Does anyone else bevel the domino ends??

[CO_JCD]

I just put a batch on an enamelled plate in the oven on a low heat (~100C) for 10 - 15 minutes and then let cool before use.
Makes all the difference.

To what end - to remove moisture? How long do they stay 'demoisturized'?

Precisely - removing the moisture shrinks the domino enough for a good fit with glue that does not blow out the wood.  Prior to doing this, I had some dominos get 'stuck' whilst doing the glue-up.  This meant I needed to use a rubber mallet with some vigour and as the domino was not equally spaced in the two sides of the joint, would end up splitting the wood on the thinner side of the joint.

Now, I hardly need the use of a mallet and, if one is required, only a modest blow does the trick and any excess glue can flow around the domino without problem.

I am not sure how long the dominos stay 'dry' post oven as I usually just do enough for the same day / following day having kept them in a ziplock bag overnight.

As someone else said above, I also have a set of sanded down dominoes which I keep especially for a dry fit prior to the final assembly + glue-up.  I keep these sanded down dominos in a separate ziplock bag and these are fine to use again and again.

John

 

[Mavrik]

Brilliant idea with the "dry fit" set!

 

[jacko9]

Jack, brilliant idea. This would solve the problem of pulling tight Dominos after dry fit.
However, have you ever experienced one of the glued Dominos in one side were slightly crooked and refused to cooperate? Situation could get messy quickly with glues? I guess beveling could make the assembly smoother.

I have had some of the dominos move when I'm gluing up a wide cabinet side with a row of 6 or 8 tenons.  To help with this I have been indexing off my reference face with a tight fit domino then using the wider slot for the others (and this is where some of these tilt during gull up) so I have been gluing in the dominos on one side of the joint first resembling a real mortise and tenon joint.  I carefully remove the glue squeeze out from around the domino tenons and let one side of the assembly dry.  Then when I glue up the project I have a row of dominos glued in the center of a wide slot (with one acting as the index domino in a tight fit).  This prevents any tilting and makes the final assembly go very smoothly.  I do a dry fit before I glue any dominos.

Larry, I didn't mean to Hijack your thread, it's just that I don't think that beveling the edges is necessary with a reasonable technique at assembly.  I also don't like reducing the limited surface area for gluing.

Jack

 

[JBird]

I have had some of the dominos move when I'm gluing up a wide cabinet side with a row of 6 or 8 tenons.  To help with this I have been indexing off my reference face with a tight fit domino then using the wider slot for the others

Try using the narrow setting on ALL slots on one side of the joint. This will be the side that you insert the dominos first so they will all remain straight. Use the mallet here to tap the dominos in one at a time.

Then on the opposing joint surface you will use only ONE tight domino slot off your reference surface (for alignment) but all the rest loose. Just get your reference domino lined up and the rest will slide in easy and straight without a mallet and without any risk of blow out.

The joint would look like this with T for tight and L for loose slots:

T T
L T
L T
L T
L T
L T

 

[CNX]

Thanks Jack and JBird (and sorry Memphis for jacking the thread).

I believe both of you are saying the same thing, but Jack does one side (I guess the tight side) finished first, so that it becomes like a real tenon.

I used the wide-slot technique for gluing a wide panel but, you are right; we can use this approach for any applications. Finishing the tight side first is also a nice idea.

Baking Dominos is also an interesting idea and I will try next time. I'm very impressed that you have been thinking so many creative approaches while I was shaving all the "ears" and battling with the tilted Dominos!

 

[mbcabinetmaker]

I made a jig to do about 25 at the time with a block plane.  Works great. I just do one end and it makes alignment a lot easier.

 

[JeromeM]

An easy way to identify test fit dominos

[attachimg=1]

 

[jacko9]

I appreciate all of the input, we should have a thread about Domino Tips and Techniques.

 

[NERemodeling]

An easy way to identify test fit dominos

[attachimg=1]

you are sending my ocd over the edge with that picture!!!  that 30x5 is killing me

 

[sicd_steve]

[eek]wow....like others I just whack em in with a rubber mallet works perfect every time, man, who has the spare time to sand or even more dangerous cut bevels with a band saw and for what reason?

sounds like a lot of guys are bored?  To do that phew in the time you have beveled the domino you could have made another chair or table.

For me the dominoes all work fine.

 

[mouppe]

I don't bevel the domino ends but I plunge all my mortises on the narrow setting and then if I have a fit problem I shave the edges of the particular domino with a chisel until they fit. Usually it's just a hair but it guarantees a tight fit with no lateral movement.

 

[JeromeM]

[eek]wow....like others I just whack em in with a rubber mallet works perfect every time, man, who has the spare time to sand or even more dangerous cut bevels with a band saw and for what reason?

sounds like a lot of guys are bored?  To do that phew in the time you have beveled the domino you could have made another chair or table.

For me the dominoes all work fine.

As to sanding dominos. You seem to missed the point that there are  different use cases.
I sand my dryfit sets

I have also just made a wardrobe using MDF and full size dominos would spread the MDF enough to weaken it, so sanded the dominoes for it. The 10 minutes that took is not enough time for anyone to make a chair or table.  [eek]

I don't usually do anything to them when I use wood.

 

[fshanno]

I have beveled one end on 5's and 6'es if it's a complex glue up.  It does make a huge difference. 

It makes a huge difference on bowed plywood panels too.  And it makes doing dominos and butt joints so much nicer than dados for partitions. 

Never done it on the band saw.  My oscillating belt sander will take off quite a bit in just a second.  I've never taken off as much as I see in the op's photo.

 

[pettyconstruction]

I think a slightly smaller domino made of plastic may be in order.
Maybe made on a cnc machine
Oh and maybe green??
Just sayin,
Chuck

 

[mwildt]

Sounds like a Woodpecker one time tool  [eek]. Made in plastic or alu and then anodized in different colors depending on size. Drill two holes so they easier can be pulled out. Special pliers could be done too ala the ones that removes pits from cherrys. Pin goes through test domino when pliers handle is closed.  [blink]