Domino Setup for 1/2 plywood

[BankerBuilder]

I am trying to attach an interior shelf in a cabinet with 1/2 plywood.  I have seen how to set up for 3/4”; however, this technique will not work for 1/2”.  How do you set the reference line for the side panel to properly place the shelf?

 

[Birdhunter]

My method is pretty crude, but it did work when I had this problem.

I measured from the top of the cabinet to where I want the top of the shelf and add 10mm. I cut a board to that length and use it the set the Domino. This method gets all mortises lined up correctly.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Birdhunter's method works very well, I just question the use of 1/2" shelves?
Unless it is either very short or supported in the middle, in some way, you may have some sagging.

 

[BankerBuilder]

I agree on your concern.  Actually trying to align bottom shelf on a small width cabinet to face frame. 1/2 will work for this short span, but wished I’d used 3/4”

Thanks.

 

[BankerBuilder]

Thanks Birdhunter.  That is what I ended up doing….still working on the fine tuning of the spacer, but wondered if there was another method of using the Domino that was “dead on”.

 

[ChuckM]

Yes, you can, and I tried that once on 12mm stock, but the principle is the same for1/2".

The procedure is the same as mortising 3/4" stock except that before milling, you need to add a spacer sheet between the side piece and the shelf piece. In my case, it was a 4mm thick spacer.

If the spacer is odd in thickness that is not available in typical wood/polycarbonate sheets, you need to make your own using a thickness planer.

 

[ChuckM]

This morning, I used the shim/spacer method I described above to mill some mortises on a shelf that's 15mm thick just like how it is done on 3/4" stock. (Arrow shows shim material underneath.)

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