Domino for angles

[otis04]

First off, I love the Domino.  However, I was recently making a "column" using 4 boards cut to a 45.  I checked the angles and they wer perfect.  Used the domino to join the pieces but I had a tough time because the dominoes were off.  Are the any hints or techniques for getting good alignment when there isn't a firm 90 to register against?

 

[semenza]

Aside from  from possibly not having the fence  firmly placed , did you use a known 45 square to check the fence setting on the Domino?  Not sure I would count on getting it exact just using the scale on the Domino.  It would take very little  for  this to get messed up.

Seth

 

[RDMuller]

I have done this successfully, but you have to be very very careful.  I am going to try something i saw being done someplace on the web with a biscuit joiner.  Attach a piece of plywood on the angled plate and then stick down a big stair tread anti-slip tape (basically sandpaper with double stick glue) on the plywood.  Nothing will slip or creep.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Haven't tried it with the Domino, but when using other tools, we have attached a 45 degree wedge to the workpiece so that it will present itself to the tool at 90 degrees.

 

[WoodSam]

I recently made a hexagonal container using the Domino and it was quite straightforward using a technique that was shown in a Festool class by Brian Sedgely. In this case the angle was 30 degrees but I don't think it matters what the angle is. You register the Domino off of the interior face of the work piece ( in my case the 30 degree angle ) and then place the face of the Domino on the angled slope such that when you lower the fence onto the interior face of the wood it is absolutely tight. Then by definition the fence assumes the angle of the cut. One thing to be cautious about is that the actual Domino slot is  sufficiently high on the slope that there is no danger of blowing through the lower side of the wood. I hope this helps and in my case all of the pieces fit perfectly .

 

[Kevin Stricker]

One thing I have done is to clamp a few of the pieces on top of each other and line them up so the 45 degree side continues from the lower piece to the top piece effectively doubling the thickness of the surface.  Now get down next to the pieces with the fence loose and holding the fence knob with one hand let the domino conform to the stock angle so you cannot see any light between the fence and the stock then carefully clamp at that angle. Now if you make your domino mortices at even intervals from both ends you can mark both pieces at the same time(or all 4 if you can stack them all at the same time).

The key for getting good mortises on an angle is in the presentation of the Dominoe to the stock. You have to make sure the base of the fence is tight to the stock when you plunge or it will mortice more towards the outside of the beveled cut  I always have several clamps on the stock, then I use my clamping hand to hold the fence knob down and if I can wrap my fingers around the back side of the stock for extra clamping. I used to plunge the Domino with my hand back by the plug, but I have found it better for me to hold the Domino with my thumb and forefinger right where the Domino gets thinner on the body.

Anyways, maybe more info than you needed?  Hopefully it helps.