Domino XL 700: Possible to plunge less than 15mm?

[steverael]

Good Day FOG members.

First time posting. I just started using my Domino 700.  I bought it and the Seneca Adapter/Domi-shim thinking it could do everything. My first 'test' project is building a Miter Saw station out of 3/4" Baltic Birch Ply.  Everything is going along pretty smoothly. 

I'm currently using Half-inch Sky's procedure for creating mid-panel mortises using the 700.  However, I cannot seem to figure out how to limit the mortise depth to 12mm (or less) for my 3/4" plywood dividers.  He also refers to using a 'spacer' to limit the travel (e.g., set depth to 15 - use a 3mm spacer to achieve the 12mm depth - same as Domino 500) in another of his great videos (DF-500 or Domizilla XL700).

I'm staring at the XL700 trying to see how the spacer placed on either of the glide tubes can restrict this.
Can anyone share successful techniques to limit the XL700 plunge for a mid-panel mortise?

Many thanks in advance.
Steve

 

[copcarcollector]

This is from the 500 sup manual, but the principle should be the same

[attachimg=1]

Some people have also used spacers from the RC car company Traxxas for this, (these fit both Dominos)

[attachimg=2]

and Woodpecker made a set of spacers, only for the 500 if I recall...

https://www.woodpeck.com/dominodepthsleeves.html

[attachimg=3]

 

[Ed Bray]

Two ways of doing this.

1) Place the 3mm spacer between the face of the cutter and the workpiece, XL700 set to 15mm will plunge 3mm through spacer and 12mm into workpiece.

2) Measure the amount of rail left exposed on one rail after plunging to 15mm, cut a piece of tube/pipe large enough to fit over the measured rail the length of the amount left exposed +3mm, take off the fence assembly and fit the cut tube over the measured rail, plunge until the mech stops and you will have a 12mm deep cut.

Hope this helps.

Just thought of a third way, if you use the 4mm cutter on the Seneca adapter that allows you to make a 10mm deep hole with the 700XL when you set the Domino to plunge to 20mm. Ideal for your purpose. This works because of the shortness of the 4mm bit. Just be careful to plunge very slowly and deliberately. I use 4mm Dominos a lot on my 700XL, I have used 50x 4mm Dominos alone using the 700XL whilst building my MFTC.

 

[steverael]

Thanks for the replies. I was actually looking for this info in the XL700 Supplemental manual and didn't see it.  Didn't think about looking at the 500 Supplemental Manual!

What I wound up doing (not optimal - but got me through), is I trimmed off some of the white plastic sleeve that was packaged with the machine for shipment to prevent the fence moving -- to end up with a 12mm plunge.  Hope I don't need that to be full length again. I guess PVC would do the same thing; but using what came with the unit saved me a trip to the orange box.

Ironically, I bought the Traxxas spacers; and they fit nicely over the smaller tube; but they don't seem to do anything; they just move with the plunge.  Not sure if I'm using them incorrectly; but they seem to have no effect.

Thanks again for the replies. This group has been a wealth of info for newbies; greatly appreciated.

-Steve

 

[Brent Taylor]

A spacer block between the fence and work piece, if you're only doing small bit of work. 

 

[presidentsdad]

This is from the 500 sup manual, but the principle should be the same

[attachimg=1]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but for the Domino XL, would the dimension needed for the start of the depth stop spacer be 70mm (instead of 28mm from the DF500)?  So in other words 70mm minus the desired plunge depth.  So if I wanted to do a 12mm plunge on the DF 700 XL it would be a 58mm spacer?  Of course, I'm using the Seneca SMK, so that might throw off everything.

From the DF 500 supplemental manual, it states the following (and I'm wondering for the DF 700 XL, if my start dimension is 70mm):

The length of the tube needs to be 28 mm (13/32 inch) minus the desired plunge depth. So for a 10 mm plunge, you would need an 18 mm sleeve (⅜” plunge = 23/32” sleeve).

