What’s size domino in which instance.

[sebr023]

I used the search function, and didnt find what I was looking for?

Long story short: I got a df500 recently, and went to Lee valley this weekend and got 6x20 mm domino.

Once home, I set up the machine and cut my first mortise.

Take a domino, go to insert it, and find out the cutter is smaller than 6mm. It’s a 5mm that comes with the machine now (read somewhere that it previously came with all 4 cutters?!)

So my question is, when and how do you know to use what size of domino?

I read that it’s usually best to have 1/2 to 1/3 of material thickness for a Domino, so let’s say I work with 18mm birch ply for this project. That 9 to 6 mm domino. So the 5 mm cutter would be « too small » but from this, I could use 8 or 6 mm.

I’m asking cause I went to know which cutter I need to get first, and what domino size. Haha.

Is there a cheat sheet somewhere with all the info?!

 

[luvmytoolz]

Unless the cutters are insanely cheaper there than they are here in Oz, the best choice would be to get one of the DF500 Tenon/cutter starter packs. Comes with a huge amount of tenons from 4mm-10mm, and a full set of all the cutters, at a fraction of the cost of buying the components separately.

 

[woodferret]

It never came with anything other than the 5mm. As for which size tenon, 1/3 isn't a inviolate rule. You can use 5mm on 18-19mm ply. If anything, that tends to be easier, since you can just set the depth to 15mm both sides without risk of forgetting and blowing through.

As an aside, the hardware connectors you can use with the DF500 are 8mm and have very specific settings you need to follow to avoid mistakes. Stick with the 5mm for now if you're doing sheet goods, and return the 6mm and swap at LV.

 

[Sam hall]

Yes, the rule for tenons is usually 1/3 the thickness of the mating piece, also I agree the domino assortment kit for the DF500 is a better deal than buying individual cutters

 

[ChuckS]

You can find answers to your questions on p. 13 of the user manual.

As luvmytoolz suggested, get the tenon and cutter sets so you can make full use of the machine. I've used the full ramges of sizes of tenons for my projects. 4mm, 6mm and 8mm (for 3/4" hardwood as shown in the second pic) dominoes are mostly used, and so I buy them in bulk packages to save money.

The 4mm cutter could break if you move the machine before it retracts into the machine. I've bought an extra one from a third-party manufacturer just in case -- at half the Festool price.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I have never heard of any cutter coming with the machine, other than the 5mm.
The multi-pack comes with the Tenon assortment set, in its own Systainer.
I use more 6mm than any other, far more. I use them for sheetgoods joining and faceframe building.
Sometimes, 5mm comes into play for faceframe mounting, depending on the size of the project.
8mm and 10mm are usually used in hardwood projects, where thicker material is used.
It's the 4mm, that I rarely use. I have a few times, on some small trim pieces or small boxes, but I would guess that it's been a few dozen, in over 10 years. Where I have used well over 10k of the 6mm, just since the move, which was 5 years ago.

 

[Cheese]

Is there a cheat sheet somewhere with all the info?!

I stumbled upon this several years ago...

 

[ChuckS]

The chart is quite handy, but the wood species (softwood vs hardwood) and joinery strength can affect the final choice. I've used 4mm on 5mm ply and the project stands the test of time.

 

[smorgasbord]

I've used 4mm on 5mm ply and the project stands the test of time.

Typo? That's only 1/2mm of mortise wall thickness...

 

[ChuckS]

I used the 5mm material for a tray because I wanted it to be as light in weight as possible.

 

[sebr023]

I stumbled upon this several years ago...

Thank you! saved it!

 

[sebr023]

Thanks to all!! I'll go get the domino assortement systainer. If you purchased the cutter separetely, @75$ cad each, its almost like you have a free systainer and 1000 tenons. Ill go get it this week!

 

[ChuckS]

For ordinary folks, the set is the best deal.

A guy I know makes his own tenons for his business and he gets CMT cutters (50% cheaper than Festool) whenever he breaks his cutters or wants spares. I'm not interested in making my own tenons, and the bulk packs work for me.

 

[woodferret]

I think almost all of us have loaded up on the CMT 4mm as a spare I still use 4mm for assembly alignment - some things I prefer just the 10mm protrusion (without the hassle of changing depths).

 

[SoonerFan]

Thanks to all!! I'll go get the domino assortement systainer. If you purchased the cutter separetely, @75$ cad each, its almost like you have a free systainer and 1000 tenons. Ill go get it this week!

Good call. I brought the assortment when I first got my DF500 around 10 years ago. Since then I have broken one cutter and used lots of 6mm dominos (sheet goods) and lots of 8mm dominos (hardwoods, stiles, rails, etc.). Like has been mentioned, I don’t use many of the 4mm. Even with very limited 4mm usage, the assortment has been a good value.

 

[sebr023]

For ordinary folks, the set is the best deal.

A guy I know makes his own tenons for his business and he gets CMT cutters (50% cheaper than Festool) whenever he breaks his cutters or wants spares. I'm not interested in making my own tenons, and the bulk packs work for me.

I mean why not if you have time and/or using so much of them. Thats not my case. I am a very DIY type of person, but I would not do my own tenon, nor my own dowel if I were to use them. I seen amana does cutter for the df500 too.

 

[sebr023]

Good call. I brought the assortment when I first got my DF500 around 10 years ago. Since then I have broken one cutter and used lots of 6mm dominos (sheet goods) and lots of 8mm dominos (hardwoods, stiles, rails, etc.). Like has been mentioned, I don’t use many of the 4mm. Even with very limited 4mm usage, the assortment has been a good value.

Yup! At first I thought it was as expansive as getting everything seperate, and thought I could mitigate the cost by buying seperately, but after quick math, seems like a no brainer.

 

[luvmytoolz]

@ChuckM I make my own tenons using the special reeded cutters, but only specifically for the DF500 6mm/8mm/10mm cutters on the widest setting as there's such a good increase in width. I wish the DF700 also had a wider setting as there's only 3mm difference in slot width..

 

[ChuckS]

Oh, I, too, made my own 10mm tenons that were about 120mm long for one chair project. For those mortises, I made them deeper with a drill kit.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I use the DF700 for anything longer, but I love that I can use 33.5mm wide tenons for the 10mm cutter on the DF500, comes in really handy for a lot of projects.