how to locate domino slot to match one that is in wrong/misaligned location?

[kp]

Folks - I'm trying to fix a dumb newbie DF500 mistake.

I thought I'd gotten the hang of the thing, watched a bunch of videos, etc, but I didn't realize that the edge dogs/paddles didn't fit into the mortises the way the pins did on the older fences (which were in the videos). 

I was trying to make a row of slots to mate a cabinet side and shelf.  I was using the technique in one of Half-Inch Shy's videos, in which the shelf is set on top of the side at a marked line, and you cut both lines of mortises with the boards held together like that.  It's in the video called "mid-panel joinery" on the "Ultimate" Guide page.

So, I thought I was putting in a row of mortises nicely spaced out by having the dog sit in the last mortise, and, after cutting them,  realized that the mortises were going in pretty much randomly, wherever I was pushing the unit hard enough to make me thing it was catching properly. It was a real "doh" moment when I looked carefully and saw that the edge paddles don't fit in the mortises the way that the pins did in the videos I'd watched.  So, now I have a row of randomly spaced mortises which I have to somehow match on the other workpiece (the mid-panel mortises).

I realize that I could just glue in some tenons, then cut them off flush, and redo the whole thing. But, I'm wondering if there is some way to reliably locate the middle of the randomly spaced mortises to I could just draw a line (marking the middle) and then cut the matching slots on the other piece on the lines.

Or, is there some other way to transfer the already-cut mortise locations to the other board so that I can line up the domino cutter?

Thanks for helping me out with a dumb mistake

Ken

Granby, CT

 

[mouppe]

Lay the shelf on top of the cabinet side so that you can see both sets of mortices with the edges referenced how you want them. Eyeball the centre of one set of mortises and transfer a mark to the shelf directly above it. (the shelf will be easier to re-mortice so mark the shelf).

Re-mortise on your new marks using a wider domino setting. Because you are tenoning a shelf into a cabinet side, having wider mortices than necessary will not affect the structural integrity of the cabinet very much. When you mortice the second set of holes, go slowly and hold the domino firmly as it may want to jump into an already existing mortice.

 

[Carl Prentiss]

What size Domino and which of the three width settings? Where I'm going is measuring carefully and using a wider setting on the mating part.
-Charlie

RL gave a better, more complete answer AND typed faster!

 

[PaulMarcel]

In the mid-panel joinery video, I didn't use the pins to march across the board to layout the mortises.  I think I've done that on one project video long ago before the paddle fence came out; now it would be a little silly to do so since the pin fence is relatively uncommon.

If you did the version of the mid-panel joinery that puts the shelf on a line (not centered, but the top on a line), you would mortise where the pencil marks are on the 'shelf' piece.  When you do the version centered on a line, you transfer the lines to the 'side' stock for the second mortises.  The version putting the top on a line (first case shown in the video) is easier as you only use one set of marks and because you should clamp the 'shelf' board in place since you should be pressing against it to properly register the tool.  Just holding the tool with one hand while plunging with the other to plunge into the 'side' stock is tricky to do without the machine rotating a bit; I do it often, but it definitely has a learning curve of how hard to hold it and how to properly feed the cut.

If you plunged with the 8mm cutter, switch to the 10mm (if there is enough stock) and mortise over the previous holes (or use 8 if you used 6 or 5mm).

 

[Sparktrician]

Another option is to simply glue a domino in the misplaced mortise, then when the glue is dry and set, cut off the exposed part of the domino.  You can now use the Domino tool to cut a mortise in the "right" place.  You'll cut out part of the domino you just glued in, of course, but you'll have a good mortise in which to place the domino in the "right" place. 

 

[Stoli]

Another option is to simply glue a domino in the misplaced mortise, then when the glue is dry and set, cut off the exposed part of the domino.  You can now use the Domino tool to cut a mortise in the "right" place.  You'll cut out part of the domino you just glued in, of course, but you'll have a good mortise in which to place the domino in the "right" place. 

Just wait for the glue to dry completely or else it makes a mess on the bit.

 

[kp]

Folks, thanks for the replies.

RL and Charlie, I was using the 8mm size, and the narrowest mortise. Using the wider setting is a great idea, can't believe that hadn't occurred to me.  Sorry if I was unclear, but I had only mortised 1 of the pieces, the shelf. So I don't need to redo the whole thing; I just need to mark roughly the center of the existing mortises and use that mark to cut a wider mortise on the side piece (so that the sure-to-be-a bit-off center mark won't matter) and it should go together fine.

PaulMarcel, sorry if I implied you'd used the pins to march across in the mid-panel joinery video. I'd seen that in another video somewhere, might not have been any of yours (which are very helpful and much appreciated). I was using the"shelf on a line" version, but figured I'd cleverly use the dogs to locate the series of mortises rather than a pencil line as you used in the video. The wood is peruvian walnut, quite dark, so I have trouble seeing pencil lines well. I do have the shelf on top of the side and the whole thing is clamped very securely. I realize in retrospect that the feeling I was getting of the domino aligning itself was just because I was pushing so hard that the domino was catching on the wood very nicely. Like I'd said, not one of my brightest moments.

Sparktrician, thanks, I may end up plugging one mortise that's really in the wrong place.

I appreciate the help.

Ken

 

[bkharman]

Not going to be much help here...

But, I bought the 700 for this reason (not the only reason). The pins plus other things make the 700 a beast.

I hope you figure it out.

 

[John Stevens]

Another option is to simply glue a domino in the misplaced mortise, then when the glue is dry and set, cut off the exposed part of the domino.  You can now use the Domino tool to cut a mortise in the "right" place.  You'll cut out part of the domino you just glued in, of course, but you'll have a good mortise in which to place the domino in the "right" place. 

Works great.