Domino for plywood/casework

[nikev]

Hi there,

I'm just wondering if anybody has used the Domino for making plywood cabinet cases. It seems to me that it should be quite easy to butt the joints together and use dominos to attach them, but I wonder if even the 5mm Domino would be to thick for 1/2 inch stock.

Has anybody tried this?

The advantage is that using biscuits or dominoes to join makes it much easier to square things off. I find that slip joints with glue and clamps are fiendishly hard to keep square even if the pieces are properly cut.

Thanks in advance,

Nike

 

[Lou Miller]

I've made tons of cabinets with my domino. Only thing is, I don't use 1/2" stock. All of the material (except for the 1/4" backs) is 3/4". The Domino has simplified my life substantially when it comes to assembling cabinets. Easy, fast, and very strong. I used to use dados for everything, but not anymore. A full dado is probably a little stronger, but you're most likely splitting hairs by comparing the strength of the two. Dominos are much easier to set up for than dados though.

This past week, I got to use the Domino to do some railings for the first time. In time, I think you're going to find that most of the guys out there that do stair work will be adding a Domino to their collection. Really simplifies the whole process.

 

[Eli]

I use 3/4" as well. Haven't tried 1/2". Made many boxes.

 

[clintholeman]

I've used Domino for making cabinets, doors and drawers.  There are some pix of some shaker style cabinets on my blog [see siggy below].  And l of the joinery is Domino.  The drawers are the pre-finished 1/2" maple drawer stock and I made DomiDrawers with that.  All no problem.  The client loves the look and quality.

Just be sure your settings are correct [i.e. the mortise is centered in the stock] and start making mortises.  It's all good and fast!

 

[John Stevens]

If I recall correctly, Rick Christopherson's manual suggests that for soft materials like plywood, it's best to go with a tenon whose thickness is a little less than 1/3 of the thickness of the material.  So for 18mm (nominal 3/4 inch) stock, you'd use 5mm domino tenons, but for 12mm (nominal 1/2 inch) stock, there's no domino thin enough.  That's why, a couple of weeks ago when I built a cabinet from left-over 12mm stock (bought for drawers), I used biscuits.  Those 5mm domino tenons seem amazingly strong to me--I love 'em, but I wouldn't doubt they could blow out the side of a mortise, depending on the design of the cabinet and the number and locations of the tenons.

Regards,

John

 

[nikev]

Thanks for all the responses! they are most welcome.

-- Nike

 

[Joe Jensen]

I'm going to build 20 book cases for our church.  I am building them out of plain sliced red oak ply, 3/4" thick.  What spacing for the Dominos do you suggest?  Most are 12" deep and I was planning to do three tennons at each joint.

Also, do you have any suggestions for a quick way to jig up for the mortises in the sides of the book case?  Was just planning to reference each mortise height off the bottom of each shelf, and then make spacer boards to get the height for each shelf the same.  Any other methods?...joe

I've made tons of cabinets with my domino. Only thing is, I don't use 1/2" stock. All of the material (except for the 1/4" backs) is 3/4". The Domino has simplified my life substantially when it comes to assembling cabinets. Easy, fast, and very strong. I used to use dados for everything, but not anymore. A full dado is probably a little stronger, but you're most likely splitting hairs by comparing the strength of the two. Dominos are much easier to set up for than dados though.

This past week, I got to use the Domino to do some railings for the first time. In time, I think you're going to find that most of the guys out there that do stair work will be adding a Domino to their collection. Really simplifies the whole process.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Joe, the backside of the MFT's guide rail is the best way I've found to cut the mortises in the sides of cabinets.

 

[clintholeman]

A simple straight edge will work fine for your Domino.  For book cases, a square will work, making sure all the mortises are square.  Use the nifty FesTool clamps and you're off to the races!!

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Joe, the backside of the MFT's guide rail is the best way I've found to cut the mortises in the sides of cabinets.

And you can position both sides of each case on the MFT top so you can mortise both of them at the same time for each shelf to assure they'll match. 

Dave R.

 

[fdengel]

Ok, so 5mm x 30mm dominos are evidently optimal for 3/4" (18mm) ply.

Given the 18mm estimated thickness, if doing a face-to-edge (or end) joint, splitting the 30mm domino in half would only leave about 3mm of material behind the domino on one piece - assuming the bit is on correctly and all the measurements are perfect.

Is it generally a better practice to do 12mm/20mm in that situation, even though that technically gives 2mm extra room between them (12 + 20 = 32mm rather than 30mm)?

 

[Colonel Panic]

They do make 4mm dominos. I would use them for 1/2 plywood since dominos are mainly for alignment.

Cutter is part No. 495663 and Dominos are part No. 495661. They are 4mm x 17 mm x 20mm so I would advice buying Domiplate so you can center the domino in the plywood. One side is for 3/4 inch and the other is for 1/2 inch.

 

[bkharman]

Am I the only one who uses 6x40s on my ¾ ply?

I use them all the time.

 

[fshanno]

Am I the only one who uses 6x40s on my ¾ ply?

I use them all the time.

I use them too.

 

[GarryMartin]

They do make 4mm dominos. I would use them for 1/2 plywood since dominos are mainly for alignment.

The original post was from way back in 2007 and I believe the 4mm Domino and cutter were introduced after this.

 

[sancho57]

Hi there,

I'm just wondering if anybody has used the Domino for making plywood cabinet cases. It seems to me that it should be quite easy to butt the joints together and use dominos to attach them, but I wonder if even the 5mm Domino would be to thick for 1/2 inch stock.

Has anybody tried this?

The advantage is that using biscuits or dominoes to join makes it much easier to square things off. I find that slip joints with glue and clamps are fiendishly hard to keep square even if the pieces are properly cut.

Thanks in advance,

Nike

i just made one using 1/2 12mm ply. Its not for kitchen cans, its a small shelf unit 12" deep x 36" wide x 4' high, just to store some food items. I built it for a friend.
Theyve had no issues with it.

 

[sancho57]

I'm going to build 20 book cases for our church.  I am building them out of plain sliced red oak ply, 3/4" thick.  What spacing for the Dominos do you suggest?  Most are 12" deep and I was planning to do three tennons at each joint.

Also, do you have any suggestions for a quick way to jig up for the mortises in the sides of the book case?  Was just planning to reference each mortise height off the bottom of each shelf, and then make spacer boards to get the height for each shelf the same.  Any other methods?...joe

I've made tons of cabinets with my domino. Only thing is, I don't use 1/2" stock. All of the material (except for the 1/4" backs) is 3/4". The Domino has simplified my life substantially when it comes to assembling cabinets. Easy, fast, and very strong. I used to use dados for everything, but not anymore. A full dado is probably a little stronger, but you're most likely splitting hairs by comparing the strength of the two. Dominos are much easier to set up for than dados though.

This past week, I got to use the Domino to do some railings for the first time. In time, I think you're going to find that most of the guys out there that do stair work will be adding a Domino to their collection. Really simplifies the whole process.

Joe ,

Sheen has a good video series that may answer your questions

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/shaker-style-media-cabinet-videos/

 

[upscale]

I'm just wondering if anybody has used the Domino for making plywood cabinet cases. It seems to me that it should be quite easy to butt the joints together and use dominos to attach them, but I wonder if even the 5mm Domino would be to thick for 1/2 inch stock.

Well, there is a third party optional accessory for the Domino 500 that is preconfigured for 3/4" and 1/2" usage. You can effectively use the Domino on 1/2" plywood stock as per this Youtube video. I don't see it mentioned, but I'd guess that he was using the optional 4mm Domino bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lTwZy645Udc