Dave H Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 @wtl Yes my table was built with MT joinery I cut the slot with the table saw and 1/4" dado set up but, you could use a router with a slot cutting bit, a biscuit jointer or you could buy one of those solid gold Domino's . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtl Posted March 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 5 hours ago, Mick S said: My brother made this writing desk and several stools using nothing more than twin dominoes into the legs and top. It's been over 4 years since it was put into use with no issues at all. Given that the height of a coffee table is about half that of a desk, I would think it would be subject to less racking stress than this desk. I don't know of any failures with the stools either. that's really nice - I esp. like the shop! I can't afford a Festool - I'm waiting for Black & Decker or Wen to come out with their knockoffs - it's gotta happen someday - there are no secrets anymore, and good luck with trademarks and copyrights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krtwood Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 4 hours ago, wtl said: that's really nice - I esp. like the shop! I can't afford a Festool - I'm waiting for Black & Decker or Wen to come out with their knockoffs - it's gotta happen someday - there are no secrets anymore, and good luck with trademarks and copyrights The Domino came out in 2007. Patents are 20 years. 8 years to go, assuming they didn't file earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtl Posted March 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 2 hours ago, krtwood said: The Domino came out in 2007. Patents are 20 years. 8 years to go, assuming they didn't file earlier. hmmm...by the time 8 years has passed, I won't even know what wood is for, let alone a Domino... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 I understand, but you could do the same thing with a router or by hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 15 hours ago, Mick S said: My brother made this writing desk and several stools using nothing more than twin dominoes into the legs and top. It's been over 4 years since it was put into use with no issues at all. Given that the height of a coffee table is about half that of a desk, I would think it would be subject to less racking stress than this desk. I don't know of any failures with the stools either. Fine woodworking obviously runs in the family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtl Posted March 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2019 2 more questions So the top doesn't have to be attached to the legs at all if it's attached to rails? there's nothing between top and legs? wtnhighlander's suggestion of shallow mortises in the top to fit the legs into sounds good, but I don't trust myself with a router on this very expensive wood. I cannot control my handheld router - can't see where it's going with all the chips and the plunge base, and the pieces I try to rout are too small for a guide. Is there any way to attach the legs to the rails without having to use a router for mortises? I've made tenons with a table saw - they look pretty bad tho. I guess I could use brackets. I'm really in over my head but I'm committed to this project now. At least I'll learn a lot - already have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted March 30, 2019 Report Share Posted March 30, 2019 Bolt your router to a piece of flat plywood and use it upside-down, like a router table. For the leg mortises to accept the rails, you can get away with an open-sided mortise. Clamp a board to your improvised router table to serve as a fence, and just feed the top of the leg along the fence and into the bit, to cut the depth of mortise your need. Routers spin counter-clockwise when viewed from the bottom, so pushing the work into the bit from the right side will help it pull tight against the fence. A featherboard never hurts, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdie Posted March 31, 2019 Report Share Posted March 31, 2019 Do you have a drill press? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtl Posted March 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2019 3 hours ago, Byrdie said: Do you have a drill press? Yes - 8". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdie Posted April 1, 2019 Report Share Posted April 1, 2019 11 hours ago, wtl said: Yes - 8". Might be easier than a router to make mortises. A mortise is little more than a row of adjoining holes with the sides and corners squared. And current trends deem squaring the corners optional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 1, 2019 Report Share Posted April 1, 2019 On 3/30/2019 at 12:09 PM, wtl said: Is there any way to attach the legs to the rails without having to use a router for mortises? I've made tenons with a table saw - they look pretty bad tho. I guess I could use brackets. Yes, you can use the old fashion way of making mortises with a chisel. Plenty of UTubes on this. Make sure you make the mortises first and clean them up and then sneak up on the tenons on your table saw. There are utubes on the table saw tenons as well. Just take your time. On 3/30/2019 at 12:09 PM, wtl said: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtl Posted April 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2019 2 hours ago, Byrdie said: Might be easier than a router to make mortises. A mortise is little more than a row of adjoining holes with the sides and corners squared. And current trends deem squaring the corners optional. I might try this - today my router escaped my grip and did a Parkour run around my workshop, off the walls and ceiling, bouncing over the bandsaw, leaving a ragged mortise and tons of wood shavings along the way, was coming straight at me when I managed to pull the plug just in time. Router Trauma! I''ll never be the same. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Ragatz Posted April 1, 2019 Report Share Posted April 1, 2019 5 hours ago, wtl said: I might try this - today my router escaped my grip and did a Parkour run around my workshop Learned a new word today. Love the image Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdie Posted April 1, 2019 Report Share Posted April 1, 2019 If you use some sort of fence on your drill press you can make sure your holes are aligned. Might want to look into a fence for your router as well. The problem with cutting mortises on a router is that while one side of the cut will be in the proper direction, the opposite side is, by definition, a climb cut. That's what makes them difficult to control in these situations. A router fence on the correct side of the piece will help control the router in a hand held situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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