Newby question here. I'm making a table with 2.5 inch legs. Using a DF 500, how do I cut (vertical) domino slots in the center of the legs? To my understanding the largest distance from the face plate to the center of the cutter is the 30 mm on the height gauge. With the face plate referenced against a side of the leg, that 30mm wouldn't reach the center of the 2.5 inch/63.5 mm board. It would be close but not centered. What's the general modus operandi to get to center on thicker boards? Thanks
How to cut domino into thicker board
- Thread starter DA-PNW
- Start date
After marking the intersecting lines to locate the mortises, use vertical plunges (fence retracted) to mill the mortises. It can be done freehand or with the machine butted against a batten.
Also see: Post in thread 'My (unusual) take on the Domino DF 500...' https://festoolownersgroup.com/threads/my-unusual-take-on-the-domino-df-500.77649/post-751131
Also see: Post in thread 'My (unusual) take on the Domino DF 500...' https://festoolownersgroup.com/threads/my-unusual-take-on-the-domino-df-500.77649/post-751131
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Another way to do it if you want centered mortises is to use the base rather than the fence for registering. In this method, you raise the machine with a block or platform such that its cutter's center point aligns with the center line of the leg.
bobtskutter
Member
sedgetool on youtube has some guides to making this sort of mortice.
it's the method that ChuckS is talking about in past 4 above.
Bob
it's the method that ChuckS is talking about in past 4 above.
Bob
Packard
Member
I don’t use a Domino, but back when I was using a biscuit joiner regularly, and that situation would come up, I resolved it this way:
I used 2 biscuits per joint. First banking on one side of the board and then banking on the other side. I would leave even spaces between the biscuit and the edges and between the biscuits. It made a strong joint, and was fast and easy.
I would imagine that the same would hold true for a domino machine. You are using different floating tenons, but the process is very similar.
I used 2 biscuits per joint. First banking on one side of the board and then banking on the other side. I would leave even spaces between the biscuit and the edges and between the biscuits. It made a strong joint, and was fast and easy.
I would imagine that the same would hold true for a domino machine. You are using different floating tenons, but the process is very similar.
Yes, the technique you described can be done with the DF500 by registering the fence on either reference face.
But unlike biscuits for which one may not provide the strength needed, with dominoes, if one domino is enough, no one will put two there. The OP is looking for a way to mill centered mortises, not double ones.
But unlike biscuits for which one may not provide the strength needed, with dominoes, if one domino is enough, no one will put two there. The OP is looking for a way to mill centered mortises, not double ones.
Packard
Member
But if it is faster, simpler to execute, it still makes sense to me. Of course I don’t have a Domino-mindset.
You still missed the point, eh? The method you suggested doesn't cut centered mortises.
This is what the OP wanted: "What's the general modus operandi to get to center on thicker boards?" (bold mine)
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Packard
Member
Yeah, I don’t get it.
Twin tenons are an age-old joinery method and stronger than a single tenon. And if it is faster and easier than a single tenon, then a no brainer to me. Much easier with a Domino machine, and yet history shows that when greater strength was required, twin tenons got used.
It has double the face grain surface area, and puts the emphasis on pull-out strength rather than than bend-then-break strength.
So, yeah, I don’t get it. Why put extra effort to end up with an inferior strength joint?
The Twin Tenon Joint
Demystifying a classic connection The poor misunderstood twin tenon joint. The Internet seems fraught with dubious ways of cutting it and impractical uses for it. So what is it good for, and how do you cut the tricky thing? Well, traditionally, the most common use of a twin tenon joint is to...
www.woodcraft.com
The stock on BOTH mating pieces must be thick enough to use twin tenons. In the case of dominoes, we also want to follow the "one-third" rule, meaning if one domino is good enough, two may even weaken the joint if the stock thickness doesn't meet the "rule."
Here is a simpler way to see that: Would you use two screws to put something together if one screw is strong enough? You wouldn't, right?
It is not uncommon that some biscuit cutter users look at the domino machine as just another biscuit cutter.
Here is a simpler way to see that: Would you use two screws to put something together if one screw is strong enough? You wouldn't, right?
It is not uncommon that some biscuit cutter users look at the domino machine as just another biscuit cutter.
Michael Kellough
Member
I’m with Packard as far as the legs go. The op said, “I'm making a table with 2.5 inch legs.”
Putting the mortises in the right place in the table top might undue the efficiency of making double tenons in the legs though.
Putting the mortises in the right place in the table top might undue the efficiency of making double tenons in the legs though.
The Op didn't say he is not using two centered dominoes (which are double dominoes, not twin dominoes). In a double tenon joint, they are usually centered. And if that's the case, the OP would still need an answer on milling centered mortises.
Of course, they (the OP) could still settle on a twin tenon, but then the inquiry would be different from their original inquiry and our responses would be different, too.
Of course, they (the OP) could still settle on a twin tenon, but then the inquiry would be different from their original inquiry and our responses would be different, too.
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Michael Kellough
Member
We take a chance when we attempt to answer these queries. Probably shouldn’t bother until more parameters are provided.
Yes, the parameters given are limited, but that's usually the case when people ask for advice. We have had countless posts like that on this forum. When I give a response, I try to address what is being asked, in this case, how to center mortises. Nothing more and nothing less.
Yes, some may ask for more info. before making any suggestions. We all have different styles, which is a good thing.
Yes, some may ask for more info. before making any suggestions. We all have different styles, which is a good thing.
