Domino Gadget for box building.
- Thread starter polarsea1
- Start date
arso_bg
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- Jan 6, 2008
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- 178
Hi everybody
I was planning since a long time to try out this method of work with the Domino, but I managed to do it only last week. The preparation didn't take much time. Everything it needs is a rectangular piece of wood with three holes. I used a piece of melamine coated particle board 16 mm thick and the dimensions are 220mm X 120mm. It fits well in the Systainer.
What I have to say is that I am very, very impressed. It works amazingly well!
The Domino is very easy to align and very stable during work. Within seconds I made several joints - on all of them both pieces are perfectly flush and the joints are perfectly 90 degree.
I will definitely use this jig always when it is suitable and would recommend it to everybody.
I was planning since a long time to try out this method of work with the Domino, but I managed to do it only last week. The preparation didn't take much time. Everything it needs is a rectangular piece of wood with three holes. I used a piece of melamine coated particle board 16 mm thick and the dimensions are 220mm X 120mm. It fits well in the Systainer.
What I have to say is that I am very, very impressed. It works amazingly well!
The Domino is very easy to align and very stable during work. Within seconds I made several joints - on all of them both pieces are perfectly flush and the joints are perfectly 90 degree.
I will definitely use this jig always when it is suitable and would recommend it to everybody.
jonny round boy
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- Jul 21, 2007
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- 3,227
I'm definitely going to make one of these - I've got some 12mm / 1/2" birch ply drawerboxes to make at some point, so I think I'll also incorporate fshanno's idea of a stepped version to reduce the offset of the bit.
And I have some of the clamping element knobs kicking around - I don't know why they include them with the clamps (I've never come across a situation where they are needed) but they are extremely useful for attaching to jigs!
And I have some of the clamping element knobs kicking around - I don't know why they include them with the clamps (I've never come across a situation where they are needed) but they are extremely useful for attaching to jigs!
Great idea, after working with the original Festool angle bracket just one week ago this is exactly what I need.
polarsea1: I think you're right about the aluminum, thats why I've ordered some 112 x 171 x 10 mm aluminum plates. The drilling should not be a problem, but I would also like to slot the holes!
Has anyone used the OF 1010 for this purpose or in general for aluminum or should I stick with the simple drilling method?
polarsea1: I think you're right about the aluminum, thats why I've ordered some 112 x 171 x 10 mm aluminum plates. The drilling should not be a problem, but I would also like to slot the holes!
Has anyone used the OF 1010 for this purpose or in general for aluminum or should I stick with the simple drilling method?
Hi
I found making this usefull
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it projects about 15mm past the base so I can use the joiner upright and the work fully supported not overhanging.
Works well for me as most of my work is 18mm and thicker
Used lexon stays straight and can take a beating
I found making this usefull
[attachimg=#]
[attachimg=#]
[attachimg=#]
it projects about 15mm past the base so I can use the joiner upright and the work fully supported not overhanging.
Works well for me as most of my work is 18mm and thicker
Used lexon stays straight and can take a beating
Brice Burrell
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- Mar 13, 2007
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- 7,385
FEStastic said:
I've had good luck with the support bracket that comes with the Domino. Plus the fence allows you adjust the center of your mortise. With your bracket that spacing is fixed. Well, I don't mean to get too far off track here since this isn't all that closely related. The concept here is great. thanks for posting Polar. [thumbs up]
Michael Kellough
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- Jan 23, 2007
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- 7,100
This is a pretty interesting addition to the Domino. While the versions posted so far
seem to be limited to one depth that could be expanded with the step mentioned above
and the addition of shims or spacers that could simply be added with small embedded magnets.
I like the slot idea and I'd add that the step could be a step up on one side (or end)
and a step down on the other to expand the range of depths available.
Why bother when the fence is adjustable over a broad range? A couple of reasons.
One is that the fence only provides secure depth registration for tenons bored on
one side of a corner. (I sure wouldn't want to loose the fence since not all corners
are 90 degrees). Another reason is that the fence sometimes clamps up out of parallel
with the mortise and it's hard to tell it's off until you've made the cut or joined the parts.
This isn't a problem when there are two or more mortises in a row but when you want
a good fit from one Domino such as on a face frame or cabinet door a single out of parallel
mortise ensures that the rail and stile won't fit well. This jig eliminates that problem.
seem to be limited to one depth that could be expanded with the step mentioned above
and the addition of shims or spacers that could simply be added with small embedded magnets.
I like the slot idea and I'd add that the step could be a step up on one side (or end)
and a step down on the other to expand the range of depths available.
Why bother when the fence is adjustable over a broad range? A couple of reasons.
One is that the fence only provides secure depth registration for tenons bored on
one side of a corner. (I sure wouldn't want to loose the fence since not all corners
are 90 degrees). Another reason is that the fence sometimes clamps up out of parallel
with the mortise and it's hard to tell it's off until you've made the cut or joined the parts.
This isn't a problem when there are two or more mortises in a row but when you want
a good fit from one Domino such as on a face frame or cabinet door a single out of parallel
mortise ensures that the rail and stile won't fit well. This jig eliminates that problem.
