Dominos are tight?

[Nick2cd]

I've been watching a lot of the contest video entrys.  many of them incorporate dominos.  I've noticed that other peoples dominos seem to go into the the mortise much easier than mine do.  it's all i can do to push one into a mortise by hand.  i usually just tap them in with a wooden mallet.  if I'm dry fitting, i usually have to pull them back out with pliers.  i keep my dominos in plastic bags, but they are in my basement.  I'm guessing they've absorbed some moisture and swelled slightly?  anyone else get this?

 

[Stoli]

My dominos normally require some persuasion for insertion. For dry fit, I keep a set of dominos that I have slightly sanded. I have also drilled holes in some so they could be extracted with a nail if necessary. I am concerned that using pliers will mangle the dominos and can expand the mortise as well. I believe I showed one of my dry fit dominos in my video.

If you do go this route, make sure to clearly mark these dominos. You don't want them being used in a real glue up.

 

[jacko9]

I have a set of Domino's sanded for easy dry fit.  During actual assemble I don't worry about the Dominos being too tight, I just make sure that both sides of the joint have a coating of glue.

Jack

 

[Nick2cd]

I also keep some sanded dominos for dry fits. I suppose my bigger concern is whether or not there's anything I can do to help keep from such a tight fit.

 

[r cash]

One word microwave
35 seconds good for dowels  and biscuits