How do I make a miter joint with my Domino?

[Toller]

Assume I don't know anything; which is kinda true, I am about to use my Domino for the first time on a real live project.

I am making a frame out of 2.5" wide 1.25" thick stock with miter joints; the frame will be 1.25" deep when complete.  What exactly  do I do to get the dominoes in?  I know how to do an edge joint, but this is is rather more complicated.  With a biscuit jointer I would just mark both pieces and go to it, but my understanding is that doesn't work well with the domino; and the biscuits have ample side to side slop built in.

Before owning the domino I would have stacked two biscuits, but there probably isn't room to do that assuming I want to use a 10x50.  There is room to put a 10x50 on the inside of the joint and a 5x30 on the outside, but if my alignment isn't perfect it won't go together then.  And maybe that is overkill?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I just measure carefully from the "pointy" end on both pieces and draw a line.  You may want to have the mortise closer to the inner corner to get more room.  You can set the Domino to make an extra wide cut - probably not a bad idea to give you a little flexibility at glue up time.

 

[Eli]

make sure you don't go too deep, don't ask me how I know  ;D
Also if the frame isn't large, you may have to assemble with all four dominos at once, so dry fit.

 

[ROb McGilp]

Depending on the overall size of the frame, 8x40 should be adequate. As Eli says, if your cutting on an angle as well as straight in, don't go too deep. For a straight joint between two face, the 8x40 will give a strong joint, with about 12mm ( close to 1/2") each side of the domino. Use the cutter at width mark two and you should have sufficient room to adjust the square during glue up. Try doing a practise joint and see how it goes.

Regards,

Rob

 

[Toller]

Depending on the overall size of the frame, 8x40 should be adequate. As Eli says, if your cutting on an angle as well as straight in, don't go too deep. For a straight joint between two face, the 8x40 will give a strong joint, with about 12mm ( close to 1/2") each side of the domino. Use the cutter at width mark two and you should have sufficient room to adjust the square during glue up. Try doing a practise joint and see how it goes.

Regards,

Rob

Why 8x40 rather than 10x50?

 

[Cary Swoveland]

I'd use two 5mm x 30mm dominos in each joint, the first cut using a 10mm spacer, and with tight mortises and wide spacing between the dominos. 

Yes, you'll have to assemble all four joints at the same time.

Cary

 

[Toller]

I'd use two 5mm x 30mm dominos in each joint, the first cut using a 10mm spacer, and with tight mortises and wide spacing between the dominos. 

Yes, you'll have to assemble all four joints at the same time.

Cary

That would be like stacked biscuits?

 

[ROb McGilp]

I just like having more of a cheek and shoulder than the 10mm would provide. you could use 8x50 if you want, but again I think its overkill. But hey, thats just me.

 

[Cary Swoveland]

I'd use two 5mm x 30mm dominos in each joint, the first cut using a 10mm spacer, and with tight mortises and wide spacing between the dominos.   

Yes, you'll have to assemble all four joints at the same time.

Cary

That would be like stacked biscuits?

I had in mind one closer to the outside corner and the other closer to the inside corner, both roughly centred thickness-wise.  You could do this with 5x30, 6x40 or 8x40 dominos.  I suggested the smallest size because it places the outside domino closest to the outside corner, and thought it would be strong enough for a picture frame.  If you instead use 8x40 dominos, you don't need a spacer between the registration pin and the point of the board (and you can use narrow or wide spacing between the dominos, when registering against one end of the first mortise you cut).

If you want to use 8x50 or 10x50 dominos you won't be able to place the pin against the outside corner, as the cutter would cut through the outside edge of the material (or come very close to doing so).

You can stack dominos--just like biscuits--whenever the stock is thick enough and you think it is called for.

Cary