How many of you guys use the domino for glue ups? I have been thinking about getting it just for this purpose. My glue ups come out ok, but invariably there are small ridges at the joints that I put through a drum sander to get rid of. Those ridges are pure alignment issues and no matter how many clamps or cauls I use they still existing. I think that a small domino would eliminate this misalognment. I know it adds no additional strength, but the alingment factor would be nice.
How good is the Domino on glue ups
- Thread starter fifo28
- Start date
CarolinaNomad
Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2010
- Messages
- 307
Svar said:
Yes, but Festool doesn't make a biscuit joiner.
I use it for butt joints, because I'm anal, clumsy and over build my boxes. It's so easy, fast and yet precise.
And once you have a Domino, other uses starts to pop up everywhere.
I use my Domino for most glue ups and I have the Lamello Top 10 joiner but, I think the Domino gives you better alignment results.
I use the mid width setting that allows you to cut your slots without too much concern for the tick mark alignments.
It saves me a lot of time when finishing and after you start using the Domino, I'm pretty sure you'll find other uses for it.
Jack
I use the mid width setting that allows you to cut your slots without too much concern for the tick mark alignments.
It saves me a lot of time when finishing and after you start using the Domino, I'm pretty sure you'll find other uses for it.
Jack
ccarrolladams
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2010
- Messages
- 1,451
Plus 1 for Jacko!
Like him I own really good biscuit joiners, but once you learn to use a Domino is far more accurate.
Like him I own really good biscuit joiners, but once you learn to use a Domino is far more accurate.
i have a biscuit jointer somewhere . havent even seen it since i bought my domino.
i often use it for jobs like that. the mid setting works best for me. you dont have to be super percice about the location.
i use the dominoplate with mine almost all the time and never get any lips . all thats needed to finish off apanel is alight run witht he sander
i often use it for jobs like that. the mid setting works best for me. you dont have to be super percice about the location.
i use the dominoplate with mine almost all the time and never get any lips . all thats needed to finish off apanel is alight run witht he sander
Birdhunter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2012
- Messages
- 4,145
I've switched almost 90 percent to Domino for glue ups.
There is technique to using it. Halfinchshy has some excellent videos on YouTube. I watched all of them before tackling a glue up.
One of the issues I've had is the fence creeping if it's not locked down hard. A cure is to buy the Domiplate. It's a sure way to ensure accurate vertical placement of the slots.
One of Halfinchshy tips was to make one piece of the joint with shots that are the exact width of the tenon and the other piece with slots that are wider than the tenon. This allows the two pieces to adjust horizontally.
If you are careful and follow the instructions, you get excellent glue ups every time.
There is technique to using it. Halfinchshy has some excellent videos on YouTube. I watched all of them before tackling a glue up.
One of the issues I've had is the fence creeping if it's not locked down hard. A cure is to buy the Domiplate. It's a sure way to ensure accurate vertical placement of the slots.
One of Halfinchshy tips was to make one piece of the joint with shots that are the exact width of the tenon and the other piece with slots that are wider than the tenon. This allows the two pieces to adjust horizontally.
If you are careful and follow the instructions, you get excellent glue ups every time.
+1 for the Domino. After I bought it almost three years ago, I didn't use my biscuit joiner once after that. In fact, I never thought about it again until I happened upon it when cleaning up. Ended up selling it for $50 with a box of 2000 biscuits that alone cost me more than the $50. No regrets at all.
fifo28 said:
The Domino is very precise, and to get perfect alignment on glue ups it needs to be used in an equally precise manner. Definitely takes some practice. So you may still be using the drum sander while you get the hang of it, but perfectly aligned glue ups are within the tools parameters.
Seth
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2007
- Messages
- 1,671
i use it all the time for glue ups the rustic hickory table I posted in the projects thread 7 boards wide.. I have been doing a 12' long rustic hickory built in and have had to glue up lots of boards.. and it works great and like said before use the middle slot on one board and small on the other it helps make it easier to clamp together.. and sometimes ridges will appear if you rush a bit but it works great highly recommend it.
once you have one you will use it alot.
once you have one you will use it alot.
