Calibrating the pins on the Domino XL

[dougnath]

Just curious if there is a way to calibrate the pins on the Domino XL?  When I use the inner pins I can not get a flush joint.  The joint is off by a small amount but it is noticeable. 

 

[benwheeler]

The DF 500 Supplemental Manual includes instructions for calibrating the locating pins. I imagine the XL equivalent will too..

I'm not too sure about posting links from Tapatalk - just Google "Domino XL Supplemental Manual".

 

[Rick Christopherson]

The DF 500 Supplemental Manual includes instructions for calibrating the locating pins. I imagine the XL equivalent will too..

No, there is no procedure in the Supplemental Manual for the DF700 pins. The pins are not designed to be adjusted nor shimmed. I just took them apart tonight to check. They use a loose pivot, so you couldn't even place a shim washer on the pivot shaft. About the only thing you could do is remove the pins and either file their sides or the aluminum slots. Because the pins are fairly hard and the slots are small, this would be a very difficult process.

 

[dougnath]

Rick, thanks for the info.  What would you suggest that I do.  Should I send back to Festool for them to fix?

 

[Trans former]

How wrong are we talking here, is it loads or just a smidge.

I find a firm smack lines up small differences, even with the bigger tennons.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Doug, the answer to your question is kind of subjective. It depends on whether it is far enough off to even fret about. It may also depend on whether this is limited only to the inner pins versus all alignment marks. The latter is probably the more important aspect to consider.

To explain that I need to explain (or isolate) what different aspects may be out of alignment. If the mortices are not aligning to the non-adjustable etched line on the baseplate, that is a cutter sweep misalignment, which is solely a factory adjustment. But I don't know how close the tolerances are for the service department to be able to recalibrate this. So if it is not off by very much, then I wouldn't try to recalibrate it unless the service department thinks they can get it closer.

Conversely, if it is only the center pins that are off, and they are still very close, then your best bet may be to file a little bit of the side of the one pin. (In hindsight, if it is just a tiny amount, you don't have to take anything apart, just file a little bit of the side of the extended pin.)

 

[Birdhunter]

If you used the narrow setting on one board and the wide setting on the other board would it not eliminate the need for perfect alignment?

 

[grbmds]

If it is off by a large amount, I'd call Service regardless of the actual problem. It seems that this tool should be very close from the factory. Mine, for example, required no adjustment period. I did check it using the various methods in the manual and in YouTube videos, but it was such a minute difference that attempting to make any adjustment would just likely make it worse. When I use it, the result is perfect according to my eye, which, in the end, is the only thing that is important. If the whole project goes together and it looks as if everything is square, I can't ask for anything else. I made some drawer boxes as my first project and, without clamping, the corners were a perfect 90 degrees. So, no matter what the differences are on the Domino, they are not significant.