DF500 Connector question

[Mark Katz]

I'm building my first project with the Domino Connector set. So far, it's working out great.

The full set that I bought includes 20 8x36mm dominoes to use in mortises that don't need a connector. This project will only use 4 of those dominoes. In a larger project that I'm planning, I might use the remaining 16 dominos and need more.

Festool sells a pack of 130 8x36mm dominos for $19, but I already have most of a pack of 130 8x40mm dominos left over from past projects.

So, I'm wondering if I can use my 8x40mm dominos in the connector environment instead buying a new pack of the 8x36 ones.  In using the connectors, one board is mortised to 15mm deep on the face and the other to 28mm deep on the end. That totals 43mm which should be sufficient for a 40mm long domino (especially since the dominos are usually shorter than the nominal labelled length).  While it seems like to should work, it would also seem that Festool wouldn't have created this custom size just for use with the connectors.

Does anyone know what the deal is here. Has anyone actually tried using the slightly longer dominos with the connectors? I'm not averse to buying the 8x36 ones if I need to but I already have a lifetime supply of the 8x40 ones and limited space in my domino Systainer.

 

[Birdhunter]

Trim off 4mm from the 8X40s and chamfer the cutoff end to look like the factory end. works great and you don't have to mess with different depth settings.

 

[VirTERM]

Why dont you just cut off 4mm from your 40mm dominos?

 

[Jim_in_PA]

The most cost effective way to buy "Dominos" with true Festool stock is the 750mm sticks that you cut to whatever length you require.

To your specific question, yes, you can shorten the 40mm stock if the extra few mm causes you an issue, but I doubt it will be an issue. Without digging some out and measuring, they may already be shorter than the specification to provide space for glue.

 

[Cheese]

If you're Dominoing to a 25 mm vertical end board you're good. The short Dominos are used when you're Dominoing to a vertical middle board from both directions.
I believe the system is based around 25 mm thick stock so it's really all about the thickness of the stock you're using.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Mark Katz]

If you're Dominoing to a 25 mm vertical end board you're good. The short Dominos are used when you're Dominoing to a vertical middle board from both directions.
I believe the system is based around 25 mm thick stock so it's really all about the thickness of the stock you're using.

Aha, thank you! Makes perfect sense. Since I'm just joining an 18mm vertical to an 18mm horizontal, I'll just use my regular 8x40mm dominos for this project and save the ones in the kit for the situation you describe.

And sure, I could have cut 4mm of my other dominios but I didn't want to do that if I didn't need to.