Festool DF 500 Connectors and Material Thickness

[Bill Fleming]

I am looking at the DF 500 Connectors and see that the minimum thickness of material is 18 mm. I also find that material sold as 18mm is many times slightly less than 18 mm. Does anyone have experience with how much smaller than 18 mm still works fine?

Thx Bill

 

[Gunso]

Miss-read the question. Disregard.

 

[ktb153]

Ive used them in imported 3/4 ply which is never 3/4 and they worked. Not much material left to add strength but I just used them to put together a large cabinet that once it was intalled there’s really no stress on the connectors, if it was furniture or something that’s going to get moved around I’d probably go with different joinery

 

[Jcwoodshop]

Theres a rule thumb somewhere, suggesting not to use a domino thicker than 1/3 the thickness of the connecting member. I’ve had experience using dominos in stock as thin as 1/2” nominal dimension for components of boxes and drawer boxes. I’ve used 4mm and 5mm dominos in 1/2” plywood ( measuring appx 31/64”,12mm); 4mm and 5mm dominos in 1/2” solid lumber stock (measuring appx:1/2”,13mm) and 4mm dominos in 1/2” MDF stock (measuring appx 1/2”,13mm). Ive had no problems except with the 1/2 plywood, using the 5mm dominos requires additional care not to blow out the plies during assembly.

 

[Bill Fleming]

Ok - so I borrowed some connectors and tried on the 18 mm material that I had, it was actually 17.3 mm.

They seem to work fine but is likely approaching the limit.

FYI