Wooden frame joints with DOMINO

Select the routing height based on the workpiece; in this example, the frame is 20 mm thick. Set the routing height on the DF 500 to 20 mm in this case. The width of the frame in this example is 60 mm.

We are using two dowels per corner connector for maximum stability. Place the routing machine on the mitre cross section and carefully work with the stop catch at the side against the tip of the mitre. Route the first hole with precision.

For the second routed hole, either mark out the position or run the machine flush along the outside tip of the mitre. This routed hole can either be precisely routed like the first hole – which increases the stability of the joint but requires more precision. Or it can be routed with clearance – but then you must use a sufficient amount of glue for the joint. Use this method to route the holes in all four frame rails.

When connecting frame rails without mitring, i.e. butted wooden frame joints, proceed largely as in the first example. This example shows another option for using the DOMINO joining machine on the workpiece.

Set the routing height to match the thickness of your workpiece. For the routing depth, select half the dowel length. Route the holes either by using the correct hole width for both for extreme precision fit or by routing the second hole with clearance.

The routed holes can be set not only by marking them or using the stop system, but also with the scale in the viewing window – in this example, 15 mm from the outside edge. For this option, place the scale with the 15 mm marking at the edge of the workpiece.

Tip: If the wooden frame rail needs to be rebated or grooved after jointing, the rebating depth must be added in advance when routing the dowel holes, so that the dowel is centred later despite the rebate (which then takes up part of the depth of the dowel hole).

Use the DOMINO XL for stable wooden frame joints such as for doors, where larger dowels can be processed for even greater stability. In this example, a panel door is created with a pinned internal rebate and additional tenon. The DOMINO joining machines are unique in that you can set the routed holes even after rebating, which would not be possible with a classic drill for conventional dowelling joints, for example, due to the lack of support surface. This pinned joint requires small deviations in the routing depth setting which are explained below.

Tip: Due to the pinned joint, the 14 x 140 mm dowel cannot be processed despite the maximum routing depth of 70 mm for the DF 700. The maximum possible standard dowel is therefore the 14 x 100 mm. However, if you wish to make full use of the maximum routing depth and cut the dowel itself to the correct maximum size, you can do so by cutting the dowel to the appropriate length and creating the perfect dowel size yourself.

Mark out the required position of the dowel and work using the viewing window. Route into both parts of the workpiece at the maximum routing depth (70 mm each) with the 14 mm router. In the end grain, set both routed holes with the correct hole width – in this case the dowels are later glued and then fit in precisely. The routing height is half of the workpiece thickness (which is 40 mm in this example, so the routing height setting is 20 mm).

Route the dowel holes in the stile with a 70 mm routing depth, routing the first hole with precision and the second as an elongated hole with clearance. Carry out the same procedure on the other stiles and rails.

Then cut the dowels to fit the ready-made holes. The nominal dowel length in this example is 115 mm: This is calculated by doubling the routing depth of 70 mm = 140 mm and subtracting the pinned joint of 25 mm = 115 mm. Cut the dowel a few millimetres shorter (so that the glue has enough space later), down to 112 mm.

Then drive the dowels all the way into the routed holes in the end grain, adding glue to the joint. Join the stiles and rails using fastening clamps and glue the joint. In this way, you can also produce very stable wooden frames with a handheld machine.