Trouble lining up dominos

[freddmc]

I am trying to build a box using dominos and am having trouble getting the pieces lined up.

When I make a mark for the cut into the edge of the board the center of the cut lines up perfectly with the mark I have made i.e. the cut is perfectly centered on the mark. However when I make the correcsponding plunge into the face of the correcsponding board the cut is not centered on the mark. It is offset by 2 mm.

I am using a shop made "dominplate" and a 4 mm cutter. I realize the fence is adjustable but the "scores" on the bottom of the domino are not. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks

Fred

 

[barnowl]

I very seldom use the narrow width cut, and 99% of the time, use the center setting, which cuts a dado a little wider.

I've never used the widest setting.

The middle setting gives a little wiggle room for assembly, and IMHO, is plenty strong.

Yes, there are those who will say that you should use the narrow setting for full wood contact over the entire surface of the domino,

but I've neve had a joint (or even a single domino) fail.

In fact, Festool recommend the 1st domino at narrow (for alignment), and the rest at the middle setting.

I just eliminate the 1st narrow, cut them all wider, and line up the edge myself.

Hope that helps.

 

[RONWEN]

The "Great" Paul Marcel did a very good video on how to calibrate the Domino cursor line for perfect alignment.  [thumbs up]

 

[freddmc]

I have seen the setup video by Paul Marcel but he shows you how to make adjustments using the centering marks on the fence, which are adjustable. But I am using the domino upside down with a "dominplate" so the centering mark is scribed on the bottom of the domino and is NOT adjustable. Paul actually references this on the video.
I will try it with the wider setting but it seems to me that the Domino should be more accurate than what I am getting.

 

[greg mann]

Something seems amiss here. I would suggest the OP try using a pencil mark and align with the centering mark that is cast into the body of the fence, or at least take a look at whether the cast marker and the graduated plexiglass scale both show the Domino centered at the same time. 2mm is a lot for the sight window to be off, assuming the Domiplate is not contributing to the overall error. If the OP makes a cut using the cast marker and it is not centered then there is a fundamental problem with the machine and it should be returned/replaced/fixed depending on age. If the cast marker centers the cut then either the sight window is truly off or there is a technique issue. Some pictures would help.

 

[freddmc]

Actually, the shop made "domiplate"should not have any effect on the problem I am having as it only locates the mortise in the vertical position which is not the problem I am having.the problem I am having is the location in the horizontal position. When I line up the "score" line on the bottom of the domino with my pencil mark the mortise is off centre.

 

[freddmc]

After some further testing it turns out the problem was...........operator error. It seems that when cutting mortises on a flat plane is is more difficult to keep the domino steady.

Regards

Fred

 

[barnowl]

Use an alignment piece, so that the Domino is tight to the work, and to the backer aliggnment piece.



In this instance, I used the piece that was mating to the flat piece:

 

[Brice Burrell]

After some further testing it turns out the problem was...........operator error. It seems that when cutting mortises on a flat plane is is more difficult to keep the domino steady.

Regards

Fred

Well, figuring out why it is going wrong is sometimes the hardest part to correcting the problem.  A little more hands on time and I think you'll have this licked.

Ha, operator error, I was going to suggest that was the most likely culprit.  I didn't post because I've coming down pretty hard on people making adjustments on their new tools when it's most likely they are to blame.  Sometimes it can be hard to hear when someone suggests operator error, I didn't want to always be the guy delivering the bad news.  Of course if I didn't hit upside the head with it like a hammer it might be easier to hear. [blink]       

 

[Paul G]

Timely thread for me, I'll be putting the new 500 through its paces in a few days once the Seneca jig arrives.

 

[freddmc]

Thanks to everyone for the comments. I had bought my domino second hand and although it seemed in good shape one never knows.so I wasn't sure to start if it was actually a problem with the machine or me. But it was a good exercise and the comments on here were very helpful. Although a good workaround was presented I wanted to make sure the machine was performing properly,which it was. Now that I know that I have used the "workaround" to build a box and it has turned out very well.
Thanks again to everyone who has commented.

Fred

 

[Rickfisher]

I noticed that my Domino wanted to " Skate " when the bit got dull ..  I supposed it grabbed a bit rather than just cutting..