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Domino or Parchesi

Snort | Posted in Construction Techniques on June 21, 2009 02:11am

I’ve got a balustrade coming up in a few months

View Image

View Image

I’m wondering how a Domino would handle 1 1/4″ squares. I have a loose tenon table that I made, which uses a router and spiral bit, so I could clamp them into a fixture, and slot, but, if the Domino were quicker, I’m thinking it might be nice in the arsenal. What you users use ’em for? I can’t really afford it for a one time use, but if it’s something I could get a lot of play out of, I could be down for it. I’m not even sure it could work on something this small. Any thoughts. I’d attach the sketchups, but looks like I’ve reached the end of my attachment rope.

www.tvwsolar.com

Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill I would set him in chains at the top of the hill Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille He could die happily ever after”

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Replies

  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Jun 21, 2009 02:54am | #1

    What what size (in pixels) that you post these.

    This last one is 1200 x 866 and that causes window to have to be scrolled and it makes the text below a PITA.

    Since clicking on it takes your to the flicker page and you can select the large size for anyone interested.

    I have not seen that pattern before. But I have seen similar with the squares at the top.

    I think that I would use dowels. You can through drill the squares. And through drill the center style. But you will need to be careful to keep the square flat when you glue it up.

    PS. I tried to post the medium image, but I kept getting strange results. My guess is that is because I am not the owner.

    But it did allow me to download it. And I could have uploaded the image here. STRANGE!

    .
    William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
    1. Snort | Jun 21, 2009 04:07am | #2

      Sorry about the size. I couldn't upload the sketchup files here cause I got no more allotment. I ran them through photoshop a from pdfs to jpgs and goofed on the size.Dowels are an option, but I was thinking dominos are like biscuits, and would swell up, giving a better grip. I dunno.My drill press is an antique with no depth stop, but a new one would be a heck of a lot cheaper than a domino... and, I might use a better one a lot more.http://www.tvwsolar.com

      Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

      I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

      Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

      He could die happily ever after"

  2. User avater
    FatRoman | Jun 21, 2009 05:08am | #3

    Holly,

    You can use that domino for a lot of things.

    Joining wood, for say a table top or a kitchen cabinet door.

    I've seen some drawer boxes made using them.

    Cabinet boxes (they're pretty good at keeping things aligned, too, if you are going to pocket screw the boxes).

    Window/door trim so your corners don't open up.

    You can even use it on a bevel to join an inside corner at 45 deg, or something else.

    I'll bet you could figure out a use for it on stairbuilding. Maybe mortise the treads to the risers/stringers?

    Smallest domino now is 5mm x 30mm (roughly 3/4 by 1 1/8). They are supposed to have a smaller one (4x20)coming out by August 1st.

    So, yeah, you ought to be able to use it for your 1 1/4 squares. They don't expand like biscuits, there are ribs on the sides to hold the glue.

    You got a dealer near you that might let you demo it? You could always order it, try it out for the 30 day test and return it. But I'll wager that once you start playing with it, you'll start looking around and thinking 'I bet I could domino that'.

    Best,
    Steve

    'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

    View Image

    1. Snort | Jun 21, 2009 05:38am | #4

      Steve, I'm glad you dropped by... I thought I remembered you had one. You say 3/4 x 1 1/8 (see, swiss can speak anglish), I know I could look it up, but how thick is that one?And for doing 1 1/4 cubes, would I have to make some kind of fixture to hold the piece, or could it just be jammed against a bench fence? You're right, I should take a trip to Raleigh for a demo. Seems a lot more versatile than a Lamello bisquit joiner, for not much more money.Guess I oughta brew a little tea, practice my piny pointing, and head over to Knots, too <G>http://www.tvwsolar.com

      Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

      I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

      Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

      He could die happily ever after"

      1. User avater
        FatRoman | Jun 21, 2009 02:30pm | #5

        Holly,

        It's 3/16" thick. And I forgot a big point for what you are trying to do. The domino doesn't rotate so all your cubes will stay nice and square to your balusters.

