What type of wood would you use to make Dominos?

[rjwz28]

I want to make wider Dominos for my 500. What type of wood would be good, such as stable, easy to work and inexpensive?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[fshanno]

I usually use European beech, same as Festool.  I payed $2.60 a bf for 85 bf of 4/4 on Friday.  I'm always using beech so there's always some lying around.  I highly recommend the stuff.  It's strong, machines and glues well, takes stain as well and evenly as anything I've used.  It has a very nice natural color with just poly. 

The only down side is that I often get boards with quite a bit of spring.  If I'm using it for doors I pretty much have to rip it to rough size and let it sit for a couple of days before final milling.  And on the boards that do have spring I get some burning during ripping.  I'll sometimes get some pretty wicked curves and bows on long narrow face frame parts for pantries and refig surrounds.  On the plus side, very little twist (which is the worst thing to me) and almost no cupping. 

 

[greg mann]

Depending on where you live there is a strong likelihood that plenty of ash would be available due to the emerald ash borer. It's strong and fairly tight grained and takes glue well. You don't need much to make even the largest dominoes used with the XL, let alone the 500.

 

[Oldwood]

The kind I have scraps of  [big grin] I do like soft maple though...mills nice & is quite hard & stable.

Gerry

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I would use whatever scrap I have, but beech, maple, ash and oak (white oak especially) all seem like they would be good choices.

Scot

 

[sancho57]

What scot said.

Any hardwood would do