Dominos that Don't Fit?

[fdengel]

I'm curious... has anyone else had issues with dominos being too big for the slots?

If I make the mortise width at the narrow setting with the 5mm cutter (Domino 500), the dominos from the assortment systainer don't fit.

If I make the mortise a bit wider, they fit, but obviously with a fair amount of play.

True of multiple dominos from the same bag.

Haven't figured out yet if the joiner is making the slots too narrow or if the tenons in the bag are too wide, but fairly confident it shouldn't be this way.

Thickness seems to be correct.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I hate to ask, but have you checked to make sure your bit isn't damaged?

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

Never heard of this before. Like Shane said, check for a damaged bit. Also, do an "idiot-check" to make sure that the 4mm cutter is not loaded.

 

[fdengel]

The plunge action has been smooth, and I would expect a damaged bit to make the tenon too thin, correct?  Making the mortise wider allows the dominos to go in, so I'm skeptical that the bit is the issue - I do have the extra 5mm from the assortment, though, and I could try switching to that - or try a different size - just haven't gotten back to it yet.  It might be later in the week, or even next week, until I can look at this closely again - other things in life right now...

It's a new domino, haven't changed the bit (I did remove the fence and make sure it was on securely.  I didn't see anything that stuck out as damaged).

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Just to be clear... they do fit snug. Since it's a new Domino, are you sure the mortise is too narrow? Most folks need pliers to pull dry fit tenons back out.

 

[fdengel]

I couldn't have hammered them in - I checked that.  Not the first time I've used a Domino - I had used one in a class at Woodcraft, so I know they can be tight.

Again, thinking it may be that I got a bad batch of dominos too and the tenons were made too wide?

Haven't ruled that out yet...

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Look on the tenon and make sure they are embossed as 5mm size, or the packaging.

I really doubt the tenons are a bad batch, but I suppose it's possible.

 

[fdengel]

The bag they were in was definitely labelled 5mm.

I will double-check the tenons when I get a chance later today.

I will take a caliper to them as well to see what the readings are - may as well do that with the cutter too...  and compare with the one that came in the assortment.

 

[tjbnwi]

Throw the Dominos in the microwave on high for 30-45 seconds.

Tom

 

[Wooden Skye]

Maybe there is moisture in the dominos and they swelled a bit.  I would take 3 or 4 and put them in the microwave for 30 seconds.  

 

[Oso Rojo]

That brings up a good question. I just stocked up on dominoes during the sale. Should I be storing them in air tight containers, like we do is biscuits?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

That brings up a good question. I just stocked up on dominoes during the sale. Should I be storing them in air tight containers, like we do is biscuits?

Well, I have had some of my Domino tenons for about 7 years now in a less-than-air-tight assortment Systainer without any issues. I would recommend considering air tight containers if you are in an area that particularly prone to high humidity. It certainly won't hurt.

Shane

 

[fdengel]

The dominos in question are definitely marked 5x30 (on the dominos themselves).

Caliper may not be 100% accurate (suspect not based on these readings) but at least seems to be consistent with itself.

Measurements of one of the domino tenons:

5.06mm thick
19.92mm wide
28mm deep

Width of a MEDIUM width mortise (which it does fit in) - 22.76mm (will try to cut and measure the narrow setting within the next few days - not dressed for this right now and short on time at the moment; I cut mediums over all the narrows to get them to fit; should have probably kept a narrow one around...)

Both of my 5mm cutters (the one that came with the tool and the one that came with the assortment) measured 4.64mm diameter as well as I could figure out to measure them; the 10mm cutter from the assortment kit measured 9.5mm (again leading me to believe that my dial caliper may be off a bit?)

Note that in spite of that, the dominos DO fit for thickness, obvious from the fact that they fit in the medium-width mortise.  It is only the width I can't fit them into, for the narrow mortise width.

 

[fdengel]

That brings up a good question. I just stocked up on dominoes during the sale. Should I be storing them in air tight containers, like we do is biscuits?

Well, I have had some of my Domino tenons for about 7 years now in a less-than-air-tight assortment Systainer without any issues. I would recommend considering air tight containers if you are in an area that particularly prone to high humidity. It certainly won't hurt.

Shane

I actually took the ones from the bag I opened and put them into some of the little plastic sandwich bags after I was finished testing it out for the day, put labels on the bags and stuck them back in the slot in the assortment systainer.

 

[tjbnwi]

I measured the 5 mm domino slots in the end grain of red oak I'm working with.

Mortice width narrow setting-0.803
5 mm dominos that have been sitting out the last few humid days- 0.817
5 mm dominos in sealed bag- 0.809

I can tap any of them in the motives with very little effort.

Tom

 

[festivus]

The 5mm dominoes are in my opinion too tight a fit. You have to hammer them in on the smallest width setting.

It's nothing to do with cutter wear or moisture - I've had new bags with a new cutter. It's not the machine either since I had a replacement machine early on.

I love my Domino but do find the tight fit frustrating. Perhaps it's better with the other sizes but I mainly use the 5mm.

 

[fdengel]

This was a new bag, freshly opened right before I tried to put the dominos into the newly cut mortises.

I just bought the machine earlier this month to take advantage of the sale, and this was the first set of tests I was doing with it, so the cutter was also brand new.

EDIT: I'm hoping I can get back to this tonight; still not 100% sure with everything else going on, but if possible, will do some additional testing, measuring, and likely will try the microwave trick to see if it makes a difference.

 

[semenza]

    I am betting on moisture in the tenons. I have had that problem. It is especially noticeable in the 5mm on the narrow setting. Dominos , in general, are tight to start with it doesn't take much absorption to make them extremely tight. Even from a sealed bag they can easily have enough  extra water to make them really hard to get in. I have also had dry fits be fine. And high humidity overnight make the mortise walls swell enough to make it hard to get he tenon in.

Seth

 

[Theshipstore]

I have had moisture issues in the past. I now Vacuum Pack the 50 in a bag ( my wife's kitchen Vacuum setup ) with some silica gel pack and I no longer have this issue

 

[fdengel]

     I am betting on moisture in the tenons. I have had that problem. It is especially noticeable in the 5mm on the narrow setting. Dominos , in general, are tight to start with it doesn't take much absorption to make them extremely tight. Even from a sealed bag they can easily have enough  extra water to make them really hard to get in. I have also had dry fits be fine. And high humidity overnight make the mortise walls swell enough to make it hard to get he tenon in.

Unfortunately I still haven't had a chance to get back to this - I am thinking it unlikely to be a moisture issue because I opened the brand new factory-sealed plastic bag of dominos seconds before I tried to put one in, but I suppose it may still be possible...