Replies

1. 
   user-148830 | Dec 20, 2006 04:47am | #1

   Jean Pierre,
   Ah, the conundrum, when is wide enough too wide? It’s a difficult question to answer and the best thing I can do is to get back to you in one hundred years. Because only then will we know if my advice will work. But I will try anyway, given my expected time allowance.

   If we presume, flat sawn stock at an average shrinkage rate, then your board will move, in an East Coast climate perhaps 1/16" per year. Perhaps more, but factors such as humidity swings in your part of the world, type of finish, in house climate, they all chime in on this issue.

   Now splitting your tenon into double tenons I believe obviates the need for concern over movement as each tenon will move more independently of the other. The shrinkage for each will be smaller and with an aliphatic resin glue should have enough stretch in them to manage 1/32" per tenon with ease.

   Plus the fact that a double tenon will need less wood removed for the mortises than one wide long tenon. This will be stronger, and in a bed, the more strength the better.

   I would also glue both tenons. As for pinning/ not pinning, I think it helps especially if the glue fails, in say one hundred years or so, but some people believe it can cause splitting in a joint. I don’t think it’s a requirement for strength but I like it for looks so it’s your call on that one. Good luck on this. Gary

1. 
   JeanPierre | Dec 21, 2006 04:12pm | #2

   Thanks a lot,Season's GreetingsJean-PierreP.S.I'll put pins for the look!