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Author Topic: Can the DF 500 center wood that is 3 inches wide?  (Read 1050 times)

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Offline Neo-Creo

  • Posts: 1
Can the DF 500 center wood that is 3 inches wide?
« on: May 15, 2023, 10:30 AM »
I can't seem to figure out how to center a board that is 3 inches wide with a DF 500 cutter, or if it can even do so. The dimensions are 2'11" long, 3" wide, & 3/4" thick. I need this project done in about 10 days and I still have more to do after the domino cutter.
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Online ChuckS

  • Posts: 4846
Re: Can the DF 500 center wood that is 3 inches wide?
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2023, 11:14 AM »
Simply use a center line instead of the paddles/pins to register your workpieces. Draw a center line at 1.5" from the edge of your work, and position the machine on the work with the sight gauge.

You can use the paddles to center your machine on a 3" (76.2mm) wide board if you add a shim of 1.1mm thick to the paddles, though (the paddles are 37mm from the center of the cutter).
« Last Edit: May 15, 2023, 11:23 AM by ChuckS »
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Offline Mark Katz

  • Posts: 144
Re: Can the DF 500 center wood that is 3 inches wide?
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2023, 12:39 PM »
As others have said in other threads, why does it need to be exactly centered? As long as the mortise is the same distance from a reference edge on both pieces the mortises will line up. And the 37mm offset provided by the paddles is close enough to 1.5”
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Online ChuckS

  • Posts: 4846
Re: Can the DF 500 center wood that is 3 inches wide?
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2023, 12:53 PM »
Mark is correct that centering on the width (or thickness) of the stock is unnecessary in the day-to-day operation. In fact, a little off-centering is a better thing.
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Offline Birdhunter

  • Posts: 3998
  • Woodworker, Sportsman, Retired
Re: Can the DF 500 center wood that is 3 inches wide?
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2023, 05:11 PM »
However you decide to cut the mortises, be sure the process is exactly repeatable in case you need to redrill one or more of the holes. I make a jig if I’m doing something like this.
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Birdhunter

Offline xedos

  • Posts: 702
Re: Can the DF 500 center wood that is 3 inches wide?
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2023, 05:27 PM »
If you're asking if there is a stop, paddle, pin, ect... on the domino that will place the cutter center line  37.5mm (1 -1/2") left or right of an edge....................then no.  There is not.

The LA-DF 500/700 trim stop will get you to 1-3/8".  You could prob. fabricate (or modify) the plates on it to get  to 1-1/2".

The cross stops could also be used with a setup block or jig to center in 3".
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