This seems like a brilliant addition! I plan to make one too. I have a question, though. When you use the domino upside down to cut slots into the end of the board, doesn't that reverse left-to-right also? If you align with pencil lines and mark both pieces in place that shouldn't be a problem, but if you measure or use stops and there are more than two dominoes in the joint, you could get into trouble!
richard.selwyn
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- Jan 23, 2007
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- 635
Just an idea, but the Lamello biscuit jointers offer add on pieces to slip over their pivoting fences - I have one that is 2mm and one 4mm. They are great and in my experience more accurate than the domino slide up and down. My biggest problem is not being able to get the domino close enough into the corners of things that are already assembled - I guess we always want more! I just bought my first exterior grade dominos but have yet to use them. Any feedback?
Richard.
Richard.
I agree that the angle bracket attachment is too small and shaky. I've gotten a feel for it - but I need to concentrate on every face-plunge I do to make sure it's sitting right. I like this as a simple, fast, easy-to-make solution!
OTOH, I don't know if I'm too crazy about using the tool upside down and having to use a different jig for each offset / wood thickness. I have a whole bunch of left over 8020 parts from when I was making my MFT table (still working out a few kinks with that, but it's 95% done, will post pics soon). SO I used one of the really beefy angle brackets (2.75" x 2.75" x 1/4") to make the angle bracket shown below. I put the 1/4" MDF on the bottom to give it a little larger base than just the Alu and to give me a place to mount a little handle - it works WAY better than the standard angle bracket. I also took the advice of the folks here and put counter-sinks on the holes on the backside of the Alu for the rubber lock-rings for the festool thumb-screws. Only problem is that the screws are so long it's a little tedious to take on and off, think I may order a bag of M5 thumb-screws next time I do a McMaster order.
Thanks for stirring my brain in the direct of improving on the plastic angle bracket, I like this much better and wouldn't have thought to do it!
For anyone who's going to do this, the holes in the base are centered 50mm apart and 52mm back from the face of the tool.
Sorry the pics are a little messy - my phone and poorly lit shop.
Cheers guys,
Chris
OTOH, I don't know if I'm too crazy about using the tool upside down and having to use a different jig for each offset / wood thickness. I have a whole bunch of left over 8020 parts from when I was making my MFT table (still working out a few kinks with that, but it's 95% done, will post pics soon). SO I used one of the really beefy angle brackets (2.75" x 2.75" x 1/4") to make the angle bracket shown below. I put the 1/4" MDF on the bottom to give it a little larger base than just the Alu and to give me a place to mount a little handle - it works WAY better than the standard angle bracket. I also took the advice of the folks here and put counter-sinks on the holes on the backside of the Alu for the rubber lock-rings for the festool thumb-screws. Only problem is that the screws are so long it's a little tedious to take on and off, think I may order a bag of M5 thumb-screws next time I do a McMaster order.
Thanks for stirring my brain in the direct of improving on the plastic angle bracket, I like this much better and wouldn't have thought to do it!
For anyone who's going to do this, the holes in the base are centered 50mm apart and 52mm back from the face of the tool.
Sorry the pics are a little messy - my phone and poorly lit shop.
Cheers guys,
Chris
CList said:
Chris,
I take it your fence is working fine for you. Part of my deal is that my fence can be a little funky sometimes. With the board screwed to bottom and the fence in it's 0 degree position I get two large bearing surfaces that are very close to 90 and no risk of slippage. I get the 10mm distance reliably.
I notice that you have the newer model with the paddles. Makes me wonder if your fence is better than mine.
And yes, it is a little wacky using the Domino upside down. I've done it quite a bit and I don't like it. I wish I didn't have to do it but I get better results with my little board.
fshanno said:
Ah yes,... the fence-slippage problem... That would be a good reason to go with the board.
I'd read about that before getting my Domino (it's less than a month old), but I think they fixed that problem with these newer paddle-style fences because it hasn't been a problem for me (so far), mine seems to stay exactly where I set it. I read some posts when the new model first came out about the pros and cons and someone mentioned they'd changed the milling somehow to make it less likely to slip. I was using it a bunch just this evening and will be doing another 40 or 50 mortices with it tomorrow so that'll be a good test; I haven't used it for any extended period yet on just one setting since I was still in the play-period where I was trying out all kinds of different things with it.
Cheers,
C
Brice Burrell
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- Mar 13, 2007
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- 7,385
Very nice Ron. The only thing I might do differently is use thumb screws to attach it. (scratch that since you'd still need a tool to remove the handle.)
Are you set up to make a small batch of these to sell? Not sure I'm in the market but I'm fairly sure you could sell them.
Are you set up to make a small batch of these to sell? Not sure I'm in the market but I'm fairly sure you could sell them.
Brice Burrell said:
Yep, I considered that -- Just a tapped thru hole in the center front to screw a knob w/stud on from either side. Then it would be useful to have the same knobs w/ 5mm studs holding the plate on -- No tools involved. However, since I don't charge for my time ( [wink]) & I thought that handle was kinda neat that's what I went with.
Yeah, I could probably make a batch or two...
Wood_Junkie
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- Dec 2, 2009
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RonWen said:
[thumbs up]
I like your setup and most of the time I'm using 3/4" material.
If you decide to make a few, count me in!
There does seem to be a fair amount of interest from others that would like one for their Dominos. It seems my best option would be if one of the fine dealers on here (already setup for credit cards, shipping, etc.) might have an interest in handling that portion & I could just ship batches of the sole plates to them for distribution. Please stay tuned. [wink]