 

[Thompmd]

I was unable to find the woodpecker spacer link and didn’t find them?? Has anyone else used the Traxxas for their spacers? Seems like something that would come in handy

 

[moretoyswins]

The Woodpecker domino depth sleeves have not been available for a number of years.

I have and use the Traxxas spacers, they work well and only cost a few dollars.  You have to cut an initial PVC pipe spacer and then add the Traxxas you need.  I believe my PVC pipe space is 59mm long.

My solution was based on a post from years ago, but I could not find it searching the forum.  I did find:
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/ask-festool/domino-connectors-46934/msg470110/#msg470110

msnelling used 58.5mm but has a 0.5mm spacer at the end.

I hope that helps!

 

[Thompmd]

It does , thank you. Don’t have a current need but a great idea

 

[Cheese]

I've used the Traxxas spacers on several occasions.
https://traxxas.com/search?keyword=3769

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

 

[rmhinden]

Here are some pictures of the shim I made from PVC piping that results in about 10mm depth.    It's about 63mm long.  This is measured using the Seneca adapter with a 5mm bit.    It could be adjusted to get deeper or shallower mortices.

Hope this is helpful.

Bob

[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3]

 

[grobkuschelig]

I am a Traxxas spacer user as well.
Total recommendation!

 

[presidentsdad]

Thanks everyone, that is super helpful! Much appreciated.

 

[Koamolly]

I notice 1/2” Pex can be cut to whatever length you want, then cut out a small section so it looks like a C.  Snaps over the small rod.  It can be cut a utility knife.

 

[moretoyswins]

Sorry, I have not been on the forum since April 11 but I thought I should respond if anyone is still following this thread.

Here are some pictures of the shim I made from PVC piping that results in about 10mm depth.    It's about 63mm long.

Bob's pipe length is perfect for 10mm or less plunging! Bob's shop also looks roomier and (except for the dust collector hoses on the floor) much more organized than mine! ;D

The 59mm pipe I use also allows plunging 11-14mm depths granted most users will not need that level of precision in their mortise depth.  I have needed the flexibility for projects where I am mortising to receive invisible hinges on box lids, thus my 59mm length.

Again hope this helps!

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I purchased the Traxxas spacers. I have made the PVC spacers in the past. I notice on the XL with Seneca bit adapter one needs to have a pipe of some length anyway. Do others just use the Traxxas to fine tune depth with the pipe spacer?

(the kit has four-1mm/two-2mm/two-4mm/two-8mm spacers, not hardly enough to get a 10mm depth as the poster wanted)

Mike

 

[JimD]

There is a lot of good information in this thread already but I did not see where anybody said what the XL equivalent of the 500 28mm dimension is.  I believe it is 74mm.  I made a 59mm spacer of 1/2 PVC pipe (which is really closer to 5/8 inside but the little domino post is about 9/16 so 1/2 PVC works great) and got a plunge depth of 15mm (regardless of where you put the normal depth adjuster).  So with a 74mm spacer I would get 0 plunge depth.  I believe it is not 70mm because the bit is back from the bottom of the domino by 4mm (but I did not measure it). 

Interestingly, you get 32mm of spacers in a Traxx kit.  So you could cut a spacer of 42mm and have 0-30mm of plunge depth available in 1mm increments.  But I like my 59mm spacer which gives me 0-15mm in 1mm increments plus the normal 15-70 in 5mm increments.  I actually bought two traxx kits, for no reason other than the shipping was more than the spacers.  So I could even make a 10mm spacer and go 0-64mm in 1 millimeter increments.  But I don't see the need.

Given the low price you could also just buy three Traxx kits and skip the PVC.  But messing with all those little spacers does not seem very attractive.  That's the same reason I probably will not make a 42mm spacer.  If you do not mind keeping a little 1/2 pvc around you could also just cut custom spacers for whatever depth you want. 

An empty pill bottle makes a good storage device for a spacer and some Traxx spacers.

When messing around with 1mm plunge depth increments, you may also want to remember Domino tenons are 2-3mm shorter than the state length.  Glue space, I believe.