Domino - Butt joint for frames and the narrow frame fence

[Hastings]

I used my Domino to make some frames and encountered a marking problem. If you are going to use the narrow frame fence for the end-grain mortice, then it is easy to use the side fence gauges to center the material on the Domino. However, if you previously marked a line across the joint (as per page 16 of the unreleased manual), without making sure that it is absolutely centered on the abutting frame, your joints will be a little "off".

I found it easier to use the sight guage to line up with my pencil line w/o the fence so my joints "match", even if the line wasn't 100% centered? I could, of course adjust the fence each time to the pencil line, but that would slow things up and seem to me to defeat the purpose of the fence.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Am I doing something wrong? Is there a better way?

Regards,

Hastings

PS This is my first Festool, along with the CT 22.

 

[Dave Rudy]

Hastings,

Congrats on the domi -- I'm warming up to mine this week.  I'm unclear on what you're trying to do.  Is the problem that you're both trying to center using the fence and drill to a mark (which may be off center?)  If so, you have to decide which way to go.  If you want to do a production run with all centered mortises in end grain, use the fence and ignore the line on that piece (the stile?).  Mark your opposing piece (rail?) so that a centered mortise on the stile will line up to make a flush joint.  Domi the rails to the mark. 

I have made mortises in end grain of angled stock and found that the fence worked great (I used a companion angled piece as a wedge inside the fence), even though the stock was not "centered" in the fence.

Dave

 

[Hastings]

Dave:

Thanks for you reply. Sorry for not being clearer!

The problem comes if your marking line across the joint from stile to rail is not absolutely centered on the rail, then the narrow fence attachment must be adjusted to fit the "reality" of your mark. Quite easy to do, but not what one wants on a "production" run of frames. For the narrow fence to be useful, yor pencil line, starting on the stile, must cross the rail at its mid point or there will be a side to side error.

As I think about, you could set a square to exactly half the width of your rail and then hold it to the end of the stile to establish your sight line on the stile for the Domino gauge. No need to put a line on the rail as the fence attachment will take care of the centering.

Would be interested in any other thoughts, however.

Regards,

Hastings

 

[Dave Rudy]

Hastings,

That's what I was trying to say, only you said it better.  If you simply eliminate the stile mark completely and go for center, then the only requirement is that your rails be marked correctly at center of the stile stock.  If you use the square as you suggested, you can speed up the rail marking considerably.  And with the trim fence, you will speed up the stile mortises as well.

Dave

 

[mysterium]

Hastings,

If I understand you correctly you need to "adjust" the placement of the rails to "fit" reality....

Instead of using the tight fit setting for the mortise, why can't you use the next setting up to give yourself some "side to side" adjustment...

jim

 

[Hastings]

Jim:

It's a little of the OCD's I guess! Even though I know that the extra width of the slot doesn't diminish the strength, it's nice to see that little domino snug tightly in its slot!

I'm very much at the learning stage with this tool. I really didn't think of widening the slot but it makes perfect sense!

Thank you very much.

Regards,

Hastings

 

[mysterium]

Hastings,

You wouldn't necessarily have to widen the slot on both pieces...  I'd try to stay tight on the narrow piece & see how that works to allow enough adjustment first...

As Red Green would say.... "we're all in this together..."

jim