4mm / 5mm / 6mm adatper for Domino XL (DF700)

[RyWen]

I just wanted to share something we've been working on here that will finally be available in June.  For everyone wanting 4mm/5mm/6mm cutters for their Domino XL. We just came up with an adapter that adapts DF500 cutters to the DF700 to increase the range of mortise sizes you can make with the DF700.    More info on our blog:    http://www.senecawoodworking.com/blogs/news/7877875-announcing-the-new-rts-500-bit-adapter-for-the-festool-domino-df700

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[Runhard]

So, does this mean I can sell my DF500 and still use the DF500 domino assortment systainer with the DF700? If so, that would be awesome!

Daniel

 

[land_kel]

Ryan

With the different lengths of the DF500 cutters, ie the 4mm vrs the 8mm cutters, how is the overall length maintained with this adapter. Are the DF700 cutters not all the same length regardless of cutter size?

Also, I purchased the 6mm cutter with my 1/2 & 3/4 domiplate's. Will this now be useless unless I just use the 4mm cutter. Do not see the need for 4/5/6/ only 4 & 6 as supplementary cutters for my 700.

 

[RONWEN]

Ryan

With the different lengths of the DF500 cutters, ie the 4mm vrs the 8mm cutters, how is the overall length maintained with this adapter. Are the DF700 cutters not all the same length regardless of cutter size?

Also, I purchased the 6mm cutter with my 1/2 & 3/4 domiplate's. Will this now be useless unless I just use the 4mm cutter. Do not see the need for 4/5/6/ only 4 & 6 as supplementary cutters for my 700.

The advantage of the "Seneca" 6mm cutter is that it provides for the same extended cutting depth as the other 700 cutters -- useful for projects with exposed through tenons, etc.  The advantage of being able to use the full line of Festool 500 cutters in the 700 (where deep mortises aren't required) is they are less expensive.

To answer another question that came up, the combined weight of the new adapter plus the largest 500 cutter is less than the large 700 cutters.  In other words the new adapter doesn't stress the 700 machine.

 

[RyWen]

Ryan

With the different lengths of the DF500 cutters, ie the 4mm vrs the 8mm cutters, how is the overall length maintained with this adapter. Are the DF700 cutters not all the same length regardless of cutter size?

Also, I purchased the 6mm cutter with my 1/2 & 3/4 domiplate's. Will this now be useless unless I just use the 4mm cutter. Do not see the need for 4/5/6/ only 4 & 6 as supplementary cutters for my 700.

The adapter is sized so the overall length of the adapter combined with the larger DF500 cutters (5/6/8 - anything but the 4mm) is the same length as a standard DF700 cutter.   This means the scale on the DF700 will read the actual depth for all but the 4mm cutter.      For the 4mm cutter on the DF700 you would have to compensate and plunge deeper just as you would when using it on the Df500.

 

[land_kel]

Thanks Ryan. Between you and Ron I got my questions answered.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

What is the pricing?

Thanks,

Scot

 

[Runhard]

What is the pricing?

Thanks,

Scot

$69.95
http://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/rts-500-cutter-adapter-for-festool-df700

 

[Jalvis]

Now theres no need for the 500 for my shop.....I can even keep my extra bits!

 

[Paul G]

Just this morning I was comparing Domino models for a future buy, this makes it a no brainer to go with the XL.

But I guess I should ask, is there anything a DF500 can do that a DF700 can't even with this adapter?

 

[semenza]

Size and weight of the tool could definitely be a factor. The XL is large and if only doing the larger mortises once in a while , handling the tool for alignment on small pieces or face mortises could get to be nuisance. 

Seth

 

[Paul G]

Size and weight of the tool could definitely be a factor. The XL is large and if only doing the larger mortises once in a while , handling the tool for alignment on small pieces or face mortises could get to be nuisance. 

Seth

Size does matter ;D. So while it's possible to use the XL, it may not be practical in all situations.

 

[RONWEN]

Just this morning I was comparing Domino models for a future buy, this makes it a no brainer to go with the XL.

But I guess I should ask, is there anything a DF500 can do that a DF700 can't even with this adapter?

I prefer the 500 when using 4mm tenons on smaller work pieces.

