Gluing Festool Domino Mortises

[Wade Lippman]

To me, putting glue on the domino is so perfectly obvious that I couldn't understand how so many could be putting it in the mortise. I was going to contact Festool and get their opinion, when I remembered I had their extended manual on PDF.

When applying glue for the tenons, you can either apply
glue into the mortise slots, or spread a thin layer across the
Domino tenons. For applications where the tenon is the
primary structure holding the joint together, you should
apply the glue to the tenon. The Domino tenons have small
glue pockets and ridges that will hold glue as the tenon
slides into the mortise slot.

So, each to their own, but putting it on the domino is best.

[Dan Masshardt]

We know the that dominos are very tight, probably - prob one the reasons for the glue pockets.

If we apply glue to the tenon, it could push into the pockets and possibly less glue on the parts of the tenon without the pockets.

Because the tenon is, so tight, putting the glue in the mortise only could push a good amount of glue to the bottom. In front of the domino as it goes in.

The video test may have shortcomings but I won't dismiss it.

It seems to me the rankings from best to least would be

1. Both

2. Tenon (domino)

3. Mortise.

That being said, I'd think any of the methods would be fine for the majority of our projects.

[Dan Masshardt]

There are of course many different opinions and literature on this subject in general.

Here is an interesting 'test' dine with traditional mortise and tenon.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/ar...es-the-glue-go

It might also natter what we're gluing into. For example, if the main surface of the domino happened to be contacting mostly endgrain. Even if not, we need to remember that the wood can absorb glue. In this article, things changed over an hour.

Because with the domino, there are two joints at every joint compared to tradition M&t) (if you follow me), getting it right might be even more important.

[jack duren]

To me, putting glue on the domino is so perfectly obvious that I couldn't understand how so many could be putting it in the mortise. I was going to contact Festool and get their opinion, when I remembered I had their extended manual on PDF.

When applying glue for the tenons, you can either apply
glue into the mortise slots, or spread a thin layer across the
Domino tenons. For applications where the tenon is the
primary structure holding the joint together, you should
apply the glue to the tenon. The Domino tenons have small
glue pockets and ridges that will hold glue as the tenon
slides into the mortise slot.

So, each to their own, but putting it on the domino is best.

Putting glue on the Domino alone is the least effective form of application ....

[Chris E Smith]

Thanks for posting your idea Darrin. I'm going to try the sucker sticks

chris

[Joe Jensen]

I use 1/4" acid brushes, most are 1/2". The 1/4" go in the mortise pretty easily. I also smear some on the domino as well. Pizzi makes a pneumatic glue system with specific nozzles for many joints including size specific dominos.
http://rangate.com/products?product=16