Hey guys, I have a Domino that has seen very little use, its actually my wife's, and recently decided to use it to miter fold some Oak Beams. Luckily I built a test piece first, as this was my first project, and could not get the tenons to seat no matter how hard I persuaded them. She told me that she only used them on the loosest setting as advised by her professor! I took my machine to Woodcraft and after doing a bunch of measuring, swapping, and chin scratching it was determined that it was out of spec with the other machines present. The guys working had been there for years and never seen it, but did say quite a few Rotex sanders had been going back fyi. Considering the tool is basically brand new has anyone else experienced this? Its out of warranty because it was purchased for a grad school project but I feel conflicted about the whole situation. I wanted to buy a random orbital as well but for now I think ill see how this plays out.
Domino Out of Spec
- Thread starter guyky
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Michael Kellough
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Holes too narrow or too shallow?
squall_line
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Judging the quality of a sander based on a tool that is over three years old and has sat unused most of that time doesn't make much sense to me, personally.
"Out of spec" can mean so MANY different things that without more details there isn't much assistance that anyone here can offer other than wild speculation.
If the machine is that old, are the dominoes themselves also more than 3 years old? Have they swollen from moisture over time?
"Out of spec" can mean so MANY different things that without more details there isn't much assistance that anyone here can offer other than wild speculation.
If the machine is that old, are the dominoes themselves also more than 3 years old? Have they swollen from moisture over time?
woodferret
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Take some sandpaper or plane and remove the two ribs (corner only) of a domino and try inserting. Might be a simple case of swollen tenons - especially if it fits fine in loose mode.
While a photo or two will greatly help us understand your issue, in the absence of them, could you expand a bit on exactly what the Woodcraft staff measured and swapped to come to the conclusion that the machine was of spec. (and by how much)? What specifications are we talking about here?
"I took my machine to Woodcraft and after doing a bunch of measuring, swapping, and chin scratching it was determined that it was out of spec with the other machines present. The guys working had been there for years and never seen it,"
"...could not get the tenons to seat no matter how hard I persuaded them."
Are you saying the dominoes bottomed out, leaving a gap in the joint?
"I took my machine to Woodcraft and after doing a bunch of measuring, swapping, and chin scratching it was determined that it was out of spec with the other machines present. The guys working had been there for years and never seen it,"
"...could not get the tenons to seat no matter how hard I persuaded them."
Are you saying the dominoes bottomed out, leaving a gap in the joint?
Crazyraceguy
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- Oct 16, 2015
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I have never used the loosest setting for anything other than screw-slots, where no Domino was ever going into the opening. Tight or medium is all that should be needed.
As stated though, we need more information about the actual problem.
"Miter-folding" is a completely different matter though. If you are doing this with solid wood (and with the grain), the Dominos are probably going to work against you anyway. They are not required for strength. The glue is stronger than the wood fibers anyway.
I do this a lot, with hardwood and pre-laminated panels, and never use Dominos with it.
This is a perfect case of "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should".
The key to it is tape, done correctly, which is NOT blue painter's tape. That is how the "fold" of miter-fold works, the Dominos won't do that. You need filament tape, going across the joint-line every 10" or so, depending on total length of the parts. Then follow that with packing tape, along the joint, giving complete coverage. Lay it out smooth and roll it down, if you can. The better that tape seals this area, the less glue you have to deal with later. The hinge you create is the most important part of it.
HTH
As stated though, we need more information about the actual problem.
"Miter-folding" is a completely different matter though. If you are doing this with solid wood (and with the grain), the Dominos are probably going to work against you anyway. They are not required for strength. The glue is stronger than the wood fibers anyway.
I do this a lot, with hardwood and pre-laminated panels, and never use Dominos with it.
This is a perfect case of "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should".
The key to it is tape, done correctly, which is NOT blue painter's tape. That is how the "fold" of miter-fold works, the Dominos won't do that. You need filament tape, going across the joint-line every 10" or so, depending on total length of the parts. Then follow that with packing tape, along the joint, giving complete coverage. Lay it out smooth and roll it down, if you can. The better that tape seals this area, the less glue you have to deal with later. The hinge you create is the most important part of it.
HTH
