Domino 500 cutting depth question

[krudawg]

I've watched countless videos on how to use the Domino 500.  I keep bumping up against the same issues. Let me explain:

I have some 1/2" stock that I am glueing up for a night stand table top.  I'm using the Domino to align the boards.  I am using the smallest domino in the systainer Domino Kit I purchased from a festool dealer.  The smallest domino size is a 4X20mm.  I'm using the 4mm cutter.  It is my understanding is that the depth gauge selection for each side SHOULD add up to 20mm.  So, on the one half of the board,  I select the "12" which to me means that the domino will go in a depth equal to a little over half the length of the 20mm domino and the other half of the board I should select "8"(but of course there is no "8" so I use "12" again)  (12 plus 8 equals 20mm but 12 PLUS 12 equals 24mm which means the domino should be too deep in each side).  But it does not work out.  The holes I bored are TOO SHALLOW (the boards will not slide together making contacts instead I have a large gap.  So than I re-set the gauge to 20 and it still leaves me a gap, so I have to select the deepest setting.  Finally I glue it up and put it in my parallel clamps and all is well.  But can someone please explain what I am missing. 

 

[mjdehart]

that should work.  Are you using the domino with a dust extractor (i'm thinking if not there might be clutter in the mortise)?  Can you measure the depth you are getting and let us know? 

 

[Ivan T]

The 4mm domino cutter is shorter than the rest of the domino cutters. You need to set your depth of cut at 20 on the domino and the cut will be slightly deeper than half the length of the 4x20 domino in each piece. Hope this helps.

 

[Birdhunter]

I always check my cutter setting by extending the cutter to the set limit and holding a tenon against the exposed cutter. I repeat this using the wood I'm going to mortise to be sure I'm not going to blast through the piece.

I know this seems excessive, but it prevents careless errors.

 

[Svar]

The 4mm domino cutter is shorter than the rest of the domino cutters. You need to set your depth of cut at 20 on the domino and the cut will be slightly deeper than half the length of the 4x20 domino in each piece. Hope this helps.

What Ivan says.
I believe when DF500 was released there was no 4 mm cutter, it was added later. It is too thin to have 28 mm cutting length. So, it was made shorter to prevent incidentally hitting the stock with the thicker shank on the deepest setting. Hence, depth setting numbers only apply to 5 through 10 mm cutters.

 

[krudawg]

Thanks for all the replies.  I understand now.

 

[Cheese]

This is from the DF 500 owners manual:

"A special cutter is available for the DOMINO dowel 4x20 mm (due to risk of breakage).  Note the following when using this cutter (D 4-NL 11 HW-DF 500):
Set the routing depth to 20 mm using the stop lever (1.7). The actual routing depth is 10 mm. The dowel can only be positioned centrally (see Fig. above)."

 

[rmhinden]

This is from the DF 500 owners manual:

"A special cutter is available for the DOMINO dowel 4x20 mm (due to risk of breakage).  Note the following when using this cutter (D 4-NL 11 HW-DF 500):
Set the routing depth to 20 mm using the stop lever (1.7). The actual routing depth is 10 mm. The dowel can only be positioned centrally (see Fig. above)."

Curious where you found this text.  I looked at the DF500 manual on the Festool site (https://www.festoolusa.com/service/owners-manuals) and don't see that text or any mention of a 4mm cutter.  Are there more up to date manuals somewhere?

Thanks

 

[Cheese]

Curious where you found this text.  I looked at the DF500 manual on the Festool site (https://www.festoolusa.com/service/owners-manuals) and don't see that text or any mention of a 4mm cutter.  Are there more up to date manuals somewhere?

It comes from DF 500 manual 475005_003 and is on page 11.

 

[rmhinden]

It comes from DF 500 manual 475005_003 and is on page 11.

The version I get when I download it is 475005_001 .    Odd.

 

[Cheese]

It comes from DF 500 manual 475005_003 and is on page 11.

The version I get when I download it is 475005_001 .    Odd.

That's just Festool [smile]

Hey [member=57769]TylerC[/member] , the current DF 500 manual on the website is version 001. I believe it should be at least the 003 or a newer version if it exists.
The 003 version gives important information on correctly using the #4 Domino.

 

[rmhinden]

That's just Festool [smile]

Hey [member=57769]TylerC[/member] , the current DF 500 manual on the website is version 001. I believe it should be at least the 003 or a newer version if it exists.
The 003 version gives important information on correctly using the #4 Domino.

[sad]

Of course, good to make sure all of the manuals are also updated. 

Thanks.