 

[RyWen]

Size and weight of the tool could definitely be a factor. The XL is large and if only doing the larger mortises once in a while , handling the tool for alignment on small pieces or face mortises could get to be nuisance. 

Seth

Size does matter ;D. So while it's possible to use the XL, it may not be practical in all situations.

You both hit the nail on the head.  The only real limitation is the size and weight of the XL machine.    If someone does 90% of their work with 4mm tenons, the DF500 is a smaller more nimble machine and will definitely be more comfortable to work with all day long.    However if someone uses both the small and large sizes more equally and just wants to purchase one machine,  our cutter adapter now gives you the option to cut the full range of mortise sizes with the DF700. 

 

[PeterK]

Having never handled the XL, 3 questions.
1 - does the depth of cut adjuster still allow you to set shallow cuts for the pre-made 5 and 4 mm cutters? Would think the XL was designed for deeper cuts and might not adjust to shallow ones without a spacer of some sort.
2 - will the fence handle centering on 1/2" material? I know the Domiplate works with the 700 and takes care of that.
3 - if trying to use the smaller Dominos, can the XL adjust down to handle the narrow width of the slots?
As the XL was never designed for the smaller cutters it just seems these would be issues.

Thanks!

 

[RONWEN]

Having never handled the XL, 3 questions.
1 - does the depth of cut adjuster still allow you to set shallow cuts for the pre-made 5 and 4 mm cutters? Would think the XL was designed for deeper cuts and might not adjust to shallow ones without a spacer of some sort.
2 - will the fence handle centering on 1/2" material? I know the Domiplate works with the 700 and takes care of that.
3 - if trying to use the smaller Dominos, can the XL adjust down to handle the narrow width of the slots?
As the XL was never designed for the smaller cutters it just seems these would be issues.

Thanks!

1.  The XL700 provides for depths from 15mm to 70mm deep.

2.  Similar in function to the Domiplate we sell a set called "DomiShim" which centers the cutter on 1/2 and 3/4 ply.

3.  The XL700 only has two width settings compared to three for the 500 machine.  The narrow setting is about right for the smaller tenons but sometime over this weekend we'll cut a series of mortises of the various sizes & provide the exact measurements.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

3.  The XL700 only has two width settings compared to three for the 500 machine.  The narrow setting is about right for the smaller tenons but sometime over this weekend we'll cut a series of mortises of the various sizes & provide the exact measurements.

To add to that, the reason why the adapter is viable is because the sweep width of both the DF500 and DF700 are the same at the tip of the cutter. This is a number that is completely independent of the size of the cutter being used. Therefore, the only variable from mortise-size to mortise-size, is the diameter of the cutter used. The image below (from my DF700 manual) shows the sweep dimensions for the two width settings on the DF700 joiner.

I have already tested Ron's adapter in both settings on the DF700, and the results were as I expected. (The adapter was fabricated at the same machine shop that fabricates my guides, so I got my fingers on Ron's adapter before he even did.  [drooling])

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[RONWEN]

3.  The XL700 only has two width settings compared to three for the 500 machine.  The narrow setting is about right for the smaller tenons but sometime over this weekend we'll cut a series of mortises of the various sizes & provide the exact measurements.

To add to that, the reason why the adapter is viable is because the sweep width of both the DF500 and DF700 are the same at the tip of the cutter. This is a number that is completely independent of the size of the cutter being used. Therefore, the only variable from mortise-size to mortise-size, is the diameter of the cutter used. The image below (from my DF700 manual) shows the sweep dimensions for the two width settings on the DF700 joiner.

I have already tested Ron's adapter in both settings on the DF700, and the results were as I expected. (The adapter was fabricated at the same machine shop that fabricates my guides, so I got my fingers on Ron's adapter before he even did.  [drooling])

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Rick, Hopefully you won't get a bigger head (than normal  [big grin]) but Ryan and I greatly appreciate your help in this development.  [thumbs up]

 

[jacko9]

Since I have both Domino machines, the 5 & 6mm cutters that are being produced for the XL700 would allow me to cut a deeper 5 & 6mm mortise with the XL machine and that is a great improvement for me.

The adapter would be appealing if I didn't already have the DF500.  But given the lighter weight of the DF 500, I think I'll keep both machines and just buy the extra custom cutters.

Thanks for the designing the custom cutters.

Jack