Domino

[micnboyd56]

      Hello,

I have a question about using the domino to edge join boards. After using the smallest setting for the first domino, the rest are made at the next setting for adjust ability. How can that be? I should be able to use the same size all the way across the board.

 

[Bohdan]

You can use the smallest setting for all of the dominoes but you have to be dead accurate. This can be achieved but it is difficult and slow and doesn't result in a better join.

It is much easier to use one domino on the smallest setting to align the boards lateral position and the rest sloppy to align vertically, this is also much easier to assemble when gluing.

The sloppy settings are not for adjustability but to allow for any inaccuracy in the position of the plunge.

 

[Shane Holland]

It only takes one at the tight setting to prevent lateral (side-to-side) movement. All of them prevent vertical movement regardless of the setting.

Like Bohdan said, using the wider settings just makes assembly easier and you can use the tight setting all the way down if you choose. The beauty is that you can always re-mortise at the wider setting later if you want/need to.

Shane

 

[Birdhunter]

There are a series of Youtube videos by Halfinchshy on using the Domino 500 and 700. Those videos saved me a lot of time on the learning curve.

I edge joint a lot using Dominos. In every instance, one board gets all narrow mortises and the other board gets all wider mortises. I use pencil marks on both boards to indicate desired location of the mortises. The narrow/wide technique allows for a degree of adjustment to get perfect alignment.

Shane's technique of remortising could work, but introduces the possibility of getting a sloppy tenon fit unless your technique is perfect. If I was going to remortise, I would glue a tenon into the mortise, let it dry, saw it off flush, and then redial the mortise.

 

[TylerC]

The current replies should point you in the right direction. If you keep having problems with it, give our applications team a call. They can talk you through it. 1-888-337-8600

 

[grbmds]

If you are edge gluing to make a table top or shelf or just a wider board, try it using the narrowest setting for all the slots. I do that. Since I would always trim the ends square, it doesn't matter if the glue-up is shifted a little one way or the other. I have found the Domino is so accurate that if I mark across the joint on both boards, I get it offset by less than a 1/64". Since I'm trimming the ends square anyway, it doesn't matter. I just pull it together with clamps when I glue. The clamps pull it tight. The others are absolutely right though. The wider slots don't create any glue joint strength problems since, on edge glue ups you don't need Dominoes for strength; just vertical and horizontal line up. Before the Domino I almost never reinforced and edge glued joint, but the Domino sure makes it easy to vertically align the boards perfectly.