Domino modification for the 4mm cutter

[JeromeM]

Modifications needed to use a 4mm bit to be centered in small stock

As standard when the fence is at 90 degrees the maximum depth permitted is about 7mm

This means that centering the domino in anything less than 14mm board is not possible. This is shown under

As you can see after the modifications there is no problem in centering the 4mm cutter in any stock

How to modify the fence:

There are two points where the movable section contacts the base

And of course two points on the base. The photo under is not quite a ?before?

I found the easiest way to hold the base for filing was in a WorkMate

And the best way to check where to file was using Engineers Blue

This shows where metal needs to be removed

There is one possible problem and that is that the restriction in travel is a design feature not an error.

As supplied the plastic guide can not contact any size of cutter however after the modification the user can destroy the guide if care is not taken.

I probably took off more than was strictly needed

4mm cutter minimum depth, no problem

10mm cutter minimum depth, destroyed plastic guide if you run the Domino.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Very nice walkthrough and great pictures.  I like the "Before" stamp graphic.

As an aside, I used a Dremel and small grinding wheel and just took off enough as necessary to get a 4mm Domino centered on 1/2" ply.  Keeps the other cutters away from fragile parts.

 

[mouppe]

You came up with a good fix to a PITA problem, such as when putting dominoes in 1/2" stock. I went for a different solution to the problem which is to clamp a shim to the top of my workpiece thereby raising the fence height by a couple of mm. The end result is the same, but I didn't want to risk damaging my Domino.

I also don't trust myself not to cut into the plastic guide at some point.

Richard.

 

[erikfsn]

This is weird. Out of the box my domino centers 4mm dominoes in 1/2" stock.

Built a small case last month out of 1/2" cherry and working on a cabinet with 1/2" plywood right now. In 9-ply 1/2" ply domino cut out the middle three veneers leaving three on either side of cut, all without a file!

Bought mine a few months ago, it's the one with the plastic pieces instead of metal pins.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Bought mine a few months ago, it's the one with the plastic pieces instead of metal pins.

That's why it'll do 4mm Dominos. 
Only the older models with the steel pins need some elbow grease to facilitate 4mm and 1/2" stock.

 

[tbellemare]

I have both the old and new fences and they both go down to about 6mm with the discreet depth stop pulled all the way back. 6mm is more than enough for 1/2" stock.

Tom

 

[tbellemare]

I retract that, when I put on my glasses, it looks like a shade over 6mm, which should be perfect for 1/2" stock.

Tom

 

[JeromeM]

I have both the old and new fences and they both go down to about 6mm with the discreet depth stop pulled all the way back. 6mm is more than enough for 1/2" stock.

Tom

It seems that not all fences are made the same.

As you can see mine was way off for 12 mm ply and, though I didn't try, probably unusable in 10mm.

However now it could be used in any size.

 

[tbellemare]

I'll try both of mine on some 1/2" stock and see how it comes out. It's possible that there's enough difference in the calibration to have the same results that you had, Jerome.

I haven't tried to use it in stock that thin yet but have reason to. It'll be an interesting experiment.

It was a perfectly reasonable idea just to take the corners down like you did...

BTW, if you did an FEA analysis on the fence, shaving those corners shouldn't hurt it a bit as long as you don't go so far as to make the radial distance to the OD of the pin mounts too small. There are some outside corners that are rounded but they appear to be artifacts of the casting.

Tom

 

[JeromeM]

I'll try both of mine on some 1/2" stock and see how it comes out. It's possible that there's enough difference in the calibration to have the same results that you had, Jerome.

I haven't tried to use it in stock that thin yet but have reason to. It'll be an interesting experiment.

It was a perfectly reasonable idea just to take the corners down like you did...

BTW, if you did an FEA analysis on the fence, shaving those corners shouldn't hurt it a bit as long as you don't go so far as to make the radial distance to the OD of the pin mounts too small. There are some outside corners that are rounded but they appear to be artifacts of the casting.

Tom

FWIW my statement "I probably took off more than was strictly needed"

Was related to the avalible depth setting that I have now. Not to any reduction in the metal round the pin mounts.

My modified fence could centre a 4mm domino in 5mm stock [scared] Though why any one would want to do that is beyond me [big grin] If I had thought through the final result I would have stopped when the fence read 4mm instead of going down to 2.5mm.

I did modify the depth stop to add a 6mm preset

These are almost final pics.

BTW sorry about the images for some reason the FOG will not accept them as attachments even though they are both under 100kb

 

[JEP]

I made the same modification to mine, but also tweaked the depth stop so I can get repeatability at 12 and 18mm thick material.  There's just enough room inbetween the 16 and 20 mm factory stops to file another step, and also at the very end of the stop to file a step for the 12mm.  I don't have a before picture.  I used digital calipers to make sure I didn't file too much.

Joe

 

[JeromeM]

I made the same modification to mine, but also tweaked the depth stop so I can get repeatability at 12 and 18mm thick material.  There's just enough room inbetween the 16 and 20 mm factory stops to file another step, and also at the very end of the stop to file a step for the 12mm.  I don't have a before picture.  I used digital calipers to make sure I didn't file too much.

Joe

We both made the same mod though I have not yet needed the extra steps you have set.

It maybe that I can use an extra depth stop to modify for diffrent thicknesses of material

 

[Nigel]

Hi folks,
    For those who have the new paddle fence this mod is unnesessary as the paddles are the stops and removing them allows the fence to drop another 3mm or about 3mm center of bit to fence.With the paddles back in it,s about 6mm on mine which keeps the 10mm cutter clear.

 

[adubeau]

This is what happens when you use metrics -

[tongue]