domino cross stop question

[zapdafish]

Anyone use it much? Usually I use pencil markings and one side is cut with the  narrow setting and the other side is cut with the middle setting.

I've got some long boards I'd like to join up with both sides using the narrow settings and am afraid of it flexing and throwing me off. I really like the dowel max spacer and wish it were as beefy as that..

 

[Brice Burrell]

I use the cross stops often and I can tell you that it isn't likely you will be able to use the tight setting with them.  The older version that I have isn't accurate enough.  I understand the newest version of the cross stops are adjustable to be calibrated to your Domino.

Now, the question of why you want to use the tight setting is another matter.  It isn't needed.  Do yourself a favor and use one of the wider settings on all but the first set of holes. 

 

[mouppe]

I don't use it very much. Once I used it and got my starting point all wrong and consequently all my mortises were in the wrong place.

As Brice said, you tend to have to use the wide setting on both mortises as otherwise one side will be staggered at different spacing to the first side unless you reduce the cross stop length. I find it's one of those accessories that has a high risk/ low reward payoff, i.e. it's easy to make a mistake for the time saved in not having to mark your mortise locations with a pencil!

 

[zapdafish]

Well, its a $65 accessory so trying to figure out how to use it.  [big grin] I want all the dominos to be in line across all the boards.

I use the pencil method sorta eyeballing the spacing  but on my most recent table top, I didn't space them equally and when I was cutting the top to fit I exposed a domino. Thats when i realized I had no idea where the rest were as I had already sanded the markings off the top.

I don't see the point to them then.  How can you use the narrow slots using the cross stop to space it and then use the cross stops to space a wider slot on the opposing board without changing the cross stop setting?  

I guess I'll just make sure to line up all the boards and mark them with a ruler all at the same time to get the alignment.

 

[Alan m]

i have one but never use it. a pencil is way more accurate and it allows for different widths etc easily

 

[tiralie]

Yes I just used mine, the new version. I used the tight setting and everything fit like a glove. Granted I was using mdf so it is a little more forgiving and it was a short width (20") but I need consistent spacing for a cubby and it worked well as was very efficient.
Tim

 

[Brice Burrell]

......I don't see the point to them then.  How can you use the narrow slots using the cross stop to space it and then use the cross stops to space a wider slot on the opposing board without changing the cross stop setting?...... 

You don't use the tight setting except for the first mortise in each piece, then all the other mortises are the wider setting.  Honestly, you aren't adding anything with the tight setting.  I feel life is too short to needlessly fight aligning crap.

 

[mouppe]

I suppose in something like a louvered shutter there may be an advantage to using the cross stops, but I can't think of anything else.

Oh, and maybe if you're going to a Halloween party as a Ghostbuster.

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[semenza]

I use the cross stops when I need to do a whole bunch of the same thing. Especially if I don't want to have to keep track of which parts go with which other parts.  Using the cross stop makes it easy to make them all the same for mix 'n' match.  

I only have the older version. Are the new ones really better?  They look pretty much the same.  

 I also have a second set that I cut down (shortened the length of the wings). Most of the time I don't need more than a couple inches to each side. That way I don't have the long wings sticking out in the way or waiting to get snagged off the bench.

Seth

 

[mouppe]

The new ones are compatible with the Domino XL. Other than that I don't know how they differ from the old ones.

 

[tjbnwi]

The new stops have adjustable pins. The socket can be rotated, allowing you get an exact distance to the center of Domino. Similar to the way the pin was adjustable on the original base.

Tom