Thread: Dominoes to join cabinet carcases?

Hi Bob,

The Domino will handle such a task with ease, and do it very quickly too.

When I first got mine, I tried making all sorts of joints, and found that anywhere a regular M/T, biscuit, dowel, pocket hole, etc joint could be applied, the Domino could step in a do a better job.

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

Hi Bob,

The Domino will handle such a task with ease, and do it very quickly too.

When I first got mine, I tried making all sorts of joints, and found that anywhere a regular M/T, biscuit, dowel, pocket hole, etc joint could be applied, the Domino could step in a do a better job.

Thanks Auld. That's good to know. I think I can stall her off another two weeks or so.

HB Domino is made for it. This is a 2300 x1200 x 900 (big) cupboard for a surf club and is entirly Domied using 42 - 8 x 40`s. The good thing is you use the 15mm setting on the 19mm side and the 25mm setting into the shelves for a 40mm Domino

[edit- with doors on]

Originally Posted by Lignum

HB Domino is made for it. This is a 2300 x1200 x 900 (big) cupboard for a surf club and is entirly Domied using 42 - 8 x 40`s. The good thing is you use the 15mm setting on the 19mm side and the 25mm setting into the shelves for a 40mm Domino

Brilliant! Exactly the application I need. Good tip about the different depth settings, too. Even if, as some have said, mine will only work half as fast being 110V, I am anxious to get started.

Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

Brilliant! Exactly the application I need. Good tip about the different depth settings, too. Even if, as some have said, mine will only work half as fast being 110V, I am anxious to get started.

Bob,
do not be too fussed by the 110V and slower work rate .
Remember, it is not about the destination - but all about the journey. The Domi is one serious modern dark side tool.
Les

Originally Posted by Lignum

HB Domino is made for it. This is a 2300 x1200 x 900 (big) cupboard for a surf club and is entirly Domied using 42 - 8 x 40`s. The good thing is you use the 15mm setting on the 19mm side and the 25mm setting into the shelves for a 40mm Domino

[edit- with doors on]

Hey Lignum,

looking at your lovely cabinet has reminded me of a question about a Domi technique I've had floating about in the back of my mind. I haven't used mine for that situation yet. When your joining a shelve to a side, obviously you'd pick a height on the Domi that suited the thickness of the shelve material, then do the shelve cuts.. When you go to domi the side that holds the shelve, do you just calculate the correct position for those domi's using the horizontal base as the reference point then clamp on a straight edge?

Carpenter, here is a common method for milling the parts. The cabinet side walls are laying horizontal on the bottom. Then, imagin that the shelves are standing vertical in the location where they will later install (shown by the pencil lines), and then gently tipped over to lay flat. I hope the pictures are self explanitory, because I can't find a better way to explain it in words.

The two pictures are actually best for material 20mm and thinner, but for the 25 mm plywood that I am showing, you are actually better off tilting the pieces so the Top side is facing up. The reason is because you want the Dominoes closer to the bottom surface as much as possible for greater strength.

Great explanation Lignum, thanks heaps.

Originally Posted by Carpenter

Great explanation Lignum, thanks heaps.

Your welcome

Originally Posted by Lignum

Your welcome

You have no shame, do you?!

Originally Posted by Powertoolman

The reason is because you want the Dominoes closer to the bottom surface as much as possible for greater strength.

This might be the case if the Domino was not glued.
But it is glued, top & bottom, to the shelf material. With glue stronger than the wood the Domino is effectively an extension of the shelf material and it matters not whether it is placed above, below, or on, centre.

Originally Posted by Wizened of Oz

This might be the case if the Domino was not glued.
But it is glued, top & bottom, to the shelf material. With glue stronger than the wood the Domino is effectively an extension of the shelf material and it matters not whether it is placed above, below, or on, centre.

No, actually it is an engineering matter dealing with leverage. The same answer is true regardless whether it is a floating tenon or an integral tenon. The closer the point of torsional stress is to the surface, the easier it can sheer the fibers.

The best way to understand this is to mill two Domino mortises into the edge of a piece of wood. Make one very shallow to the top surface and one very shallow to the bottom surface. Then push upward on both of them. They will both be weak and break, but the upper Domino will break easier. Moreover, the type of wood failure between the two will also be different, because the upper one will sheer off in-line with the grain, and the lower one will tear across the grain.