Is the actual Domino plunge depth different than the setting?

[Grasshopper]

So I just plunged 5 mortises using my Domino all at the 12mm setting, and they all looked pretty deep.

So I took a measurement, and the actual mortise depth is closer to 13.5-14mm, which is cutting it pretty close for my 3/4" plywood.  (I am using the 6mm cutter and plan to use 6x40mm tenons for a frame of reference.  Also, the cutter is really snug so I can't imagine that is the issue.  Also, I triple checked and it was on the 12mm setting).

Is there an issue with my unit, or is there another adjustment somewhere (or is this to be expected)? 

I've only used my Domino on 3/4" stock, but I cannot imagine how one would use it for 1/2" stock as it would blow out the side at the 12mm setting

 

[Krnbk2]

Its to allow room for glue. 

 

[ear3]

Worst case you could use the 4mm cutter for 1/2", since it only plunges 10mm +/- the glue room.  I think Woodpeckers makes those depth stops though, or you could rig up your own with PVC and then just trim the Domino.

So I just plunged 5 mortises using my Domino all at the 12mm setting, and they all looked pretty deep.

So I took a measurement, and the actual mortise depth is closer to 13.5-14mm, which is cutting it pretty close for my 3/4" plywood.  (I am using the 6mm cutter and plan to use 6x40mm tenons for a frame of reference.  Also, the cutter is really snug so I can't imagine that is the issue.  Also, I triple checked and it was on the 12mm setting).

Is there an issue with my unit, or is there another adjustment somewhere (or is this to be expected)? 

I've only used my Domino on 3/4" stock, but I cannot imagine how one would use it for 1/2" stock as it would blow out the side at the 12mm setting

 

[Grasshopper]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll have to try the smaller cutter for 1/2".

For the current project, I plan to make some Domi-Drawers, so blowout will be part of the project. 

 

[Gary in Texas]

It won't be a problem.  As others stated, you need some extra room for the glue to go.  Only issue would be to have too much glue and if using clamps to draw the pieces together (this because you can't close the gap) you could blow out IF you've used to much glue.  I don't see the need to go to a smaller cutter....

 

[Grasshopper]

Is there a simple guide somewhere that shows the estimated actual plunge depths with the various cutter sizes and settings?

Seems like there ought to be something like this somewhere.

I searched and the only thing I could find was on the Festool USA site regarding the 4mm cutter for 1/2 drawer boxes:

Drawer Boxes from 1/2" Stock

One of the most obvious applications for the new 4mm Domino accessories is creating drawer boxes from 1/2" material. Use the 4mm cutter and set your Domino joiner to the 20mm plunge depth setting. Because the 4mm cutter is shorter than other cutters, the actual resulting plunge depth will be only 10mm.

 

[Scorpion]

Where did you measure, in the middle? If you did you would expect it to be deeper than on the side because the tooling cuts in an ark as a move side to side. Beyond that, I would expect the tolerance tool like a domino to error in the side of deeper as shallower would be problematic. Not sure about glue.

 

[Grasshopper]

I measured across the bottom, excluding the low point.

I would really like to see a guide that showed the Domino's actual plunge depth with each cutter and each setting.  I was surprised to learn that it varies.

Where did you measure, in the middle? If you did you would expect it to be deeper than on the side because the tooling cuts in an ark as a move side to side. Beyond that, I would expect the tolerance tool like a domino to error in the side of deeper as shallower would be problematic. Not sure about glue.

 

[Gary in Texas]

Why don't you just put a cutter on, set the depth stop, turn the tool upside down and plunge it against a piece of plywood, allowing the cutter to pass over the plywood.  You can easily note then how far the cutter will plunge against whatever thickness of plywood, with the various depth stop settings, with the various cutters.

Simply the same as putting the cutter on and plunge the tool to see how far the cutter extrudes past the fence, only you can use the plywood as noted above to verify your plunge depth/mortise depth.

Gary

 

[Grasshopper]

Good tip.  I will try that in the future.

I'd still love to see some kind of printed guide somewhere that spells out the plunge depth with their respective cutters and settings.

Why don't you just put a cutter on, set the depth stop, turn the tool upside down and plunge it against a piece of plywood, allowing the cutter to pass over the plywood.  You can easily note then how far the cutter will plunge against whatever thickness of plywood, with the various depth stop settings, with the various cutters.

Simply the same as putting the cutter on and plunge the tool to see how far the cutter extrudes past the fence, only you can use the plywood as noted above to verify your plunge depth/mortise depth.

Gary

 

[Gary in Texas]

Grasshopper,

Following up on the above, it would be quite simple to measure each cutter at the various depth stops while the fence is collapsed, once you have each of those measurements recorded for each cutter, you could then make some gauges for each cutter.  Whenever you want to verify the depth of a pending cut, just pull out the gauge and hold it against the wood....  Brass bars, wood bars, whatever.....

 

[Grasshopper]

I thought about that.  It just seems like there would be a quick reference guide already created out there, which would save me the time.

Any FOGgers know of anything like that which is already created?

Grasshopper,

Following up on the above, it would be quite simple to measure each cutter at the various depth stops while the fence is collapsed, once you have each of those measurements recorded for each cutter, you could then make some gauges for each cutter.  Whenever you want to verify the depth of a pending cut, just pull out the gauge and hold it against the wood....  Brass bars, wood bars, whatever.....