DF500 0mm Height Gauge setting

[daviddoria]

In the manual it says "The height gauge shows the distance between the bottom of the fence face and the centerline of the mortising bit." However, as shown in the attached pictures, when the height gauge is set to 0mm, the bit is certainly not centered vertically on the fence face (which I would take to mean the cutter would cut a half circle in the top face of the material). Can someone please clarify how to interpret this 0mm setting (and/or the statement in the manual)?

Thanks!

David

 

[Bohdan]

That setting in the photo is not zero, it is in fact 6 mm and will put the cut midway in a 12 mm board.

 

[daviddoria]

Ah, wow, I should have counted the dashes... (the 0 at the bottom would make one think the lowest dash is at 0mm).

I guess then I still don't understand exactly how to read the scale - the indicator is between the 5mm and 6mm dashes, so that means the setting is 6mm to the center of the bit?

 

[Birdhunter]

With my 500's fence as low as it will go, the bottom of the fence is 6mm from the centerline of whatever bit is in the machine. The fence pointer is on the 6mm marking. I was surprised the marking is that accurate. I used a Starrett ruler to measure the gap.

 

[JeromeM]

Ah, wow, I should have counted the dashes... (the 0 at the bottom would make one think the lowest dash is at 0mm).

I guess then I still don't understand exactly how to read the scale - the indicator is between the 5mm and 6mm dashes, so that means the setting is 6mm to the center of the bit?

Well you are partly correct, you should change your view point.
It only looks that way because you are looking down at the index. Look straight at it and you will see that it's on 6mm mark

 

[ChuckS]

There is no 0mm setting for the DJ, so simply ignore the "0", or put a sticker to cover the "0" on the gauge (if it confuses you), which serves no practical purposes to me.

Set the height gauge based on the lines, and count them down or up from the "10" mark. Just make sure you don't use the height gauge in the same manner as the board thickness gauge.