Domino 500, 4mm, mitered corners on box

[mcooley]

Sorry if this has already been asked. Couldn't find a thread on it.

I am buying a Domino 500 joiner soon but had a couple questions.

I will primarily be doing boxes and furniture. When it comes to boxes 1/2 stock will be used often. The 4mm cutter looks perfect.

Question:

For doing miter cuts in 1/2 stock for box making, should I purchase the Festool Trim Stop, or, can I simply get the RTS Engineering SCG-10-D? Not sure if I would need both or not. To me it looks like the RTS should be able to do want I need, I guess.

Also, is there anything else I should know before centering the 4mm dominos on 1/2" stock? I thought I saw some kind of mod on the joiner in regards to this question?

Thanks!

 

[mcooley]

Correction:

For boxes with mitered corners of 1/2 stock with 4mm dominos.

 

[leakyroof]

I build wooden flower boxes that use either 1/2 or 3/4" top frames around a boxed center. I use the 4mm tenons to help keep the miters aligned on the top frames. I use the trim stop from Festool since most of my frames are narrow[ 2- 2 1/2" wide] and the trim stop works great at quickly putting a centered mortise where I want it. I also use one of the pins on the Domino face to work a reference off of as well.  Depends on what I need.
When you plunge with the little 4mm bit, go gently and carefully as it's the smallest bit in the line-up. I use Tropical Woods, so I may err on the side of caution with these harder,denser species...
  You can cut a normal mortise on all 4 pieces, but assembly can be a bit tricky since there is no 'wiggle' room when coaxing all the miters together. So, what I learned from both practice and Brian Sedgeley of Festool when I took a class there two years ago was this... cut one mortise in just one box or frame piece in the next width up of your selector on the Domino. This 1 slightly wider mortise will make it much easier to get the 4 pieces of your box or frame together, esp. with face frames. 
  If it's a box part, then cut the one edge with however many tenons you want to install, but just cut them with the middle mortise width selected for that edge, and all the rest of your pieces in the stock or smallest width mortise to keep the movement to a minimum.
Really helps with a faster, trouble free glue-up since you're not risking blowing out an edge with thin stock as you tighten things up.

 

[mcooley]

Helpful notes, thanks!

Always hard to follow all the steps not having used the tool yet but looking forward to it.

Is there anything the RTS Engineering SCG-10-D cannot do that the Festool Trim Stop does do?

Price wise, they are pretty similar. I would rather not have to buy both though.

Thanks!

 

[leakyroof]

On the RTS jig, I can't speak to that as I have never used one. Maybe someone who has here on FOG will chime in with an answer.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Take a look at this discussion: http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/interesting-domino-applicationmodification/

It might answer some of the questions you are having.

 

[mcooley]

Appreciate the link. I think that helps.