Domino

[Chems]

Yer, this has sort of become the practical way, although if you are using 40 to make a complex frame, it's a bit annoying.

I did find this occurred less with the smaller ones, I guess they just require less force as smaller, also as it's very cold at the moment (I am at about 1,500m altitude and it's below zero often in my workshop), I have a fan heater on. putting some in front of that for 10 mins before use seems to help quite a bit... perhaps in the summer they will shrink a bit more, although it will be more humid...

I got the full set of dominos in the summer, and never had the sticking problem . Its only this winter that its happened so I think your probably right Ive taken to block planing the long edges to get a bit more of a loose fit.

 

[Alex]

Sand them. Stick some 80/120 grit to a bit mdf few strokes on each face gives a nice easy fit, much better than loosing skin with block plane. :wink:

 

[OPJ]

Or, you could make a very simple jig - cut out a series of recesses (one for each size of Domino), deep enough so that you can drop a Domino in place and then take a few shavings off the top. You want it to be a fairly snug fit lengthways and you could add finger holes either side for easy removal.

Just an idea. We all prefer short shavings over fine dust.

 

[Chems]

A nice idea olly, and so easy to do with the domino machine! A half depth mortice (depth width ways not length) as done for a shelf pin would do the trick.

 

[BTR]

I have a domino and do like the tight fit everything stays nice and tight and inline the second setting is good aswell for slight adjustment side to side for pieces which will be slightly be out

 

[wcndave]

difference between tight fit where you cannot get the thing out again even with brute force, and what Steve calls a "goldilocks fit".. not too small, not too big...

if you make a hand tenon joint, you would make it removable and also have to leave space for the glue, and although the doms do have ridges, there should be some room...

running them once across some 40 grit paper (only the edges, not the face) or leaving them in front of heater before use seems to sort it, so that's easiest for now!

 

[Chems]

Yeah I agree, if to tight that your destroying the domino with pliers pulling it out then its no good. Also makes it very difficult to clamp up if you have a few of them in the joint and they are a little too tight to slip in properly.

 

[mtt.tr]

Sounds like your biscuts have expaneded happens when they become damp

 

[wcndave]

So feswood, i actually got a mini portable oven for tempering forged knives in, and as it's in my workshop i thought i would give it a try.

100deg for 10 mins, funny smell, and i took one out and compared it to a raw one, and you could clearly see about 15-20% volume loss!!

these now fit absolutely perfectly, however they do expand again, so i must have ambient moisture level in my shop. (which is underground stone walled cellar so not surprised)
but, that is actually quite good, as i can cook them for dry fitting, then they are back to nice and tight when i do my final assembly.

I just wanted to write this to say thanks, had no idea how much different it would make! and having a portable oven, it's so easy now

 

[Modernist]

I had my machine and case of doms delivered last week and they are not a tight fit in the width. Overall they can be pulled out fairly easily with a pair of pincers.

+1 for damp doms

 

[gasman]

ONe more idea - I always use the tightest fitting but I always make 2 passes - and that 'loosens ' the joint a very small fraction to allow them to fit better )earlier anyway)
Mark