Dowels/Pegs

[jackellis]

I'm building a couple of storage boxes patterned on a design for a blanket chest. The sides and lid will be made from 1" thick glued-up cedar decking, and the sides will be joined by 1.5x1.5 vertical posts of darker cedar decking that got set on the side. I plan to use pocket screws to join the sides to the posts, but I'm also thinking that for decorative purposes and in case the waterproof glue turns out not to be, I should use through dowels as well. I have some 1/2" oak dowels I could use for this and I'm thinking I would drill the holes 1/32 oversize so the dowels can be inserted without destroying anything.

Questions:

Are there any incompatibilities between oak and cedar (probably yellow or western, not aromatic) that I should be concerned about?

Is a joint made from a 1/2" dowel driven into the end of a 1" thick board going to be strong enough?

Should I drill the hole nominal diameter or a bit oversized?

Thanks for any assistance. I'm a little dubious about using dowels since I haven't tried it before but end grain glued to long grain ain't gonna cut it, and I'm not totally convinced by glued up sides will stand the test of time without some help.

[gsmittle]

I can't address most of your questions, but I built some benches and planters out of leftover deck cedar two years ago, glued together with Titebond III. So far, no problems with the glue joints coming apart.

g.

[Bruce Cohen]

Doweled joints will ad some extra strength to the joint, not as much as a mortise and tenon, but it will {do the job).

As to the problems of two different woods, there wont be any.

Where you're "looking for trouble" is the size of the holeyou want to drill. Dowels are notorious for NOT being the size marked. They shrink or swell, depending on hte weather. I would first use a caliper to measure the "real" diameter of your dowels and if anything, drill a slightly smaller hole. I'd also chamfer the end of the dowel a bit for easy entry. If the ends of the dowell will be exposed on both ends, allow a 1/32" or so to remain proudand then trim off the excess for a neater look.

And don't go overboard with the glue. It's not easy to get off from around the holes.

Good Luck,

Bruce

[chopnhack]

If the hole is to be exposed on one side, mask with blue tape before you drill for the dowel. That way any excess squeeze out goes on the tape which you can lift off and around the protruding dowel. If the hole is already drilled, just rub the tape down around the hole and use an exacto knife to trim the opening before installing the dowel. Has worked for me quite well in the past.

[cabinetman]

I would go a different route. I would rabbet the standing posts to accept the panels, and use TB III. It would make for a more solid joint. I wouldn't use dowels at all. The bottom can be rabbeted into the vertical panels and the standing posts.
.

[LCHIEN]

if you use 1/2" dowels and properly glue the dowels and joint you should not need pocket screws unless you want the convenience of pulling the assy together to avoid clamping.

Wood Glue makes extremely strong joints when its not starved (e.g. both surfaces are thoroughly wet with glue and no voids)

[jackellis]

I would go a different route. I would rabbet the standing posts to accept the panels, and use TB III. It would make for a more solid joint.

This was the first thing I thought about doing, but after laying the pieces out, I convinced myself there was no way I'd end up with a strong enough joint unless I used bigger posts, which would probably not be as aesthetically pleasing. The rabbet can't be more than about a half inch deep and 'm afraid it won't provide enough glue surface.

I'm going to be gone for four days, which will give me some more time to think about it.

[TB Roye]

Jack

How did you like the Thunder Storms? Was over at Silver Lake at my Uncles Cabin. Should have heard the hail on the metal roof. Wow Dogs were in my lap.

Tom

[jackellis]

It rained a bit harder Saturday than on Sunday, which allowed us to test new gutters we'd had installed on Monday. No hail, and I'm very happy my airplane is well protected from hail and snow.

It's been a pretty cool summer at Tahoe. Unfortunately, I'm having to travel to the East Coast this week and expect to swelter in the "swamp", aka Washington, DC. Swamp as in that's what our nation's capitol is built on. Swamp.