Trying to figure-out Domino methodology...

[somewhereinla]

Hello,
I just got a Domino 500, and I am having trouble figuring out what it is I am doing wrong. I am doing some test on scrap MDF wood boards. I have been trying to join two piece of wood at a 90 degree angle, as if I was doing a drawer project. However I can't get the boards to be flushed with each other. Since the tool is in metric and I am using 1/2", the mortises are not centered, which is fine except for the offset/gap I get.

I am including a picture of all the steps I took. If someone could point out what it is I am doing wrong I would truly appreciate it. Cheers.

 

[Aclaw]

since you're not centered in both pieces the simple fix wont work. Just turning the piece around.  If your domino mortise is not centered vertically in your piece in your step four, then you create two reference distances from the edge.  This creates a flush attachment in one direction, and the offset you have experienced here. 

If you use the pins to have the mortises spaced from the outside on both pieces, then it allows for you to rotate the piece. 

Mainly it just comes down to using the same reference edge each time by looking at where the bit will be cutting as well as the line through the window up top.

Hope this helps, I've done the same thing building some cubby cabinets before and it nearly drove me mad!

Welcome to the FOG!

 

[Stoli]

You look to be referencing from the wrong side of the boards.  You want to reference from the "show" sides, not the inside.  You can see this clearly in your "step 3".  When you made the mortice in A1, the outside surface should have been against the fence, exactly opposite what you show in your second "step 4".  To check if I am correct, turn A1 around and reinsert -- I bet the edge alignment will be better.  You will now be off in the lateral dimension, but once you keep the correct reference surfaces, you should be all set.

 

[Gwerner]

I agree with Stoli, from the pictures it looks like you referenced the inside surfaces instead of the outside. Thanks to a tip from Greg Paolini during a class last month, I now think of the surfaces that I want to align flush as the Domino Faces. Once you establish and mark the domino faces, those are the surfaces you place the domino fence on when cutting the mortises.

 

[Birdhunter]

Suggest watching YouTube videos by Halfinchshy on the Domino. They saved me a lot of time learning to use the tool.

 

[ear3]

Sounds like the previous diagnoses are correct.  But if you still run into issues, you may have to do a one-time cursor centering, which is also outlined by Half Inch Shy:

 

[somewhereinla]

Thanks. I tried making my mark on the outside and it now works fine. I did watch a lot of video on the internet and couldn't find one specifically on making a 90 degree set-up... Thanks for all answers. cheers.

 

[TomE]

Heh, I've had mine since they first came out, still have to really 'think' about the layout and which side to index from.
Pretty cool tool, once it gets figured out.

 

[Stone Message]

For anyone who is trying to improve their Domino skills there are several project videos that I have created that feature the machine. I have even made a short series demonstrating how easy it is to make a dining room chair with the DF 500. I won't put any links here but they can be found easily enough on my YouTube channel.

Peter