How to dry fit using dominoes

[AztecKing]

I'm putting together some end tables and wonder if I can dry fit using dominoes?  I put one in and had to use pliers to pull it out. Will I compromise the joint by doing this?

Jeff

 

[upscale]

I'm putting together some end tables and wonder if I can dry fit using dominoes?   I put one in and had to use pliers to pull it out. Will I compromise the joint by doing this?

You're advised to dryfit all constructions before gluing. As to the tightness of dryfitting Dominos, I keep a set of Dominos handy that I've hand sanded a little bit. AND, they're marked with a big X so I don't accidently glue them in somewhere.

 

[Kev]

I'm putting together some end tables and wonder if I can dry fit using dominoes?   I put one in and had to use pliers to pull it out. Will I compromise the joint by doing this?

You're advised to dryfit all constructions before gluing. As to the tightness of dryfitting Dominos, I keep a set of Dominos handy that I've hand sanded a little bit. AND, they're marked with a big X so I don't accidently glue them in somewhere.

Some days little x's just won't do the job [smile]

If you want to perform a complete assembly of something that demands a lot of dominoes you may find yourself short - plan ahead.

Kev.

 

[AztecKing]

Great ideas. Thanks guys.

 

[Stone Message]

This is an ideal time to have a practice go at making your own dominos - aim for an easy fit.

Peter

 

[Tinker]

When i am working with dowels (don't have a domino >>> yet) I dry fit.  I take as many as i plan to use, and just before fitting, i nuke them.
They will shrink enough that i can do my dry fit and pull apart easily, apply glue and reassemble. I do the nuking within minutes of the dry fitting.  I don't really know how long the dowels can stay out of the micro before soaking up enough humidity to begin to swell.  they are still warm by time i am starting my dry fit.
Tinker

 

[sheeschen]

I have several dominos with holes drilled in them (they look like double-1 dominoes).  That way I can just stick a nail through to pull them out.  They're also instantly recognizable.  I can't claim credit for the idea - I read it on here ages ago.  Sometimes I'll sand them down a little, too.

At the cabinet construction class, Brian Sedgely had us sand down the ridges on the curved part of the dominos before fitting things together.  I've found that helps significantly in pulling them out, too.  Just a few swipes on 80 grit.

Also, as Tinker mentioned, nuking can help, too.  Ahhh, warm dominoes!

    Scott

 

[Jesse Cloud]

When making furniture, its always a really good idea to dry fit.  The Domino is a great tool, but it does require using proper techniques - its easy to get a mortise angled a bit or just a bit high or low.  You want to know that happened before you use any glue!  A dry fit can also show that you need bigger clamps or cauls.

Pulling out a floating tenon can cause joint damage if you move the tenon side-to-side, widening the mortise.

All the methods above are good.  I was taught to take apart a dry fitted mortise and tenon by putting one part in the vise and tapping gently with a non-marring mallet straight up.  Works well, too if the domino sticks in one part, just stick the domino in the vise and tap upwards.

Hope you will share some pictures, we love pictures!  [big grin]

 

[polarsea1]

I'm putting together some end tables and wonder if I can dry fit using dominoes?   I put one in and had to use pliers to pull it out. Will I compromise the joint by doing this?

You're advised to dryfit all constructions before gluing. As to the tightness of dryfitting Dominos, I keep a set of Dominos handy that I've hand sanded a little bit. AND, they're marked with a big X so I don't accidently glue them in somewhere.

This is exactly what I do. I marked each one with a red sharpie and keep them in a seperate container.

 

[tvgordon]

I don't have much room in my shop and was building a cabinet using dominos. So what I did was to glue the dominos into the rails then I could dry fit them into the legs and knock it back apart easily. It made it much better when I needed to put the cabinet together to take measurements then take it back apart so I would have enough room to build the next part of it. 

Tom

 

[upscale]

I don't have much room in my shop and was building a cabinet using dominos. So what I did was to glue the dominos into the rails then I could dry fit them into the legs and knock it back apart easily.

That could work, but I can forsee a few possible problems. If you ever misalign some mating mortises, to relocate them, you'll have to cut off the glued in dominos. I've done that once in awhile and it's a royal pain to make sure that the cut off dominos are perfectly flush with the mating surfaces.

 

[AztecKing]

I sanded two of them and used them to test fit my pieces. My main concern was making sure they had a little play when I inserted them so I wasn't messing up the mortise. I thought if its like dovetails and regular mortise and tenon joinery that putting the joint together too many times it makes the joint a little bit loose because it almost seems like it burnishes the wood or smashes the fibers.

 

[tvgordon]

I don't have much room in my shop and was building a cabinet using dominos. So what I did was to glue the dominos into the rails then I could dry fit them into the legs and knock it back apart easily.

That could work, but I can forsee a few possible problems. If you ever misalign some mating mortises, to relocate them, you'll have to cut off the glued in dominos. I've done that once in awhile and it's a royal pain to make sure that the cut off dominos are perfectly flush with the mating surfaces.

I dry fitted them first to make everything lined up good, then I glued them in.

Tom