Domino Gadget for box building.

[RONWEN]

Awesome, Ron!

Just to clarify from your last post:
The 1/2" side will be intended to center on 1/2" ply (undersized, as you stated.. usually 31/64ths).

The 3/4" side will, however, be intended to center on actual 0.75" material.

Is this correct?

Correct, however the 3/4" side will be 10mm (.393") to the center -- .750/2= .375" so it will be ~.018" off center or about 1/64" off center.

 

[RONWEN]

Where do I send my money? Do yo have a Paypal account yet.

Greg

Yes I do have a PayPal account but please hold off -- I don't want people to pay until I have them ready to mail.  I'll give the specifics when I have a batch ready to send.  [smile]

 

[mouppe]

I recently bought some undersized plywood router bits from Lee Valley. They left perfectly sized dadoes for 1/2" and 3/4" ply. The 1/2" bit was 31/64" and the 3/4" bit was 23/32".

I am definitely going to order one of your jigs. I spend ages setting up the Domino for well-centered mortises on plywood.

Thanks
Richard.

 

[RONWEN]

I recently bought some undersized plywood router bits from Lee Valley. They left perfectly sized dadoes for 1/2" and 3/4" ply. The 1/2" bit was 31/64" and the 3/4" bit was 23/32".

I am definitely going to order one of your jigs. I spend ages setting up the Domino for well-centered mortises on plywood.
Thanks
Richard.

This raises a question that hopefully those of you that have expressed an interest in the sole plate can help me with (as many are aware I'm relatively new to woodworking, my background is in engineering).  I had intended to make the 1/2" side accommodate ply which when I measure the baltic birch ply that I have is ~.485" to .490" in thickness.  For the 3/4" cabinet grade ply side I had intended to just use the 10mm (.393") to center of the Domino. 
You've brought to my attention that Lee Valley, Freud and others offer dado bits for 31/64" (.484") ply and 15/32" (.468") dimension ply. The 3/4" cabinet grade ply seems to be sized at at either 23/32" (.718") or  47/64" (.734").
So my question is what are the best dimensions to target for the 1/2" and 3/4" sides of the plate?  Is there one dimension ply that is more "standard" than the other for both sizes?  As we know it isn't critical that the tenons are precisely centered in the ply (1/2" ply probably a little more so than 3/4"ply) but I'd like to make them so they fairly well center the mortises.
Thanks for you help.

 

[Michael Kellough]

As the plywood router bits imply, the current standard thickness of 1/2" ply is 31/64", and the standard for 3/4" ply is 23/32". This is for sheet goods intended for the NA market. Your Baltic birch is probably a metric thickness. For all I know the 31/64 and 23/32 are to make them more similar to metric dimensions?  ???

 

[mouppe]

As the plywood router bits imply, the current standard thickness of 1/2" ply is 31/64", and the standard for 3/4" ply is 23/32". This is for sheet goods intended for the NA market. Your Baltic birch is probably a metric thickness. For all I know the 31/64 and 23/32 are to make them more similar to metric dimensions?  ???

As I understand it, the plywood manufacturers can get away with calling undersized plywood 1/2" or 3/4" as it is within defined acceptable tolerances, and over thousands of square feet they save a considerable amount of material and money. It is unrelated to metric measurements.

Ron, if you aim for the router bit thicknesses the jig will be really accurate for plywood.

Richard.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I think you'll find there is no standard thickness for plywood. Trying to get tenons truly centered in ply is a hassle that isn't worth it in my book. I purposefully cut the tenons off center so at glance I know which face I've indexed the cut from when it come time to assemble. 

 

[RONWEN]

I've finished my parallel guides that I made using two (2) Empire heavy duty adjustable T-squares that HD sells.  They will allow cutting from 7-1/4" (185mm) to 56-1/2" (1435mm) when you flip the ends attached to the guide rail.    I haven't yet adhered the Starrett stick-on tapes and I think that I'll also drill a few holes to attach Inca scales which will nicely ride on top of the T-square rail.
I've attached a Picassa look at them.  http://picasaweb.google.com/ronwenner/RecentlyUpdated#

 

[mhoy]

I've finished my parallel guides that I made using two (2) Empire heavy duty adjustable T-squares that HD sells.  They will allow cutting from 7-1/4" (185mm) to 56-1/2" (1435mm) when you flip the ends attached to the guide rail.    I haven't yet adhered the Starrett stick-on tapes and I think that I'll also drill a few holes to attach Inca scales which will nicely ride on top of the T-square rail.
I've attached a Picassa look at them.  http://picasaweb.google.com/ronwenner/RecentlyUpdated#

Wow, they look fantastic!  [eek]

Mark

 

[RONWEN]

I've made a small batch of 25 pcs. for anyone that is interested in buying one of the Domino sole plates.   I can sell them for $38.50 ea.+ postage ($4.95 anywhere in the U.S.).  The plates have an M8x1.25 threaded hole which matches the Festool clamp element knob studs.  The knob stud is slightly too long (approx. 1 mm) to be flush with the plate (important) so the choice would be to either file or grind about 1mm off the stud length or place a flat washer under the knob before screwing it on to the plate.  In the picture I used the 5mm thumb screws from the Domino support bracket which work nicely.   I've milled the plate dimensions for 1/2" ply (31/64") on one side and 3/4" (23/32") ply on the other side.  Those seem to be as close to a "standard" dimension as possible and will center the mortises fairly well.  As you know it's not critical that the mortises are perfectly centered so the plate will cover most reasonable variances in the ply thicknesses.  I'm NOT including the knobs or attachment screws, just the sole plate.

If you are interested in buying one please send me a PM  I'll advise my Paypal account information.

Thanks,
Ron

 

[dng]

  [eek] Wow that looks great.  I dont even have a domino but I want that jig. Maybe I'll have to buy a domino for that jig.

 

[jonny round boy]

Would you be prepared to ship to the UK? If so, how much by airmail?

 

[Wood_Junkie]

PM sent.. last night actually. 

 

[bellchippy]

Im in the UK I would be interseted.

 

[mouppe]

PM sent. This is one of the best things I have seen on the FOG.

Richard.

 

[marrt]

Looks awesome.  PM sent.

 

[RONWEN]

Wow, That is overwhelming.  I should have made a much larger batch to start with.  [smile]  I'll begin sending my Paypal acct. info to you in the order that I received your e-mails.  I have far more requests than available plates but I'll begin making some more & then contact more people.  I won't send you the payment information until I have plates ready to ship.  Also, I'll be checking the postal cost to the UK & some other countries.
Regards,
Ron

EDIT:  I never realized there are that many Dominos out there!  I've got a ton of requests, this is why I don't want anyone to pay until I have theirs ready to mail. Please be a little patient & I'll get a plate to each of you.  [smile] I can machine them fairly quickly.

 

[jonny round boy]

Wow, That is overwhelming.  I should have made a much larger batch to start with.  [smile]  I'll begin sending my Paypal acct. info to you in the order that I received your e-mails.  I have far more requests than available plates but I'll begin making some more & then contact more people.  I won't send you the payment information until I have plates ready to ship.  Also, I'll be checking the postal cost to the UK & some other countries.
Regards,
Ron

I didn't PM/e-mail you, just posted on here. Does that count?

 

[Jonhilgen]

PM sent...Hurry up, I'm actually starting to use my domino and it's making me like this jig even more.

 

[Jay Knoll]

Ron

Jig arrived this moring, many thanks, it is very nicely machined.

Jay