Seem to have forgotten how to use Domino!

[dance]

I've just cracked open my Domino after a period of about four years of not having a workshop.

I'm just looking for a quick pointer after coming unstuck yesterday trying to build a stool.

I'm building this, but instead of screws I want to use Dominos. I've done this once successfully years ago, but I must be either referencing off the wrong surfaces or making my marks in an either wrong or inconsistent way because yesterday it was all skewiff and NOT flush.

Any help much appreciated! Just a quick pointer should get me back on my feet.

 

[Kev]

Hi dance,

I'd need more info and to see the pieces broken down to be of help ... or perhaps a sketch of the problem area?

 

[dance]

Hi! Thanks for your reply and sorry for the lack of info in my original post.

I'm following these plans and I'm trying to attach the rail to the sides as shown in this pic. Feel quite silly right now!

 

[Kev]

OK - think I get it ...

So let's consider the stool side and the stool rail and I think yo want the outer edge of the rail to be flush with the side of the stool.

First set the rail (b) flat on a bench with adequate overhang to avoid fouling the base of your Domino.

Next set the Domino fence so that you're plunging into the edge of the rail's centre. Make certain you've marked inside and outside faces for assembly reference.

Now without changing the fence height of the Domino, secure the stool side (a) and use the fence as your guide to align and plunge into inside end of the stool side.

This gives give a mortise of equal depth on the edge of the rail and the inside edge of the stool side.]

Does that make sense?

 

[dance]

Yes, this is what I did, maybe the Domino wobbled while I was morticing because the joints were not good!

My question is primarily WHICH edges/surfaces you would mark with a pencil, because obviously the edge you mark is different to the one you eventually mortice into, so I guess inevitable there is going to be a need to use a square to transfer the line across different surfaces of the pieces?

Thanks.

 

[Kev]

Yes, this is what I did, maybe the Domino wobbled while I was morticing because the joints were not good!

My question is primarily WHICH edges/surfaces you would mark with a pencil, because obviously the edge you mark is different to the one you eventually mortice into, so I guess inevitable there is going to be a need to use a square to transfer the line across different surfaces of the pieces?

Thanks.

Ah ok ... my approach is to mark everything as it was in it's assembled state AA .. BB .. etc. Then with the edges aligned and flush, draw lines across the joint - then use those marked lines to align the centre mark of the Domino.

The alternative would be to be extremely accurate with you markings and make every piece 100% uniform (unnecessary for something like this).

 

[clark_fork]

This might help. The key is to use a scrap piece to set the plunge line.

 

[Dongar]

A common beginner mistake is to plunge too fast. If you do the mortise will not be parallel to the indexed surface making the joints hard to put together and misaligned. the rotation of the bit causes it to climb going to the right and dive going left. Don

 

[sancho57]

Plenty of good info on Festool TV . Plus our own peter Parfit did a nice video on the domino

 

[dance]

Ah ok ... my approach is to mark everything as it was in it's assembled state AA .. BB .. etc. Then with the edges aligned and flush, draw lines across the joint - then use those marked lines to align the centre mark of the Domino.

I've had another crack at it and the results were MUCH better. Thank you all. I realise I had been going about it all wrong last time. I'd been waay over thinking and confusing my surface referencing and I think I'd been doing some bizarre things with position the Domino on its arse and mortising by plunging vertically down onto surfaces...blah...yada...what was I thinking?!

So thanks to you guys, I got into my groove, remembered I knew the difference between my arse and my elbow, and just took up the Domino again like it WAS a few years ago and I knew how to use it. Thanks for putting up with the stupid question...I'm back on track!

 

[tjbnwi]

Ah ok ... my approach is to mark everything as it was in it's assembled state AA .. BB .. etc. Then with the edges aligned and flush, draw lines across the joint - then use those marked lines to align the centre mark of the Domino.

I've had another crack at it and the results were MUCH better. Thank you all. I realise I had been going about it all wrong last time. I'd been waay over thinking and confusing my surface referencing and I think I'd been doing some bizarre things with position the Domino on its arse and mortising by plunging vertically down onto surfaces...blah...yada...what was I thinking?!

Humans, the most dangerous "tool" in the shop. [blink]

Tom