Domino Users -->> How Confident are you?? :-)

[mr_hockey]

I have the Domino and love it...it saves me a lot of time.

However, when I dry fit my piece it takes forever to pull the Dominos out (plus its a real PITA  ). My current project had 48 Dominos  :'( It took me 30 minutes to pull out all the Dominos.

So... I was wondering if you have enough confidence in the Domino to go straight to glue up OR do you still do a dry fit???

Thanks

 

[Fred West]

I have used mine extensively but still feel a need to dry fit no matter what. Not sure if it is necessary or just my OCD. ) Fred

 

[MarkF]

I have a handful of dominos I've sanded down a bit off the thickness and width and use them for dryfitting.  They are much easier to remove and don't distort the mortise when removed.  I always have a few "Oh S*&T" moments when I don't do a dryfit and have to let the glue dry, cut the dominos off with a flush trim saw and re-do the mortise.

 

[clintholeman]

I use my Domino a lot - almost every working day.  Dry fitting, while it can be a real PITA, is an essential step, IMO.  You really do find out if it is all going to work together - and if not make the corrections, without tearing it apart when it is glued - or in the middle of a glue-up [arrrgghhh!]

Try not using all the tenons on the side e.g.  if you have 5 mortises on one side, only use 2, or maybe three for the dry fit up.  Just enough to hold the piece together.  You still get the benefits of the dry fit up, while reducing the amount of time pulling the tight tenons out of their mortises.

 

[Hastings]

Hockey:

I glue the tenon part into the work piece before dry fitting. I make the case that it is just like a regular M&T dry fit. Besides it is easy to lop the domino off and re-plunge. I got fed up with having to extract Dominoes with channel locks! Now I just pull the dry fit apart as if it were well-fitting M&Ts

Hastings

 

[mr_hockey]

Hockey:

I glue the tenon part into the work piece before dry fitting. I make the case that it is just like a regular M&T dry fit. Besides it is easy to lop the domino off and re-plunge. I got fed up with having to extract Dominoes with channel locks! Now I just pull the dry fit apart as if it were well-fitting M&Ts

Hastings

Interesting idea!!!

I imagine you have to be somewhat careful with the glue squeeze out when you glue in the Dominos into the first piece???

 

[Hastings]

"I imagine you have to be somewhat careful with the glue squeeze out"

Just wipe the excess glue with a damp sponge and wait for the glue to dry before dry fitting your work.

Hastings

 

[Eli]

Hockey:

I glue the tenon part into the work piece before dry fitting. I make the case that it is just like a regular M&T dry fit. Besides it is easy to lop the domino off and re-plunge. I got fed up with having to extract Dominoes with channel locks! Now I just pull the dry fit apart as if it were well-fitting M&Ts

Hastings

I've done that. I like it if it isn't a rush, if I don't have to glue up everything at once to get it done. Much more chill.

 

[bassman00]

I glue the tenon part into the work piece before dry fitting. I make the case that it is just like a regular M&T dry fit. Besides it is easy to lop the domino off and re-plunge. I got fed up with having to extract Dominoes with channel locks! Now I just pull the dry fit apart as if it were well-fitting M&Ts

Great idea.  Brilliant in it's simplicity.

I do find the dominoes stick more in the end grain vs long or edge grain mortises.

PaulD