Centering on 18mm stock for Domino?

[Acrobat]

Hi
I have the 2010 model domino with the paddles and would simply like to know how I easily/best method to centre the cutter on 18mm thick stock (mdf shelves).
Depth setting stop block has presets at 16 and 20 22 etc but for some weird reason misses 18. I played around for ages last night with the adjustable height guide locking it where I thought would be it, but for the life of me could never get it exactly centred. Always either higher or lower.
Is there an easy fix for this common size? Seems odd it doesn't have this as a preset.
cheers

 

[VictorL]

Use metric scale on the back. Set to 9mm and that's it.

Good luck
VictorL

 

[Acrobat]

? Do you mean the vertical scale on the back of the fence? This is my problem. I set it to 9mm by eye and its out.
Either I get it drilling too high or too low. Spent ages fiddling the locking height, test, loosen, reset, lock test, loosen, reset, lock test etc etc. What a pain.
I had thought there would be a standard way to set to set the cutter centred on 18mm stock rather than rely on the seemingly imprecise way of "eyeballing" the vertical scale, then trying to hold the fence in position and then locking it without it moving. Indents or locking presets on the vertical scale would certainly help.
It appears I need a special screwdriver to adjust the vertical scale, out by approx 1.5mm, but even knowing this and taking that into account, I still cant get it centred for the life of me. What a pain.

 

[jonny round boy]

Why do you need the mortices to be centered? It's not necessary at all. As long as it's vaguely in the middle, happy days.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I'm in middle of doing a bookcase (for myself) and I'm putting a double 1x12 bottom in it.  I glued up the two 1x12's so now they're obviously 1 1/2" thick.  I dominoed both board edges and set the machine at 10mm down for the bottom most board for my first row of dominos (since I'm measuring from the bottom of the cabinet up, to keep it all flush) and 29mm down for the second row on the other 1x12.  That's about as OCD as I need to get to have both domino rows relatively centered.  It would be nice if the Domino had greater than 40 on the quick adjust side scale so I could quickly set the second row depth, but I just get out the binoculars and adjust it to the fence's ruler as best I can.

 

[Alan m]

i never spend the time centering. if you use the 16mm setting on the quick set up block and put a 1mm (half the difference to the measurement needed) on top of the plastic part it will center perfect. another problem is that 18 mm ply isnt 18mm thick [huh] but a bit smaller. ron weneer s plate would be helpfull to you.

 

[VictorL]

? Do you mean the vertical scale on the back of the fence? This is my problem. I set it to 9mm by eye and its out.

Yes.  It's accurate, but if you need flat surface for two jointed boards use fence of workbench surface for registering. 

Regards,
VictorL

 

[Oldwood]

If you want the mortise dead in the middle measure the stock with calipers in metric divide by 2. Whatever this number is over 8 is what you need for a shim. Set the height for 16mm insert shim on top of stop lower fence to hold shim on stop & lock the fence. I use this technique to set offset between pieces. 3mm shim on one of the cuts gives you a 3mm offset on the joined parts.

HTH
Gerry

 

[GPowers]

When I first started using the Domino I was all hung up on getting the mortise in the center of the work piece. It was driving me nuts that there was no fine adjustment on the fence. Other Festool devices have micro fine adjusters why not the Domino?

Because you do not need it.

It is all about referencing off the same face. If you referencing of the same face, the relative position of the mortise will be spot on.

 

[Acrobat]

If you want the mortise dead in the middle measure the stock with calipers in metric divide by 2. Whatever this number is over 8 is what you need for a shim. Set the height for 16mm insert shim on top of stop lower fence to hold shim on stop & lock the fence. I use this technique to set offset between pieces. 3mm shim on one of the cuts gives you a 3mm offset on the joined parts.

HTH
Gerry

Thanks for that gerry, and all the others that gave helpful advice.
I'll try the shims, never thought of that. It's a wonder there is no micro adjustment really, I have that on an old triton router and that works a treat, a shame the domino doesn't in my opinion, at least a stop set at 18 as mdf is "common as" at 18mm here. cheers

 

[Acrobat]

? Do you mean the vertical scale on the back of the fence? This is my problem. I set it to 9mm by eye and its out.

Yes.  It's accurate, but if you need flat surface for two jointed boards use fence of workbench surface for registering. 

Regards,
VictorL

no, it's not accurate, as i stated its out 1.5mm or at least it was until I fixed it. That's quite a margin out in my opinion for an expensive tool.

 

[Acrobat]

Why do you need the mortices to be centered? It's not necessary at all. As long as it's vaguely in the middle, happy days.

Because when I do the mating panel, having the mortise out of centre means the adjoining piece is also out and not falling in the correct spot. (I am not simply butting one end to another as that then simply wouldn't matter, even though it would still be nice to set the domino to 18 accurately).
I see no way of keeping the domino square and centred when doing the sides of a carcase as if thats out the the mating piece will be out of position and simply not square or level when put together.

 

[zapdafish]

Have you had a chance to look over this document?

pdf

Starting on page 16 might give you an idea of how to use the domino to do the join you are trying for.