1/2" Plywood I-Beams

[snichols]

So I took the plunge and bought a Domino. I'm not sure if I could've selected a more complicated application for a new user but I need to make some supports for a chest of drawers. They essentially turn into i-beams of 1/2" plywood.

The attached pictures show how I lined everything up like in the manual but when I made the plunge the pieces are misaligned.

I put a piece of hardboard under the 1/2" piece in an attempt to "center" the 4mm bit. But when I plunged the cut into the bottom piece using the method from the manual the hole was not centered in the layout lines.

Any thoughts on how this is supposed to be done? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Shawn

 

[copcarcollector]

If I understand, you want the domino in between those two horizontal layout lines, correct? Not something I have done yet, but this video might help you:

 

[snichols]

Thanks copcarcollector that's exactly what I want to do. Does anyone know if I need to change things up because I'm using 1/2" plywood? For instance, I know I can't just mark 1/2" ply an plunge away because the 10 mm offset causes me to break through the top. Do I need to shim the domino when I make the vertical cut like I do with the horizontal cut?

 

[davee]

The Domino fence has marks on the side that show the centerline of the mortise, as does the bottom.  You can make alignment marks on your piece and center the domino and carefully plunge.  Stability is helped by using their stabalizer (can't remember the formal name).  I find this works much better than offsets.  It works well for any of the bit sizes.  I've done so with 4mm successfully.  Use the markings on the domino like crosshairs to position.  Hope this makes sense - it works great for me.

 

[hrrb]

Paul Marcels videos are fantastic! I think I've seen most of them...and really enjoyed it!
You can find more videos on his webpage Halfinchshy including a bunch of Domino videos.

Plus I'll recommend to read the supplementary manuals you can find here:
Consolidated list of Festool links
(scroll down and look for Domino Supp. manuals)

I did some goofing when I started using the Domino myself. But once you have the "10 mm offset" tattooed on the inner side of your eyelids it ain't so hard.  [tongue]

Kind regards
Henrik

 

[polarsea1]

I'd make my line of holes in the edge of the perpendicular piece, then mark out where I want the dominos to go in the horizontal peice -  measure up 10mm from my mark and draw my line there. When I do something like that I usually clamp a straight edge along that line (aluminum angle or whatever) flip the fence up for support, place the bottom of the tool tight against the straight edge and make the mortises.

You may know this already but only one set of the mortises needs to be tight on both peices. I usually drill a line of the correct width down one peice but only one tight mortice as a referrence on the other peice. The other holes are drilled wider to accomodate any slight errors.

 

[erock]

Shawn,

  Hey buddy, I live your area.  You are more then welcome to come over to my shop and I can help you with the

Domino.  And show you the Domiplate,  it's a sweet accessory for the Domino.  Shoot me a PM if your interested.

Eric

 

[tjbnwi]

As stated by hrrb, all you need to know is the 10 mm offset. Draw the layout line, draw a parallel line offset 10 mm, place a guide on the offset line, bottom face of the Domino against the guide, plunge while holding firmly. Set the height of the fence with the 20 mm stepped stop, chose your reference face, make the cuts. The fence at 20 mm will place the center of the slot at 10 mm from the reference edge.

If you choose to go the Domiplate route, there will be a slight offset difference, as the Domiplate is designed to center in the sheet.

Make sure when Domioing into the face of a sheet you set the plunge depth correctly, you would not be the first one to plunge through a piece.

Tom

 

[CarolinaNomad]

Paul Marcel's videos are great and he recently done one with the dominoplate.