Learning Domino —   Domino Wider Spacing Using Cross Stop Accessory

Elena has moved down the line making the mortises. What is nice is that you can leave the motor on between cuts.    Here is the spacing for the mortise: for the first one,  she placed the Domino internal pin against this edge of the board. For the rest of the mortises, she placed the Cross Stop pin in the previous mortise. When she reached the other edge, the mortise with the Cross Stop would have been off the board, so she used the other internal pin against the far edge. She will do the very same when cutting the mortises in the mating piece.
	With the mortises of the side piece done, she turns her attention to making the mortises of the mating piece. She positions the board she will mortise on the first board.  It doesn't have to be lined up on the other boards pencil line, but we are in this case so that we can be sure to match the mortise positions
For the mortises in the side, she had set the depth to 15mm. This depth gave a good mortise but not so deep as to break through the side. She is using an 8mm X 40mm Domino tenon. The 40mm is the length. With the side cut to 15mm, she sets the mortise depth now to 25mm. The 25mm plus 15mm will allow the 40mm Domino to fit.
	This photo show the starting position for the mortises. You can see that the Domino Joiner's pin is against the left edge of the board.    With that there and the machine flat on the table (the other board), she can make her mortise. This time it will drill to the 25 mm depth.
Just as with the mating piece, Elena uses the Cross Stop pin to position for the rest of the mortises. When she gets to the other edge, she uses the machines pin just as she did with the side.    With all the mortises cut, Elena takes a brief inspection to see that the mortises are where they should be and line up with the mating piece.
	Elena brushes some Titebond Melamine glue on the mortises (see insert).  In the past, we have used RooGlue — an adhesive made for melamine. Now that Titebond makes such a glue, I thought I would try it.
She puts a bead of glue on the edge of the  particle core board.
	She uses a disposable "acid" brush to get glue into the mortises and to spread it around evenly. It takes an extra minute, but I feel that getting good glue coverage is important to the lasting ability of the joint.
Elena lines up the mortises and Dominos. If there is a "trick" to this, it is to get one end started and the piece lowered to about 1/2 the Domino's length and then while holding the starting point, lower the other end slowly jiggling the board to ease the other pins into position. This is clearly a time to appreciate tight fitting Domino mortise and tenons.
	A water moistened paper towel allows Elena to remove any squeeze out and leave a crisp, clean melamine surface.
She uses a brad nailer to pin the joint at two of the Domino locations. She has 5/8" brads loaded so that she can pin the Domino in both boards. This step isn't necessary but will help keep the joint tight while the glue sets.    I know one thing. After making these joints in white melamine, I can't wait to put together a cabinet with this new "art form." Of course it isn't an art form, but having just done these two assemblies, I can't help but feel that cabinetmaking will go much faster and result in a stronger cabinet.

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