Domino Ancestor

Birdhunter

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I was watching a guy restore a very old hand cranked machine. I had no idea what the machine did until he assembled the many parts and operated it. It functions much like a Domino. It spins a drill bit while sweeping it in an arc and gradually lowering the cut depth. The guy indicated the device was used to install door locks. Fascinating.
 
There are vintage versions of this machine available used.  This appears to be a Chinese knockoff of those vintage machines.

It only shares the oblong hole result with the Domino machine.  Is this what you saw?
 
[member=15289]Birdhunter[/member]
Was it this one?
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Imagine the clamping force that would need to allow the drill to cut sideways without skewing the jig!

I suspect that's one of those inventions no-one said "how did we do mortises before this beauty?" about!
 
luvmytoolz said:
Imagine the clamping force that would need to allow the drill to cut sideways without skewing the jig!
I'm sure it's not an ordinary drill bit, but one ground to cut sideways. Just like an end mill, a router, or Domino bit for that matter. In the latter case just hand pressure suffices.
 
The Youtube video showed the device being used. I didn't notice any rocking motion, but I may have just not noticed. I did see a lot of adjustments made to set up the device.

The mortise looked very clean at the end of the video. No power cords and no batteries. It reminded me of some of the incredible farm machines I saw when touring Amish areas.

However, I think I will hang onto my 2 Domino's.
 
Porter-Cable used to make a mortising attachment, for door locks, that worked with a router. It would clamp onto the door and a hand cranking mechanism would raise/lower it to make the slot. This was independent of the motor, which just ran the bit. It was a bit complex, but once set-up, the process was fast.
Probably doesn't exist anymore though, Porter-Cable become a shell of its former self. About all that is left is the name of that particular style of router bushing.
 
Birdhunter said:
The Youtube video showed the device being used.
[member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] , could you share a link, please? Or just the title of the video? Thanks.
 
Svar said:
luvmytoolz said:
Imagine the clamping force that would need to allow the drill to cut sideways without skewing the jig!
I'm sure it's not an ordinary drill bit, but one ground to cut sideways. Just like an end mill, a router, or Domino bit for that matter. In the latter case just hand pressure suffices.

Hand cranked no matter how well the sides are ground, that ain't gonna be fun for anyone! Side cutting puts enormous pressure on the cutter and equipment on powered tools, let alone a manual tool like that.
 
Crazyraceguy said:
Porter-Cable used to make a mortising attachment, for door locks, that worked with a router. It would clamp onto the door and a hand cranking mechanism would raise/lower it to make the slot. This was independent of the motor, which just ran the bit. It was a bit complex, but once set-up, the process was fast.
Probably doesn't exist anymore though, Porter-Cable become a shell of its former self. About all that is left is the name of that particular style of router bushing.

I used one for years to cut mortises for doors. They were very accurate and centred on the edge just by clamping it on.
 

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That porter cable is now under the brand Virutex.  Ya, that edgebanding place.

Lock Mortiser FC116U

Priced about the same as the DF700.
 
Svar said:
I'm sure it's not an ordinary drill bit, but one ground to cut sideways. Just like an end mill, a router, or Domino bit for that matter. In the latter case just hand pressure suffices.

This statement reminds me of Pathfinder bits sold by Milwaukee that were a modified Forstner bit that could cut curved holes to route electrical cable through weird spaces. Milwaukee quit selling them about 15 years ago but were they ever handy for running electricity through circuitous areas. If you run across a set don't even haggle over the price...just give the person cash and be done with it.  [big grin]

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Cheese said:
If you run across a set don't even haggle over the price...just give the person cash and be done with it.  [big grin]
No need, termites doing it for me for free :-)
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