4DThinker Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 (edited) Bored this morning, so I drew up a quick template pattern that could be used with a 5/8" diameter bushing in a plunge router base. Use a 3/16 upcut spiral router bit and three 1/4" deep step passes for a 3/4" deep domino slot. I've got some 6mm acrylic this can be cut from, or I could use some 6mm baltic birch plywood. Slots in the ends are for screws to hold wood edge guides. Render is from my CNC software (Aspire from Vectric.com). This template could also be made using a router table for the most part. The center hole may need a little time on a vertical drum sander as I doubt there is a router bit or a forstner bit exactly the right size. 4D Edited November 26, 2022 by 4DThinker Grandpadave52 and Cal 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaticLV2 Posted November 27, 2022 Report Share Posted November 27, 2022 That seems really sketchy to me design-wise. I don’t want my hand in front of, or to the side of, an exposed router bit. Call me paranoid but Murphy and I have a long and complicated hate-hate relationship with more than a little blood spilled. I would give this design a hard nope. Cal and Grandpadave52 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4DThinker Posted November 27, 2022 Report Share Posted November 27, 2022 Using a plunge base with a handheld router, set into the template, the bit only projects into the wood while cutting the slot. The template would be clamped securely to the edge of the board you wanted the slots in. Your hand would be on the handles of the router. No more dangerous than using a handheld router for, well, anything. 4D Cal and Grandpadave52 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4DThinker Posted November 27, 2022 Report Share Posted November 27, 2022 I went ahead and cut out the template. Steps 1/4" each until the bottom. The 20x40mm floating tenon needs just a little deeper hole than 3/4" to be half way in. Although this was just a test cut, now that I have the jig set up for the material and the router set up for the slot cut making several more along any edge of the same material would be quick and easy. Just unclamping, moving to the next place, then clamping it down again. Next job if the material is a little different thickness add a step to adjust the jig to the new thickness by loosening the screws. Same as having to adjust the fence of the Domino machine. 4D 4D Gerald and Grandpadave52 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaticLV2 Posted November 27, 2022 Report Share Posted November 27, 2022 Sorry 4d, I was referring to the original design. Template routing I have no issues with. Grandpadave52 and Artie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmealy Posted January 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 On 11/14/2022 at 10:17 PM, kmealy said: Ha look in here about 16:30 ff Artie and Grandpadave52 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4DThinker Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 I saw that video too. Better than the fan he originally got for his money. Wondering if there is a cordless trim router that would work with it. Lacks a fence you can adjust the angle of but wondering how hard that would be to come up with. Shouldn't be too hard to make a fixed one that is 45 degrees from the backplate and screws into the same mounting holes. 4D Grandpadave52 and Artie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred W. Hargis Jr Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 That's certainly a clever gadget, and it might catch fire given the low(er) cost. Still bugs me that most folks are referring to the tenons as dominoes. Grandpadave52 and Artie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 We're I still needing to build panels for tables etc., this would get serious consideration. I still like to run a groove with the table saw in the panels mating edges and insert a strip of Masonite. Way cheaper and it aligns the panels just as well. I don't consider domino's or biscuits to be structural components, anyway. Grandpadave52, Fred W. Hargis Jr and Artie 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmealy Posted January 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 32 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said: That's certainly a clever gadget, and it might catch fire given the low(er) cost. Still bugs me that most folks are referring to the tenons as dominoes. Well, except for his shop-made ones, he was using Domino tenons. Still too pricy for me for non-production use. Grandpadave52 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmealy Posted January 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 27 minutes ago, Gene Howe said: We're I still needing to build panels for tables etc., this would get serious consideration. I still like to run a groove with the table saw in the panels mating edges and insert a strip of Masonite. Way cheaper and it aligns the panels just as well. I don't consider domino's or biscuits to be structural components, anyway. A Domino is simply a floating tenon and should be as strong as a standard tenon. While Masonite would align, it would reduce the glue line and since it has comparatively little strength, probably reduces the joint strength. I was really sold on biscuits when I first used them on a tall bookcase. After original glue up, it was stiff, unlike dado joinery that I'd used and that needed a back panel to stiffen. I've probably made in excess of 50 bookcases and numerous other projects using them and have had 0 failures after up to 30 years of use. Cal and Grandpadave52 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred W. Hargis Jr Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 (edited) 53 minutes ago, kmealy said: Well, except for his shop-made ones, he was using Domino tenons. Still too pricy for me for non-production use. I guess I think they're Festool tenons....I consider Domino the mortiser. Regardless, still bugs me. 1 hour ago, Gene Howe said: I don't consider domino's or biscuits to be structural components, anyway. Gene, not arguing with you...or even trying to change your mind. But when I had the shop finished I was in a hurry to get my tools in there and still didn't have my stationary stuff set up. So I built some "quickie" shelves; so quick the top and bottom shelf was butt jointed to the sides with 4 biscuits and glue on each end (this is plywood) My intention was to do something nicer later which never happened. Those shelves are still there. In the pic the one with the routers is holding about 45# and shows no sign of falling apart. Someday I'll do something nicer, maybe. Edited January 15, 2023 by Fred W. Hargis Jr Grandpadave52 and Cal 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 OK, guys. Ignorance is bliss. And, I'm sure blissfully ignorant. I was lumping dominoes in with biscuits. Two entirely different animals, serving two different purposes. I got cornfuzed. Happens often, lately. Cal, Grandpadave52 and Fred W. Hargis Jr 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4DThinker Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 4 hours ago, kmealy said: Well, except for his shop-made ones, he was using Domino tenons. Still too pricy for me for non-production use. There is another make of similar floating tenons out there that sells them in different quantities. TayTools I think. Same sizes, just a different manufacturer who doesn't mark them up as much as FesTool. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=taytools+floating+tenons&crid=34PUX3TL83MZ6&sprefix=taytools+floating+tenons%2Caps%2C209&ref=nb_sb_noss 4D Cal, Grandpadave52 and Artie 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmealy Posted February 7, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 FWIW, a few years ago the club had its annual seminar with Glen Huey (formerly of Pop Woodworking, now "The Donut Dude"). He cut mortises with an intermediate sized DeWalt plunge router and a few markings. If you want, you can pay $3.99 to watch it, or just see for free https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154634729396433 Grandpadave52 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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