Noob question on DF500 from a non-owner

[Crazyraceguy]

ChuckM, that is essentially what my set up is doing. It just happens to be on a taller bookshelf were the bench dogs/fence eliminate the fiddling. A series of spacers work with the dog holes to make all of the parts identical/repeatable, but the reference point is the base of the machine. It uses the paddles on the sides and a center mark on the fence. On the particular job, there were 6 of these units, all machined at once so the they are completely interchangeable. No sorting or marking of the parts.

 

[ChuckM]

ChuckM, that is essentially what my set up is doing. It just happens to be on a taller bookshelf were the bench dogs/fence eliminate the fiddling. A series of spacers work with the dog holes to make all of the parts identical/repeatable, but the reference point is the base of the machine. It uses the paddles on the sides and a center mark on the fence. On the particular job, there were 6 of these units, all machined at once so the they are completely interchangeable. No sorting or marking of the parts.

Other than when using the spacer jig (once) where the base is registered basically against the work itself, I use the fence (I deal with mostly hardwood; plywood for jigs or shop fixtures only). I can foresee that the base must be used for registration if the machine is mounted to some platform as a jig for horizontal mortising of parts (miters , e.g.).

Whenever possible, I use the paddles too. My paddles came dead-on with the machine (as shown in another post), but it wasn't the case for some others. I was told that the pins (old version) were easier to calibrate than the paddles.

 

[grbmds]

It has always seemed to me that, whether you use the base or the fence as the reference isn't important as long as you know and understand the differences and the requirements of each. I have found that, for me it's always easiest and makes the most sense to use the fence. That's the way the Domino is designed and it takes less thought about where the slot will end up. That's just me though  . . .

 

[ChuckM]

It has always seemed to me that, whether you use the base or the fence as the reference isn't important as long as you know and understand the differences and the requirements of each. Snip.

That's true. People can use the machine however it suits them as long as it works. One-handed, upside down (you can find such a jig on the Internet), vertically (someone sells a cradle for that), titled, etc. Some people like to cut mortises dead centered in the stock thickness although the machine doesn't require so, and there's nothing wrong about that either (it does involve using a caliper).

In some cases, however, you do have to use the machine as designed in order to do the job properly: Image -- repetitive offset mortises using the fence for registration (impracticable to do so with the base used as the registration tool). This box consisted of 3 different groups of mortises (6 each in 2 of the groups (sides -- offset) and 12 in 1 group (top/front & back)).

I like to explore the machine's full functionality and stretch it. I'm sure some owners have no need or desire to use all the functions it offers.

 

[grbmds]

The Domino (whether it's the 500 or 700XL) is a stand-alone tool. Without any third-party or homemade jigs, it works as well as I need it to. The only time it fails me is when I make a mistake. There are some jigs which make use in mass production easier and more efficient, as when doing the same operation repetitively; hundreds of times. However, for me, the machine operates as well without third party or homemade jigs as it does with them. I have bought a couple and find that, almost always, I don't really need them.

 

[Birdhunter]

This thread has mutated faster than COVID.

 

[ChuckM]

It's in the nature of social forum DNA. [tongue]

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I know this thread is a few months old but I'm looking for input. I see Seneca has a Labor Day sale on Domiplates. I've gone full cycle, I bought a DF500 when it just came out and bought probably one of the first Domiplates but for some reason didn't use the DF500 much. Then I had a project that required many mortises and picked up a DF700. For some reason I started using it on most of my projects. After a few years of using it I never used the large dominos so sold the DF700 and picked up the DF500 and have used it for several projects successfully without the Domiplate.

My first DF500 (purchased when they just came out) had terrible fence drift so this made the Domiplate almost a necessity. My new DF500 does not seem to exhibit any fence drift.

Without fence drift in the jointer do others still see the need for Domiplate?

Thanks
Mike

 

[tsmi243]

Mike- I can't say there's an absolute need for it, but the "not having to check" part is pretty great. 

I've only had the fence slip once, but because of that I'm a lot more careful with the machine (which means slow), and re-check the fence pretty often out of minor paranoia.  But on 3/4 stock with the domiplate?  Just bang out the job and move on with life.  The "Fast easy smart" slogan definitely fits here.