Can you buy tenons made to fit the middle and wide settings on the Domino? Specifically, with the 6mm bit you get a 30mm wide mortise on the wide setting. That's a good size for face frames. Does anyone sell a 6mm tenon that is 30mm wide? Given the settings on the Domino and the 4 bits, there are 60 distinct thickness-width-length possibilities. All I know about are the FESTOOL and Tuffer tenons.
Can you get wider tenons for the Domino?
- Thread starter fshanno
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The Domino's don't come in widths specifically designed for the wider setting on the Domino. You'd have to make your own tenons to fit the wider settings.
Keep in mind the factory pruchased Domino's have grooves to hold glue between the Domino and the workpiece.
Dan Clermont
Keep in mind the factory pruchased Domino's have grooves to hold glue between the Domino and the workpiece.
Dan Clermont
Dan,
I was just wondering if anyone knew if you could get tenon stock with round edges in a wider variety of thicknesses and widths. We could cut it to length ourselves. I can't see myself ever machining a 5mm or 6mm thick tenon. There are times when two won't fit and a wider 6mm would sure come in handy. Since the machine can cut the mortise it just seemed obvious. The grooves make a better tenon and that would be nice as well.
I was just wondering if anyone knew if you could get tenon stock with round edges in a wider variety of thicknesses and widths. We could cut it to length ourselves. I can't see myself ever machining a 5mm or 6mm thick tenon. There are times when two won't fit and a wider 6mm would sure come in handy. Since the machine can cut the mortise it just seemed obvious. The grooves make a better tenon and that would be nice as well.
What if ....
What if you split two dominos lengthwise not quite in half, so the two bigger "halves" are almost as wide as the wide mortise?
Or use one domino and one little slice from another. Yes, you'd have a gap where the straight edge lies next to the rounded end of the full domino, but don't we want to leave a space for glue to escape?
Tom in SE Pennsylvania
What if you split two dominos lengthwise not quite in half, so the two bigger "halves" are almost as wide as the wide mortise?
Or use one domino and one little slice from another. Yes, you'd have a gap where the straight edge lies next to the rounded end of the full domino, but don't we want to leave a space for glue to escape?
Tom in SE Pennsylvania
ROb McGilp
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Making larger dominos is easy. The best way for good structural strength plus sufficient space for glue to move, is to cut the timber to the width you want, then run a 45 degree chamfer over the corners. (or run the timber blank along your jointer before cutting the dominos to length.
Remember that you don't have to stop at 32mm either, you can cut the mortise to any width you want.
Regards,
Rob
Remember that you don't have to stop at 32mm either, you can cut the mortise to any width you want.
Regards,
Rob
mastercabman
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The 6mm tenon is 20mm wide,do you really think that having a 30mm tenon is going to make any difference on how strong the joint is?
mastercabman said:
33% more surface area and cross-section must mean something and it would make the joint even more resistant to twist. Rip a 3/4 board 2" wide and plunge a mortise in the end of it using the wide setting and see how it looks to you.
mastercabman
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Maybe! but does it really?fshanno said:
mastercabman said:
Wouldn't it have to? Bigger tenons are stronger up to the point where the mortise is too close the the edge of the material. Otherwise why would we have bigger tenons? More wood in the shear plane.
So here's the question. Would there be a market for a 6x40 and an 8x50 domino designed to fit well in a mortise created at the wide setting? What if FESTOOL had planned from the beginning that the wide setting was for wide tenons as well as loose fit with smaller tenons and had put such tenons in the sustainer kit. Would people have used them or would they have just sat there?
mastercabman
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Stronger? sure!,but overkill for a 1 1/2"-2"x 3/4" don't you think? I mean,what is wrong with a 6mmx20mm tenon?fshanno said:
I have build many face frame different ways,i do think it is more than adequate for the task.
As for you question,if Festool did design wider tenons for the wider setting,i think it would be available,but then someone would bitch about not having a setting on the tool to make the cut wider than the wide setting we have now. so back to square one!
mastercabman said:
Well if you pin me down then, yea, it would be overkill on face frames. I guess we've all used the 6mm on 1 1/2" face frames and they work fine. But you agree that if domino tenons designed to fit the wider setting were commonly available we would find a uses for them and be glad we had them?
As for the Domino itself. Could it be better? All I'll say is this, just as it sits today my Domino is my favorite woodworking tool.
If you really, really wanted wider tenons, they would not be that difficult to make. I think I saw someplace that Whiteside makes bits for 6-8-10 mm etc., but I think you could get pretty close with imperial sized bits. If you planed a board down to proper thickness, you could make a boatload of tenons in short order. Personally, I haven't found a need for wider ones.
ROb McGilp
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fshanno said:
You don't need to round the tenons as they are chamfered at the four corners.
Regards,
Rob
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No, you round over the tenon stock. Festool makes a 5mm, 6mm and mm round over.
I make my own dominoes, the same way Rob McGilp makes them. Instead of a round over bit, just use a 45 degree router bit. This can be adjusted for all 4 sizes. And with the 45degree, it allows for the air and excess glue to get out of the mortice.
I even have a chart of the different widths for each size and setting. And they dont cost me a cent, just use scraps and abit of spare time.
I even have a chart of the different widths for each size and setting. And they dont cost me a cent, just use scraps and abit of spare time.
Can you not get planed stock in these thicknesses in the US? Here in the UK lots of the more 'trade'-oriented DIY stores sell 'Stripwood' - lengths of planed-all-round timber usually in 30 and 50mm widths, and 4, 6, 8 and 10mm thicknesses. Interestingly, I've used it to make longer dominos, but never wider... 
Cheers, Pete
Cheers, Pete
How about planing 6/4(38mm) boards down to the width and ripping strips from that.
I found bullnose bits from Amana in a pretty good selection of sizes. They have 11 diameters from 5/64 to 3/8.
Amana Bullnose bits
You would only need two passes on the router table.
Then use a finger joint bit on each side to make glue grooves.
Amana finger joint bits
Actually, this may be the justification for that molder I've been eying. It wouldn't be terribly expensive to have some blades made to cut the radius and the grooves. You could run two or three strips at a time through a molder.
I found bullnose bits from Amana in a pretty good selection of sizes. They have 11 diameters from 5/64 to 3/8.
Amana Bullnose bits
You would only need two passes on the router table.
Then use a finger joint bit on each side to make glue grooves.
Amana finger joint bits
Actually, this may be the justification for that molder I've been eying. It wouldn't be terribly expensive to have some blades made to cut the radius and the grooves. You could run two or three strips at a time through a molder.
