DF500 Newbie Question

[drummerjg]

I just added a Domino DF500 to my Green Tools and I am having a bit of a problem in understanding how to make a butt joint
for cabinet shelves. When I read the instructions in the manual and other forum documents, it seems straight forward, but I am having an issue in aligning my holes in the end of the shelf with the side of the cabinet. I can register the first hole fine using the black spring loaded clip, but that clip will not fall into the first hole to register the second hole, etc. What am I missing? Im sure its just "lack of smarts" on my part. Perhaps someone can show mw the error of my ways? thanks!

 

[mcooley]

Use the "Cross stop" if the "Edge Stop Dogs" are not fitting into the mortise. But the "Edge Stop Dogs" should work fine for what you are doing.

 

[mcooley]

Also, to simplify things always try and use the Domino Joiner with the top towards whether horizontal or vertical. Otherwise, if you are flipping the joiner where the top is facing away from you then your mortises will be off.

 

[ear3]

You want to use the cross-stops rather than the spring clips, the latter only functioning to register the first mortise from the edge of the board (http://festoolusa.com/power-tool-accessories/joiners/domino-cross-stop-498590).  If you got the DF500 set, the cross stops should be included.  Just make sure that they are properly aligned and flush to the workpiece when the pin sets in the mortise.  One of mine was slightly bent when I got it, which I only figured out after several unsuccessful attempts at edge joining some long boards, and I had to swap it out with the dealer for a new one.

You could also just do it the old fashioned way and use a pencil mark.  Because typically only the first mortise is narrowly cut, and the subsequent ones are done with the wider setting, there is some amount of play/forgiveness in case you're off a little with the pencil mark.

 

[drummerjg]

Use the "Cross stop" if the "Edge Stop Dogs" are not fitting into the mortise. But the "Edge Stop Dogs" should work fine for what you are doing.

Thanks, mccoley and Edward. I was going to try the cross stops on the real shelf. But before I made holes in the project I wanted to play with some scraps to make sure I knew what I was doing. As for the edge stop dogs, I can't figure out why the won't go in the last drilled hole, but they won't. I have to pull the Domino off the edge of the shelf and tilt it towards me to get the dog to fall into the hole, but then when I go to move the Domino flush to the shelf, it "drifts" and Im no longer aligned. Kind of frustrating.

I appreciate the advice and will go back to the shop and give it a second try!

 

[mcooley]

The Edge Stop Dogs should only be on the outer edge of the piece. If aligning from a mortise then use the cross stops. But you should be able to use the stop dog for the first mortise off the edge of the board.

 

[drummerjg]

The Edge Stop Dogs should only be on the outer edge of the piece. If aligning from a mortise then use the cross stops. But you should be able to use the stop dog for the first mortise off the edge of the board.

Yeah...Im slowly figuring this tool out. I was trying to be over complicated. I practiced on a few shelves using the edge stop dog and pencil lines.Worked beautifully. I can now cut into my real cabinet with confidence! Thanks for all the replies.

 

[sancho57]

One thing that helps me is The surface Im registering from (side the domino is resting on when I use it, I always mark it so I know. Helps when putting the pieces together

 

[drummerjg]

One thing that helps me is The surface Im registering from (side the domino is resting on when I use it, I always mark it so I know. Helps when putting the pieces together

Thanks for the tip, jobsworth!

 

[Birdhunter]

Halfinchshy has a good YouTube video on making butt mortises. All of his Domino videos are well worth the time.

 

[mcooley]

Ditto!

One thing that helps me is The surface Im registering from (side the domino is resting on when I use it, I always mark it so I know. Helps when putting the pieces together

 

[eddomak]

As for the edge stop dogs, I can't figure out why the won't go in the last drilled hole, but they won't. I have to pull the Domino off the edge of the shelf and tilt it towards me to get the dog to fall into the hole, but then when I go to move the Domino flush to the shelf, it "drifts" and Im no longer aligned. Kind of frustrating.

I know the most recent post said you've done the marks and have now successfully honed the method, but no-one seems to have mentioned yet that the earlier DF500's had "pins" rather than "paddles". That is why earlier versions of the DF500 were able to use the pins to register in the previous mortise. The "paddles" don't fit in the mortise. This had me puzzled as well when I first got my DF500.

 

[drummerjg]

As for the edge stop dogs, I can't figure out why the won't go in the last drilled hole, but they won't. I have to pull the Domino off the edge of the shelf and tilt it towards me to get the dog to fall into the hole, but then when I go to move the Domino flush to the shelf, it "drifts" and Im no longer aligned. Kind of frustrating.

I know the most recent post said you've done the marks and have now successfully honed the method, but no-one seems to have mentioned yet that the earlier DF500's had "pins" rather than "paddles". That is why earlier versions of the DF500 were able to use the pins to register in the previous mortise. The "paddles" don't fit in the mortise. This had me puzzled as well when I first got my DF500.

I was puzzled as well on the change from metal pins to plastic tabs. I guess it was a cost savings move, but geez, for what you pay for Festools you would think something as critical as an alignment guide would be made more solid. I noticed also in my kit you get an "extra" set of the plastic tabs...I "wonder" why?

 

[drummerjg]

Project update.....after all the handwringing, I cut the joints for my floor to ceiling cabinet today and I could not be happier with the results! Perfect fit all the way around. I see a bright future for my new Domino. Thanks for all the tips!

 

[VW mick]

I know you have done it now .but I just use some pencil marks.if you are using the domino the correct way up ie without some kind of plate I just space them out on the shelf then cut them .i then clamp a straight edge across the line of the shelf (on the side ) 10mm down from the top then just use the domino against the straight edge and align with my pencil mark .

I've never used any of the accessors in my set or the pins on the base .think I just use my domino like an updated biscuit jointer .think I could probably get more out of it if I bought into the whole domino concept .prob should watch some videos

But it does what I want it to at the moment

 

[sancho57]

I just use the accessories that comes with the domino kit. Even then not all of them.

 

[VW mick]

Maybe I'm being cynical .but if you used the pins for the domino spacing don't you think you would use loads more dominos .

I spend enough on festool consumables as it is

 

[eddomak]

I guess it was a cost savings move, but geez, for what you pay for Festools you would think something as critical as an alignment guide would be made more solid. I noticed also in my kit you get an "extra" set of the plastic tabs...I "wonder" why?

It was before my time, but you can do a search for why they went from pin to paddle on this forum and there are various theories and explanations.

As for the extra set of plastic tabs, they are actually different. In the manual it explains the cases where you would want to use them.

Also, since you're new to the domino, it is worthwhile Googling and downloading the "Domino Supplemental Manual".