Making your own domino tenons - species

[live4ever]

I've got a DF700 on the way for some larger projects (mainly interior/patio doors), which got me to thinking about making my own domino tenons.  Not necessarily to save $$ (though that might be a side benefit), but also to use up scraps that I can't seem to get myself to throw away.

The Festool tenons are beech, which seems to be a nice medium in terms of strength.  I have a lot of oak scraps, which I think would make for excellent tenons, especially given the open grain.  I've also got a lot of poplar scraps.  Think that's too soft/weak for structural tenons (e.g. in interior doors)?  I figure it should be ok since a lot of doors are made with DF or poplar or even pine, but just thought I'd ask.

 

[NiteWalkerGR]

I wouldn't make the loose tenons out of a species softer than the main wood. I usually make mine out of maple.

 

[upscale]

I've got a DF700 on the way for some larger projects (mainly interior/patio doors), which got me to thinking about making my own domino tenons.  Not necessarily to save $$ (though that might be a side benefit), but also to use up scraps that I can't seem to get myself to throw away.

I can see your wanting to put some scraps to good use, but honestly, I have to question the time and effort you'd have to put in to make your own dominos.

Granted, most hobbyist workers only get personal gratification from the construction of things for themselves and are limited to that, but dominos? Sorry, can't see it.  :-\

 

[wow]

I guess I can see it if you want - say - oak, walnut, or another species of Tenon. I agree that I don't think you could ever justify it on a cost basis.

 

[shed9]

What if people want to use a through tenon application? There would be good reason to determine the colour of the tenon.

 

[Paul G]

What if people want to use a through tenon application? There would be good reason to determine the colour of the tenon.

That's what I was thinking also

 

[epicxt]

I like the idea of making your own tenons out of scrap but I also fall squarely in the camp of not being able to justify the time spent vs. the cost of buying premade, unless it's for a specific project that calls for oversized tenons.  A few years ago Woodcraft had a special on some 3rd party dominos in cherry and walnut and I picked up several hundred and have used them for through-tenon projects where I wanted to match the species of wood I was using. I haven't checked lately to see if those are still available, but I guess I should as my supply is dwindling...

 

[atlr]

A few years ago Woodcraft had a special on some 3rd party dominos in cherry and walnut and I picked up several hundred and have used them for through-tenon projects where I wanted to match the species of wood I was using. I haven't checked lately to see if those are still available, but I guess I should as my supply is dwindling...

I think Cincinnati Dowel made the tenons that Woodcraft sold called Tuffer Tenons. They don't appear to make them anymore.http://store.cincinnatidowel.com/joinery-items