Thread: What is the strongest joint?

4 dowells is the strongest

see here and scroll down for an independant test summary

Where's the Amsterdam Black option

HH.

So the answer is M&T unless you have 4 or more dowels?

HH.

Where is the Rat's option?

I'm surprised ya didn't carve an olive wood rat's ring Cliff

The answer is just not that simple if your decision to use one joint over another is to be for structural reasons.
The final result is determined by many factors some fixed some variable.

• Timber choice for each component
• Size and number of dowels, tennons or biscuits
• Proximity to other joints
• Choice if glue
• Fitting of joint
• Type and duration of stress on joint

The tests set up to demonstrate joint strength are nice and neat and give repeatable consistent results but do not accurately replicate the stresses created in the real world. In the real world you have stresses from multiple directions often the maximum loading will come after years of working the joint and then some fat idiot will lean back on the chair.
Often these tests replicate the joint you might find on the back of a chair and the simple M&T is not always the best choice here.
In truth and over time I think a wedged through tennon or multiple tennon with pins would win out .

Ross

Originally Posted by echnidna

I'm surprised ya didn't carve an olive wood rat's ring Cliff

Would you settle for a bull's eye?

Im guessing 4 dowels have more surface area than the tennon and the tennon should have been 3/8 wide not 5/16th to be fair.

And would you advertise your product has less strength compared to another product... chuck in a domi joint for a good measure!

Another factor to examine... How much strength do you NEED?

All those numbers may be impressive but the findings are slanted toward the outcome and you have to factor the WWing process and the Need.

I am not nor will I be convienced that a dowel or a row of dowels is the finest or bestest or strongest or mostest wonderful way to go. If you have spent a pocket full on a Dowelmax then enjoy the results then have at it. They have their place but it is not in-place of other joints. No more than the Biscuit or pocket screw is the panacia of Woodworking future.

Not again.

I don’t care what the result was there is no way I would make a chair with dowels.

I agree with Ross and Hickory.

I posted this test just to stimulate some discussion about joints and to illustrate that a properly executed dowel joint is an adequate alternative to a m&t in many circumstances.

I have no intention of buying an overpriced dowel jig like the dowelmax.

Wongo, there have been countless good quality antique chairs made with dowel joints.

So?

Originally Posted by echnidna

....Wongo, there have been countless good quality antique chairs made with dowel joints.

Originally Posted by Wongo

So?

Mr. Wong doesn't make good quality antique chairs.

Seems logical.