Thread: Overtight BeadLock tenon?

Just guessing, but could it be that the actual beadlock tenon stock itself has expanded due to moisture and hence no longer the size it should be?

Could have been that, the stock was fairly new and the literature stated that the stock should be kept in an airtight container.
However all the comments on the use of the beadlock on the Net all state that the fit is very tight.
My concern is that the glue is squeezed out by the very design of the beadlock, it provides such a machanically tight joint but does not allow enough glue to remain. My understanding of mortise and tenon joints is that the main cause of failure is a "dry joint" with insufficent glue between the surfaces to allow strength.
Suresh

Yes you have a good point there...

Hard to say I guess without having used this method myself but I did consider it at one stage... that was before I discovered pocket hole joinery

If the actual beadlock stock is sucking up a bit of glue, perhaps the stock is expanding very rapidly? Perhaps if it does suck up a lot of glue, perhaps this provides the strength in addition to the tight/strong fit initially? I guess when you think about biscuit joinery, there isn't a terrible amount of glue used on the actual joint, but rather the glue is used primarily to expand the biscuit in the joint, although I'm sure someone will debate this

perhaps you could fiddle the way you make the stock???


or try microwaving the tenon pieces to dry them. they will expand with glue.???


Chech the sutable spiecies of timber for the tenon pieces.???


perhaps tey need to be tight because there are no nice straight precise sides to bear the forces properly.???

Ignorance showing here!
What is a Beadlock system?

http://www.beadlock.com/about_beadlock.htm

Gooday, never used this system (still traditional here) but have you checked the drill size.

There are 1" drills and there are 1" drills.

When I have to turn round tenons to fit drilled holes I ask the client to drill 6 test holes in the same material they are using.

Thanks for the input.
The drill bit is a new3/4" P&N bit.
The comments from other users on the Beadlock system and in the magazine are that the system makes for a very tight joint, that is my concern. Does the tightness of the joint imply that there is too little glue and therefore a weak joint.
Otherwise the system is easy to use, easy to align and by its design brings the timbers into alignment and holds them there.
As with other woodworkers, I have difficulty making a GOOD M and T joint, this appeared to give me an effective M and T joint by proxy.
Suresh

just a thaught are you using a conventional drill bit???

You may get better results with a brad point bit.


If the whole thing worries you, do some test joints, break them & or cut them apart to see whats realy hapening.

I'd like to know how you go.


cheers

It appears that the problem was the original Beadlock stock that came with the jig. I purchased some more stock from Carbitech and it was fine.
I also bought the Beadlock router bit from Carbitech to make my own tenon from the same timber as it was going into. I found it very difficult to use, the first pass is fine. However doing the second pass, the other side is very difficult as the stock is now fairly thin, approx 11mm, and creates a fair bit of chatter.
I am fairly happy with using Beadlock to replace mortice and tenon as it has a number of very good charecteristics.
Suresh