Making Domino Joints for $30

Nick demonstrates how “domino” joints were made in days gone by, when they were known as “loose tenon” joints and all you needed was a hand-held drill and a doweling jig. This method isn’t as fast as a dedicated domino joiner, perhaps; but it’s effective and economical.

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For our non-English-speaking viewers: Closed captions can be set to any language. Click on “CC” (Closed Captions) at the bottom of the screen to turn them on. Click on the gear (Settings) and a menu appears. Click on “Subtitles/CC” and another menu will appear. Click on “Auto Translate” and a menu of languages will appear. Click on the language you want for the closed captions and you will be returned to the video -- closed captions will appear in the language you have chosen. If these captions cover up some of the action, place the cursor over the captions, press and hold the left mouse button, then drag the captions to where you want them on your screen. Release the mouse buttons and they’ll stay there.

Para nuestros espectadores que no hablan inglés: los subtítulos se pueden configurar en cualquier idioma. Haga clic en "CC" (Subtítulos) en la parte inferior de la pantalla para activarlos. Haga clic en el engranaje (Configuración) y aparecerá un menú. Haga clic en "Subtítulos/CC" y aparecerá otro menú. Haga clic en "Traducir automáticamente" y aparecerá un menú de idiomas. Haga clic en el idioma que desea para los subtítulos y volverá al video; los subtítulos aparecerán en el idioma que haya elegido. Si estos subtítulos cubren parte de la acción, coloque el cursor sobre los subtítulos, presione y mantenga presionado el botón izquierdo del mouse, luego arrastre los subtítulos a donde quiera que estén en su pantalla. Suelte los botones del mouse y permanecerán allí.


And thank you so much for your time and interest!

[KOutOfMyYard]

You are absolutely the most enthusiastic, entertaining and knowledgeable woodworker on the internet. Period.

[johnklein]

I recently got into woodworking as a way to get my hands dirty and get away from the computer after a long day at work. Your videos not only educate me, but they inspire me to learn more and become better at the craft. Thank you!

[frankhill]

The educational content is awesome, I also love the humor he injects in the commentary.

[jacktuber]

Thanks. I see a great value in just using a doweling jig and dowels. Good tips

[tlum]

For those people adverse to wallowing out the slot with a drill bit since they're not designed for that, machinist endmills are available designed to cut metal on the side. Most also cut on the end but you have to buy the plunge type.
For that matter, straight router bits could also be used.

[chuckdeskins]

make a length of "tenon" round over on router table, cut to length.

[svsoleil]

Awesome Video as always...thanks for info...The point of the dominoe is that it's faster and you can make many joints in little time (time is money), a good thing if your making a living selling your projects...I used to use doweling jigs (no mortise cut out) for that purpose which adds hours...The dominoe does pay for itself after a few good jobs...but its nice to see different ways to do things...happy wood working to all!

[scottmcfarland]

Nick is a very skilled woodworker! I have read many of his books and articles on building many pieces!

[mikecannon]

First video I’ve seen of this guy and I love him so much already

[colrodrick]

Well I bought one of those self centering jigs and I am so pleased that I did. I could have used one years ago. I haven't yet tried the loose tenon with it, but I will get around to. Thanks once again.

[carminelombardi]

Very late in my life, but for some reason I can't really explain, I want to learn how to work with wood, I've been watching many, many channels, but yours is the best, like wood, you are a natural. Many thanks. PS love your dog.

[lostmoose]

Just came across and hey, I thought your the master cabinetmaker
where I apprenticed some 50 yrs ago in Europe 🤓

[triplex]

Your videos are so good to watch. I love the tongue in cheek humour as well - its amazing how many woodshop videos on YT these days assume that you will have a $1, 000 dollar tool or a $10, 000 CNC machine just lying around in the shop. Makes me laugh.

[mmusgrove]

I didn't even catch it the first time, and I had to go back and make sure I saw it correctly. The South Park intro.outro is simply incredible. The entire video as usual was informative but that was epic. I watched the Harbor Freight hand plane video to be sure they didn't all have them and I was just missing them somehow. Ha!

[ephemer]

You are awesome and a voice of reason and competence, thank you so much!

[kenbeiser]

Nick, pretty slick with the hammer handling like a baton, too. I might need another video on learning that. Thank you for informative videos.😊

[geoffbrumpton]

Keep up your good work and don’t change the way you present it.

[theofarmmanager]

I’ve been a woodworker for a long time. I don’t know how many traditional M&T joints and dowel joints I’ve made over the years - and now I use the domino for most of my end grain to long grain joints. Yes, the machine is expensive - although much more so now than when I bought both the 500 and 700 machines perhaps 10 or 15 years ago. However, the time saved for a professional or even, as I am, an amateur always to do things efficiently and save precious time, means the repayment period is very calculable.

The added advantage of the domino over traditional M&T joints for me now is that my shoulders will not take the strain of using the dedicated morticer very much. So, for large joints (say doors and I’m about to make 4 of them), I use the 700 machine and double the size by flipping the pieces over and thus getting mortises than are just less than twice the thickness of a standard domino mortise.

I also have a table saw, a bandsaw and a track saw. Sure, I could do without one, or even all of them, if I wanted to but each can do different jobs. I have several chisels but could really get away with one or two.

I’m no huge fan of the like green and gray people. Nowadays, I, sure you are paying a large premium for the brand name. But, isn’t that the case with cars? I can make a journey in a cheap, cheap car or a Range Rover. Both get me there but one does it in greater comfort.

[zacbrown]

Great presentation sir! For those of us who don't have corporate sponsors and thousands of dollars to throw at woodworking, the dowel jig makes perfect sense. I actually own one of the beauties, and have used it many a times. Never have used the jig to create a loose tenon, but thanks to you, I now have the knowledge to do so!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us!

[TomGordon-xz]

Thank you! I have a dowling jig and never knew this tip!