        You can use the trim stop to help hold the cube. But you'll still want something on your bench to hold the back side when you press the machine in to cut. Just measured mine and it looks like it's roughly 3/4" wide at its narrowest setting.

        You probably could jam it against the bench fence to cut it, but I'd only do that for one. Trying to imagine a production line to cut all the cubes. You'll think of something more elegant I'm sure. My first thought would be to make a 3-sided trough to hold the cube. Perhaps 3/4" high on the sides so the cube sticks up above it enough to allow the fins on the trim stop to catch the top 1/2"? Then leave some scrap that's the same dimension (as the cube) in the trough so you can push against the cube to cut it? (The scrap should be at least 3" long so the full trim stop will fit over it)

        Knots might have some info, but I'd recommend either http://festoolownersgroup.com or http://talkfestool.com. You might also leaf through Jerry Work's great primer on using the domino http://www.festoolusa.com/Web_files/Getting_the_most_from_the_Festool_Domino_Machine.pdf

        Last thing is that I think you'd want/need to use a vac with this. For some reason I recall reading that not using one is a bit of a no-no.

        If you have any other questions, just ask. I'm here hanging DW and would much rather be doing anything else :)

        Best,

        Steve'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

        View Image

        1. Snort | Jun 21, 2009 03:22pm | #6

          <I'm here hanging DW and would much rather be doing anything else :) >Oh,I hope you're using a silk rope<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com

          Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

          I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

          Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

          He could die happily ever after"

          1. User avater
            FatRoman | Jun 21, 2009 03:33pm | #7

            I would have used hemp, but the government frowns upon that for some reason :)'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

            View Image

          2. dovetail97128 | Jun 21, 2009 06:36pm | #8

            Only if you inhale.
            They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.

      2. User avater
        FatRoman | Jun 22, 2009 03:34pm | #9

        Lookee here. Just ran across this and thought you might be able to put it to some use for your squares.http://www.tg29.at/Festool_Jig/"Fixing and creating sufficient surface for the Domino router can become a real nuisance with smaller and/or narrow workpieces like frame battens. I built a simple jig from MDF and plywood scraps which helps enormously and allows perfect repeat cuts. It works much like a bench hook to give stable resistance in the direction of the cut (side and end grain) and it is adjustable to create a platform for the base plate of the Domino router at exactly the same level as the workpiece."'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

        View Image

        1. Snort | Jun 23, 2009 08:45pm | #10

          That's nice and simple. So, did you get the whole Domino shebang, or go bare bones?http://www.tvwsolar.com

          Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

          I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

          Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

          He could die happily ever after"

          1. User avater
            FatRoman | Jun 23, 2009 10:01pm | #11

            I found a guy on craigslist that was moving to Colorado and wasn't taking his Festool collection. Got the whole shooting match - domino, extra systainer with a truckload of dominos, extra cutters, and the two attachments. $700I went home pretty happy'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

            View Image

          2. Snort | Jun 23, 2009 10:53pm | #12

            I'd say!http://www.tvwsolar.com

            Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

            I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

            Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

            He could die happily ever after"

          3. User avater
            FatRoman | Jun 23, 2009 10:58pm | #13

            He couldn't have used it for more than 15 dominos, too. So, you make a pilgrimage to the Festool shop yet? Don't squander that tool loot on PBR!'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

            View Image

          4. Snort | Jun 24, 2009 12:03am | #14

            Been playing in footings in the sun... I'm too muddy to get in Festool Heaven<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com

            Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

            I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

            Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

            He could die happily ever after"

          5. User avater
            FatRoman | Jun 25, 2009 12:28am | #15

            Ah, saw the new panels last night. Looks like a neat system, and you didn't have to build any forms!Saw this and thought I'd pass it along. You could buy the lot, sell the CT22 and the 2 extra systainers for probably $500 and be sitting pretty with all the domino stuff you'd need.http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/tls/1222260788.html'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

            View Image

          6. Snort | Jun 25, 2009 01:08am | #16

            I never sell anything! I've got a few months, and a restricted cash flow... I knew I shoulda used 3/4 pex for that pipeline<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com

            Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

            I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

            Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

            He could die happily ever after"

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