Dominos are not snug any longer

[Skogie1]

I cut a series of 8x50 domino slots with my DF 500 recently and the dominos slid in a lot easier than I remember them doing before. They used to require some persuading to seat. Now they slide right in. Any thoughts on what is causing this? Does the cutter need replacing? Thanks in advance.

 

[Coen]

Cutters don't become bigger.

 

[bertv]

Shrinkage because of dryer circumstances. My guess is that the humidity is quite low where you live — it is winter.

This is not a problem. The domino will swell up a bit on account of the water in the glue. To prevent this issue keep your domino-stock in airtight bags or containers. In humid climate a bag or two of silica added in will help.

 

[peter halle]

Having dominos going in easier is usually not what we hear - usually the opposite.

Peter

 

[Claimdude]

What Bert said!

Jack

 

[Skogie1]

Shrinkage because of dryer circumstances. My guess is that the humidity is quite low where you live — it is winter.

This is not a problem. The domino will swell up a bit on account of the water in the glue. To prevent this issue keep your domino-stock in airtight bags or containers. In humid climate a bag or two of silica added in will help.

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

[ChuckS]

Cutters don't become bigger.

They don't but if deformed (bent, e.g.), they might make bigger openings.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Theoretically, the spindle could too, but it is far more likely that the winter dryness shrinking the wood parts.

 

[RustE]

Cutters don't become bigger.

No, but a dull or worn drill bit wanders instead of cutting and makes a larger hole.
Probably does not translate to the eccentric motion of a Domino cutter though.

 

[ear3]

This does not address the main issue, but thought I'd show some love to loose dominoes. When I have a particularly involved glue up (say 40 or more dominoes) that can't otherwise be done piecemeal but only all at once, I actually prefer my dominoes loose. It really helps with fitting everything together. A few swipes on sandpaper usually does the trick, or, if I've got some additional time to waste, I'll run off some custom dominoes out of scrap wood from the build, setting the thickness planer to approximately -.06 to -.1mm of target thickness (e.g., 7.92mm for 8mm slot). Don't forget extended open time glue though for these scenarios.

 

[luvmytoolz]

@ear3 Same! I much prefer the tenons a little undersize instead of the default being so tight it wipes all the glue off going in!

I also make my own (wider) tenons to roughly the same dimensions as you mentioned as these fit really well when glued in.

 

[ChuckS]

Microwaving the dominoes will make them shrink a bit and slide in a lot easier. However, do a small batch at a time, or they absorb the moisture in the air if you aren't quick enough. I use 4mm tenons a lot and they don't have the tightness problem as much as the bigger ones and are much easier to pull out if needed.

 

[Coen]

They don't but if deformed (bent, e.g.), they might make bigger openings.

They are more into breaking than bending I think.

No, but a dull or worn drill bit wanders instead of cutting and makes a larger hole.
Probably does not translate to the eccentric motion of a Domino cutter though.

They are too much constrained by the Domino yes. Unless you let the base wander too.