Domino DF500 tenons too loose?

[NEW2FES]

I did search and only saw one other issue with a 700 machine noted.

I bought a new DF500 and systainer with cutters and tenons.

Machine works great but I have never actually worked with one before and going off YOUTUBE videos tenons should fit snugly like a dowel. I am not talking about using a loose setting to allow some alignment but the actual thickness fitment.

I can pull them right out with no resistance. Actually tow boards face to face are misaligned top to top laid flat. I could pull the two board apart with glue soaking into tenons with ease. Is this normal? No adjustment correct?

Honestly I was embarrassed pulling out my $100 dowel jig with a drill and getting super tight fitment holding the boards together till glue set. I cant pull dowels out without pliers.

Any ideas?

 

[ChuckM]

Any pics?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Test the other cutters. A defective cutter can make an oversized mortise. If the other cutters also make oversized mortises then the machine needs to be replaced or repaired.

 

[Mark Katz]

A loose fit has not been my experience. If I forget to use my special dry-fit dominos which have been sanded to make them fit more loosely, I often need to resort to pliers to pull a domino out of its mortise. My experience has mostly been with the 5mm dominos so I can't comment on other thicknesses.

Environment might have some effect on your results. My workshop usually runs between 50% and 75% humidity but I always keep my dominos stored in closed plastic bags when not in use. If your humidity is really low, the dominos might have shrunken slightly.

 

[Cheese]

Machine works great but I have never actually worked with one before and going off YOUTUBE videos tenons should fit snugly like a dowel. I am not talking about using a loose setting to allow some alignment but the actual thickness fitment.

I can pull them right out with no resistance. Actually tow boards face to face are misaligned top to top laid flat. I could pull the two board apart with glue soaking into tenons with ease. Is this normal? No adjustment correct?

That's definitely not normal, the usual complaint is that folks have to use a pliers to remove the dry fit Dominos. That's the reason most folk sand down their "dry fit Dominos" to avoid marring them with a pliers.

It sounds like you may have a cutter that has a slightly larger OD.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Something is wrong. Michael has a good point about checking the other cutters to see if it is the machine or the cutter. I recall chipping one of my 8mm cutters and the mortises weren't quite right after (I hit a nail when using it for some stairs).

I'm in Arizona. We only get humidity when it rains. We are in a record drought. My 500 Dominos are still very snug and I still have to try hard with a dedicated Vice Grip I keep set for pulling Dominos.

Post a close-up of the mortise with a Domino inserted to show the gap and one without the Domino inserted so we can see the shape.

Oh, last thought, are the Dominos from Festool? Woodcraft made some in different species for a while (still? dunno) and they were a horrible fit: very loose.

 

[NEW2FES]

Everything is Festool brand new out of the box.

I am going to try on soft and hard woods and get some measurements and pics.

LOL! I am in FL and used to live in CA and thought that I was going to hav etc sand tenons do to humidity.

It is an 8mm cutter that was in the box with the tenon systainer.

Sorry busy with everyday work and appreciate teh assistance. Will get info posted as quick as possible.

Finished project with dowels and they were tight and hard to get out for glue up which is what makes spending $1500 a little disappointing......hopefully user error or a bad bit.

 

[ChuckM]

Once the teething problem is sorted out and you've developed the skill, you'll find the machine a valuable addition to your shop, if not a game-changer as many owners have. 

 

[Michael Kellough]

Don’t wait too long to rule out a defective machine. You have 30 days from the purchase date (or delivery?)

It would only take five minutes to test the other cutters.
You don’t need to use the wrench to tighten the cutter, only needed to remove.

 

[Rutabagared]

Another possibility is that the domino tenons are undersized.  I experienced this earlier this year with a single bag of tenons I ordered online.  They measure consistently about 9.8mm.  Other stock I had on hand was 10.00mm (+/- a few hundredths).  That was enough to make them very loose. The cutter measures correctly and I've used many 10mm doms over 15+ years with no issues until this bag.

 

[NEW2FES]

Ok I got set up today finally getting time to play with this thing. I live in Tampa FL.

Originally I had just opened the bag containing the dominoes

They have been sitting opened in my garage since that day. Today I take the domino and in fits tight in the same exact cut hole.

Could it be because they handnt absorbed any humidity yet? The other sizes that are in sealed bags are still loose (tried just one)

I am horrible at tech and trying to get teen son to help posting pics.

 

[Rutabagared]

Yes.  That is possible.  You can turn tight fitting dominos into loose dominos for dry-fitting by baking some moisture out in the microwave.  Also, if you're mortising into wood rather than sheet goods, the internal stresses relieved in the wood can lead to extra tight or loose fitting dominos (the same domino may be loose in one mortise but tight in another).  Can you verify the thickness between opened/unopened with a set of calipers?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Glad it seems to be okay now.

Removing dry fit Dominoes is a lot easier when the mortise is in end grain than side grain. Species make a little difference too.

 

[NEW2FES]

So that is the issue as the other bags were left sealed. In Tampa my garage gets well into the 90-100 degree range. As someone above noted that a way to bake moisture out is with heat. I will assume that leaving in the bag but subjecting to that level of heat did exactly that, bake out the moisture.

Leaving each bag opened for a day or two makes them swell to the supposed correct sizing making them a nice tight fit.

Thanks!!!!