemble. Any method that relies on volume to get full coverage is going to risk failure and create a mess at the same time. Why is everyone afraid of a glue brush? Buy them by the box and throw them away when you're done each time.

Glue brushes are incredibly cheap from Harbor Freight—just $2.99 for 36 brushes. And they work just fine. They might be even cheaper elsewhere.

 

[Packard]

Nope.

You can choose not to glue dowels or tenons in and just use them for alignment, but it is extra surface contact when glued.

It is extra surface area and face grain to face grain in many cases. The joints without glued tenons may not have face grain glue areas.

 

[Packard]

Glue brushes are incredibly cheap from Harbor Freight—just $2.99 for 36 brushes. And they work just fine. They might be even cheaper elsewhere.

I just checked on Amazon and none of the vendors are selling glue brushes anywhere near what Harbor Freight does. Luckily, there is a H-F store 5-1/2 miles from my house (and next door to Barnes & Nobel where I get my coffee most afternoons) so freight is not an issue for me).

 

[rmhinden]

I've been using the small spatula's often used by artists. I have a few different shapes. Works like a charm for me and gives me a bit more control than a clipped throw-away brush (which I also use). They look very much like this one:

Found these online, only $8. See: https://a.co/d/c9hV5vx

 

[Crazyraceguy]

No glue is needed if the dominoes are for an edge /panel joint because even without the tenons, a panel joint is strong enough by itself with glue. Tenons are for alignment in that case.

All structural joints will fail if glue is not used with the dominoes. E.g. a chair built with loose tenons could fall apart if someone sits on it or, worse, rocks it. The same goes for drawers, butt joints, miter joints, etc.

Yes^ I consider it an "application specific" thing. In joinery situations, I glue them, when used as alignment aids on panel glue-ups, I don't bother.
The size of Domino makes some difference too. Like Jeff, I use cheap acid brushes for 6mm and up. I don't dispose of them every time though. I drop them into a little cup of water and re-use them a few times. Once they get a bit crusty, they're gone. I use those same brushes for various lubricants too.
I bought a gross of them, over 5 years ago, and still have quite a few.
Smaller than 6mm, I use a little plastic spreader, the brushes just don't go into 5mm holes very well.
For me, a line of tiny beads of squeeze-out is the goal. IMNSHO, many of the YouTube woodworking guys, use waay too much glue. It's not only a waste of glue, but it also wastes time in the cleanup stage.

 

[Vtshopdog]

I’ve liked these.

Bench Dog Glue Spreaders

toolguyd.com

Squirt a bit of glue in all the mortises, rock paddle end back and forth to coat walls then insert tenon. Silicon, so dried glue pops right off brush and paddle. Cheap disposable brushes sometimes seem to leave a bristle behind just where I don’t want one.

 

[Packard]

I’ve liked these.

Bench Dog Glue Spreaders

toolguyd.com

Squirt a bit of glue in all the mortises, rock paddle end back and forth to coat walls then insert tenon. Silicon, so dried glue pops right off brush and paddle. Cheap disposable brushes sometimes seem to leave a bristle behind just where I don’t want one.

That might be true. If the H-F brush left a loose bristle, then I must have plucked it off before the glue dried. I don’t ever remember doing so, but that would be an automatic behavior—like scratching an itch—that I would not normally make note of.

In any case, I am not finding the occasional loose bristle a disqualifying characteristic. It is just woodworking mimicking life.

 

[jeffinsgf]

IMNSHO, many of the YouTube woodworking guys, use waay too much glue. It's not only a waste of glue, but it also wastes time in the cleanup stage.

When I see them wiping up huge globs of wet glue with a wet rag I always wonder how they ever get a decent finish. Every time I try that I can see exactly where the watered-down glue was spread. I wait for it to get 80-90% dry and clean it up with a pocket knife/scraper/chisel/other reasonably sharp implement.