I use mine a lot for gluing up panels. For me it has worked a lot better for alignment than my old biscuit joiner. In my opinion, highly recommended! I also like the fact that I can use it for so much more than alignment too.
Good luck with whatever you choose!
Good luck with whatever you choose!
barnowl
Member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2008
- Messages
- 252
fifo28 said:
Having used to use biscuits for glue ups, I stopped. Nor do I use the Domino.
Just perfectly jointed boards.
Glue ups is a technicque, that with practice, produces near perfect results.
Two boards at a time.
Start at one end, and clamp perfectly flush.
Move down a foot, and finess the boards as required, for perfectly flush, and clamp.
Same all the way down.
Add cauls as needed.
Imperfections are not purely an issue of alignment. Milling is also and issue. The joint will only be as good as the milling. And if there has been any movement in the wood between milling and glue up that could be an issue too. Plus the grain may swell unevenly a bit when you wipe off squeeze out. That alone could make a joint less than perfect. And there can be cupping after the panel comes out of the clamps.
I have a Domino. I sure would like to see a head to head shoot out between the Lamello, the Domino and the Dowelmax in this application.
I have a Domino. I sure would like to see a head to head shoot out between the Lamello, the Domino and the Dowelmax in this application.
Rob-GB
Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2009
- Messages
- 1,101
A one word answer is........... Brilliant!
The longer one is, as said before, technique.
My current project, a staircase, requires some glue up of strings. What I do is lay the boards out as I intend to glue them and clamp them.
I then layout the position of the treads and risers and any tenons etc. Then mark out where to Domino, so that while trenching/ dadoing for the treads/risers I will not either cut through the Domino or reduce the cover it has (if offset). This way each one is at full strength and time and material is saved.
I then cut all the slots on one board at the minimal setting, in this case being sure to line the machine up to the left hand slot as accurately as possible, on the corresponding board the right hand mark is cut at the minimal setting as accurately as possible (bear in mind that to work from the same face the second board has to be swung around to face you left to right)
The rest of the slots are cut at the middle setting so you can be a little lax on lining up with your marks, but the machine needs to be seated fences on timber.
Then glue up and clamp up. The First Domino on the left will line up your marks and the rest will slide into place more easily, clamping from the left. Trying to uniformly clamp more than a couple or three dominos on the smaller setting is a lesson in both patience and anger management......been there, pulled the domino's, scraped off the glue and re-machined them....once!!!
The result is a flat joint line on the face side of the boards, any steps due to a variation in thickness will be on the reverse side and easy to plane or sand flush if required.
This is just one way to use it but it has altered the way I work and problem solve projects no end. My biscuit jointer is looking for a museum to take it in. [jawdrop]
Rob.
The longer one is, as said before, technique.
My current project, a staircase, requires some glue up of strings. What I do is lay the boards out as I intend to glue them and clamp them.
I then layout the position of the treads and risers and any tenons etc. Then mark out where to Domino, so that while trenching/ dadoing for the treads/risers I will not either cut through the Domino or reduce the cover it has (if offset). This way each one is at full strength and time and material is saved.
I then cut all the slots on one board at the minimal setting, in this case being sure to line the machine up to the left hand slot as accurately as possible, on the corresponding board the right hand mark is cut at the minimal setting as accurately as possible (bear in mind that to work from the same face the second board has to be swung around to face you left to right)
The rest of the slots are cut at the middle setting so you can be a little lax on lining up with your marks, but the machine needs to be seated fences on timber.
Then glue up and clamp up. The First Domino on the left will line up your marks and the rest will slide into place more easily, clamping from the left. Trying to uniformly clamp more than a couple or three dominos on the smaller setting is a lesson in both patience and anger management......been there, pulled the domino's, scraped off the glue and re-machined them....once!!!
