Domino Question

Wildcoach

Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Messages
16
Hi All,

I am using my new Domino 500 and ran into a quandry.  I am making a stereo cabinet and am working on the top.  The top is plywood center, with lumber edging (edging is 1.5" wide).

My problem is that when I set the domino for the thickness of 20, and make my cuts into the plywood and then the edging, the faces do not line up flush.  The lumber is a little thicker but I figure that since I am indexing from the top of the plywood and lumber, the domino should be 10mm from the top of each so the two pieces should line up.  I have checked my settings, tried different combinations, but I am still getting the lumber to sit a little higher than the plywood.  What is the secret here?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Wildcoach
 
Sometimes the way you hold the joiner as you plunge is the problem. I had similar issue when first figuring out domino,sometimes they'd be flush and others would be off...but someone gave me great tip and it solved alignment issues.When plunging for cut rather than holding joiner by housing and pushing,use only your thumb at rear of  joiner above plug and push straight in ....this prevents any tendency of slight tipping...I was skeptical at first but it worked for me..hope this made sense and works for you
 
Thanks,

What do you mean by "plug"?  (Seems like a stupid question, but I want to make sure I'm not pushinig on the wrong part).

Wildcoach
 
Make certain that the Domino is being supported only by the fence when you are making the plunge. If the material is of different thickness and the Domino happens to rest on the workbench this can throw off the reference of the fence. In other words check that the Domino is ONLY supported by the fence. This wi;; insure that the cutter will plunge with the same distance from the referenced side of the workpiece. Also hold the fence tight to the work with the forward handle and hold the Domino towards the back and plunge with a smooth but firm motion. Try these suggestions and I think you will get the results that you are after. You are going to LOVE your Domino by the way. Plunge is the action of moving the body of the Domino machine as the cutter is rotating into the workpiece to make the mortise which is the female recess that the Domino tenon fits into. The only bad question is the one that does not get asked!
 
Thanks,

I figured it out after reading the posts here.  Apparently, the plywood I am using is so thin it is allowing the domino to touch the bench while drilling the mortise which prevents the domino from drilling 10mm from the top of the board.  The lumber I am using is thicker so the domino doesn't touch the bench and is able to drill the 10mm from the top.  Therefore, I have mis-alignment. 

Thanks for the help guys.  I really appreciate it.

 
You're asking a lot if you're asking for perfect alignment on solid edge banding.  Your milling of the banding has to be perfect and the plywood has to be perfect.  And the top veneer these days can be so thing that only light finish sanding is possible.  So, I always have the banding stand a bit proud of the plywood then trim it with a router.
 
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