Domino 500 question, can I put a domino through a vertical?

[Amalh]

Hi there

Thanks in advance for help here, this is my first post. I'm creating a shelf unit out if 18mm birch ply and I want to know If putting a domino (8mmx50mm) through  vertical panel to support a shelf on either side is a viable option? The shelfs will  be 430mm x 400mm and won't have more than 10kg of load on them. It would save be dominoes and be easier to make.

Thanks again

 

[Birdhunter]

That sorta jangles in my old engineer’s brain. Why not use one of the many shelf support systems that are on the market?

 

[Stone Message]

Hi [member=76983]Amalh[/member]

I have done this once before. In your case you will get about 15 mm of registration in each adjacent shelf. Remember to use a shallower cut (say 15 mm), so as not to go all the way through, on the right and left verticals.

The Domino machine when set to (say 15 mm) will create a slot about 2 mm deeper. If you were to assemble shelves on both sides of a vertical piece in one go there is a chance that the domino will be asymmetric. So, with just a small amount of glue fix the dominoes in the vertical pieces, getting them even on both sides, and let the glue dry. Then when you put the shelves in from both sides they will have an equal amount of support.

This will make a very strong set of shelves and have no pins or whatever showing under the shelves.

Peter

 

[bertv]

Sure this will work. Even better: you can make it invisible. Make a stopped groove in the sides of the shelves that slides over a couple of domino-ends. Fix in place with s small screw from below. This way you have a knockdown case...

 

[tjbnwi]

Yes, this is very doable. There are other ways that are faster and not as visible, but if you want to pratice with the Domino it is a good way to get some practice.

If the shelves are to be adjustable, the Domino slots are very visible.

To keep the shelf from sliding if the case does not have a face frame you can let in the Dominos.

As mentioned above, you can slot the shelf, the Domino can do the slotting.

Tom

 

[semenza]

Welcome to the forum  [smile]

I would go with 6 x 40 on that. The weak point will be the plywood layers. The 6mm will leave a little more material than the 8mm.

Very doable though. I have done this more than once for non-adjustable shelves. It should easily hold more than 10kg. Especially if you are using actual baltic birch.

Seth

 

[Geoffrey]

I've done that with the Domino 500, using long dominoes that are for the Domino 700. That allowed me to use a thick divider between the shelves and still have a domino going deeply into the shelves on each side. It certainly made it easier to keep the shelves aligned with each other.

 

[ChuckM]

Welcome to the forum  [smile]

I would go with 6 x 40 on that. The weak point will be the plywood layers. The 6mm will leave a little more material than the 8mm.
Snip.

Seth

^^^ this. It's ply not solid hardwood, 6mm is what I'd use, unless your design is to expose the dominoes.

I also agree with Tom that it's a good opportunity to practice on the machine, even if other options are available. This machine can do a lot more than what it's designed for or its inventor thought possible. Its full potentials are for the curious to explore and benefit from (search the forum and you'll find many unorthodox applications).

This video may help if you're looking into exploring the further use of dominoes for shelving in the future:


For the record, I've got rid of all my other joinery machines after getting the DF500, including the benchtop mortiser, pocket hole jig and biscuit joiner. The only other joinery tool I still keep is my own hands for doing hand-cut joinery. That way, I solely depend on the DF for all my builds (cabinets, tables, chairs,etc.), enabling (forcing?) me to develop expertise in the machine, and recouping my investment.

 

[Amalh]

Thank you all so much for your help. Its good to know 40x6 dominoes are a good idea, they are the ones i have. The attached image is a front view of the shelf. The dominoes will be hidden, shelves will be non adhustable, but i've drawn them on to show what i'm trying to do.

Thank you all again for your help, i really appreciate the expertise you have shared. The ply arrived this morning, so i'll share an image when i'm done.

Have a good week all.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Sure you can, I have done this many times, but as stated by SRSememza (and others) go with the smaller 6mm size. It is plenty strong enough without making the shelf weaker by using the 8mm. The problem of going with the 6mm Dominos is that they are only 40mm, which doesn't give you much sticking through. I usually just make my own longer tenons at that point. It only take a few minutes and a round-over bit.