I have written of the merits of the domino before but whenever I use it (today) it never ceases to amaze me and I feel the need to share my elation.
Today I built the frame (4 legs and 4 apron pieces) for a drop leaf dining room table. In a previous life (pre-domino) I would have spent a great deal of time doing the following:
mark 8 mortises on legs; cut 8 mortises with hollow chisel mortiser; marked 8 tenons on apron pieces; cut tenons in several steps; fine tune tenons; finally glue up.
Today I did the following: dry clamp assembly together; draw 3 lines at each of the 8 joints (much as one would do with a biscuit joiner); set domino to desired depth and cut 24 perfect mortises in the aprons (3 per joint); set domino to cut mating mortises in the legs and cut; dry clamp (everything fits PERFECTLY THE FIRST TIME); insert domino and clamp.
I didn’t time it. The whole operation took me perhaps 1.5 hours. The predomino way would have taken me a day and a fair amount of frustration. After the table saw this is the most indispensable tool in my shop. PMM
Replies
Go away. Get out of here. You spoil everything. Here I have an almost unused $700 mortiser sitting here waiting to be used and now all I will be able to think of is your domino. I'll never have peace.
Sorry for causing your loss of piece of mind. If I were you, I would try to get 4-500 for the mortiser and spend 720 on the domino. Time is money, and even if you are not a pro (as I am not), faster is better in my world. PMM
argh
pm:
The more you use it; the more it delights and amazes. Is there an unhappy Domino user out there?
I know a few have had initial disappointments, but those go away after the user gets familiar with it.
I share your opinion that it has become indispensable.
Regards,
Hastings
Hi,
I have been using the Domino for a couple of months and I am still enthusiastic about it.
Two (minor) drawbacks:
1. You lose the will and probably the ability to create a satisfying joint in the traditional manner.
2. I have not been able to create cuts precisely centered on the narrow side of boards without at least two trial cuts on scrap wood of the same thickness. Neither the thickness gauge nor the "compass" marks at one of the spring-loaded pins work as truly precise references.
One (minor) question:
Why are the two steps of oversized cutting so generously large? I welcome the additional width as an insurance against small inaccuracies, but is the strength of the joint not unnecessarily diminished by those very wide holes?Fritz
From what I have read, the strength is due to the flat surfaces, not the loose edges. Same with none - loose M&Ts I suspect. Love the tool.Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
"...is the strength of the joint not unnecessarily diminished by those very wide holes?"
It shouldn't be. The strength of the joint comes primarily from the face grain to face grain glue area. The three end grain to face grain mating areas contribute almost nothing.
-Steve
mark 8 mortises on legs; cut 8 mortises with hollow chisel mortiser; marked 8 tenons on apron pieces; cut tenons in several steps; fine tune tenons; finally glue up
YES BUT YOU WERE A REAL woodworker then! OK. So I have my store bought jigs!
Just funnin' ya!
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