The result is a flat joint line on the face side of the boards, any steps due to a variation in thickness will be on the reverse side and easy to plane or sand flush if required.
This is just one way to use it but it has altered the way I work and problem solve projects no end. My biscuit jointer is looking for a museum to take it in. [jawdrop]
Rob.
stvrowe
Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2007
- Messages
- 834
Wow! I am surprised at the number of people using the Domino for edge gluing stock together as I never do. The trick is to mill your stock flat and joint the edges square. Glue it up (one side only) and rub the pieces together to spread the glue on both faces. I then lightly clamp and correct any flushness issues with a dead blow hammer, followed by full clamping pressure. I have used this method for years and have had no issues with ridges on the joints.
butzla
Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2008
- Messages
- 1,233
barnowl said:
I'm with Barnowl's technique...no biscuits or dominos. But I don't just glue up 2 boards at a time, I can do 4 or 5. Start at one end just like Barnowl says, I clamp the boards loosely and I use a large dead blow hammer (lead shot filled) to tap the boards inrto alignment, tighten the clamp fully, then move down and clamp the next in the series and repeat until the whole field is clamped. No problem
Also, what others have said about stock preparation is important. Joint and plane down your boards leaving them about 1/16" heavy, then let them sit stickered over night and repeat the whole process the next day, milling to final dimensions.
EDIT: Steve, you beat me to it!
MrToolJunkie
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2009
- Messages
- 3,010
I have used both Domino and no Domino with equal success. As others have stated, proper stock preparation is critical to good joints. stock must be flat and square to ensure a solid joint. Also, clamping and flushing the joint as you go and making things level as you tighten the clamps is key. Sometimes I will use a few Dominos to help with alignment, especially if it is a bigger top and that helps.
Scot
Scot
Rob-GB
Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2009
- Messages
- 1,101
I think some of you guys are missing a trick here. [scratch chin]
Yes it is nice to do it the traditional rubbed glue joint way and yes the timber has to be milled right, even a Domino can't get over bad prep!
However, I do not work all the time in a workshop, I don't have one, so I rely on others to mill my timber then work on it from there to end product.
As most of it is run out through a 4 or 6 sider and may spend a few days stacked there or on site it may dry out more or gain moisture so may end up slightly different to milled size.
By using a few domino's I ensure that the face of the glued up boards remain flush, I can stagger boards to minimise waste and I can clamp up several boards or sets of boards (to maximise clamp usage) with no need to go beating on the join lines to align them which saves time and effort in the long run. Any discrepancy is on the back face and easily sorted with a few licks of a handplane or the threat of a "Rotexing" [eek] ;D
It is also very rare for the traditional method to be used in professional workshops these days, most run a finger joint or similar to create a longer glue line, but that's not new. Tongue and groove joints, loose spline joints and angled dowell joints have all been used in the past to improve joints over the humble rubbed joint. The Domino is just another leap forward. ;D
Rob.
Yes it is nice to do it the traditional rubbed glue joint way and yes the timber has to be milled right, even a Domino can't get over bad prep!
However, I do not work all the time in a workshop, I don't have one, so I rely on others to mill my timber then work on it from there to end product.
As most of it is run out through a 4 or 6 sider and may spend a few days stacked there or on site it may dry out more or gain moisture so may end up slightly different to milled size.
By using a few domino's I ensure that the face of the glued up boards remain flush, I can stagger boards to minimise waste and I can clamp up several boards or sets of boards (to maximise clamp usage) with no need to go beating on the join lines to align them which saves time and effort in the long run. Any discrepancy is on the back face and easily sorted with a few licks of a handplane or the threat of a "Rotexing" [eek] ;D
It is also very rare for the traditional method to be used in professional workshops these days, most run a finger joint or similar to create a longer glue line, but that's not new. Tongue and groove joints, loose spline joints and angled dowell joints have all been used in the past to improve joints over the humble rubbed joint. The Domino is just another leap forward. ;D
Rob.
Similar threads
