Sandal Woods
Threw a curve to a Table
Registered: 09/01/04
Posts: 3215
Loc: NW Missouri
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If it is OK with our Moderators, I will also post this to the Hand Tools forum. Thanks!
Are toothpicks strong?
I wanted to try drawboring for the small project I am working on. Since I am using mortise and tenon joinery for this small piece, I did not want to have to rive 0.080"-thick “toothpicks” to use as the pegs. The more I thought about riving “toothpicks”, the more I liked the idea of using real toothpicks. Why not?
Toothpicks are great for drawboring in small projects!
Using toothpicks for drawboring
Before you say to yourself “…Al has gone bonkers…”, take a look at the photo below. I drawbored the 5/16" x 5/8" tenon into the mortise, using common white birch toothpicks I use in the shop. I damaged the tenon while pulling and pulling; the offset for the drawboring was 1/32, as I wanted the toothpick to go all the way through the tenon, and almost to the back of the leg.
This joint did not have any glue. I used only one 0.078"-thick toothpick, driven through a 0.073" hole I drilled using an eggbeater drill (I used a #49 drill bit). Then I used muscle power to pull the tenon out of the mortise.
I feel better.
In addition to glue, I will also incorporate drawboring into the mortise and tenon joints. I call it extra insurance; I believe it is worth the extra time it takes to drill the holes in the legs, and the offset hole in the tenons.
What do you do?
Do you go the extra step when a small project will be used by little hands?
Al
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Blog: Sandal Woods - Fine Woodworking
Frank Klausz, to The Schwarz (WIA 2010): "...If YOU guys keep doing what you’re doing, this thing is not gonna die..."
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Barry
Member
Registered: 02/07/01
Posts: 6895
Loc: New Rochelle, NY
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I've used bamboo skewers from the supermarket to pin joinery. They're remarkably strong too.
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Itshardtoputspacesinbetweenyourwordswithouttheuseofyourthumbs
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vernonator
Member
Registered: 02/13/11
Posts: 632
Loc: Des Moines, IA
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Impressive, it just goes to show how strong wood can really be. Thanks for posting the pics and your experience. I have only used drawbore technique once, on the legs of my bench. But will reconsider it on smaller projects...very cool indeed.
Mark
Edited by vernonator (08/03/12 11:02 AM)
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YSU65
Member
Registered: 04/14/05
Posts: 710
Loc: Binghamton, NY
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Barry said:
I've used bamboo skewers from the supermarket to pin joinery. They're remarkably strong too.
And really cheap, too. The size is variable but you can usually get a good one in one or two tries from the pack...Tom
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GNP
Rick Rolled >+1
Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 10487
Loc: KY
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Al has gone bonkers. 
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Sandal Woods
Threw a curve to a Table
Registered: 09/01/04
Posts: 3215
Loc: NW Missouri
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GNP said:
Al has gone bonkers.
 Glad you noticed 
Barry, Mark, and YSU65,
I must try the bamboo. Bamboo should be near perfect, because of the way it fails. The fibers remain intertwined after failure, meaning they will hold together, but at reduced strength. I remember seeing entire buildings surrounded by bamboo scaffolding in the Far East - after a bit of research, I learned that bamboo for that service is possibly the best material!
Al
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Blog: Sandal Woods - Fine Woodworking
Frank Klausz, to The Schwarz (WIA 2010): "...If YOU guys keep doing what you’re doing, this thing is not gonna die..."
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