DF500 or 700 for attaching face frames..

[Iceclimber]

I need to purchase one or the other asap. I am building a kitchen full of bead d face frame cabs and doors.

I am working with 7/8th" stock varying between 1.75 - 2.25". My carcass material is .5 - .75".

Everything i think i know tells me to get the DF700 and the adapters from Senca. On the other hand there is the theory a tool for every job and i am thinking the DF500 will be much more managle for cabinet work.

FYi i have a slot mortiser for large furniture type work.

So im torn. Get the 700 as that is what i always thought i would do feeling it can work for everything may e not ideal for sheet goods.

Or get the 500 and dedictae it to case work and when and if needed get the 700. With my slot mortiser i cant see why i would need the 700 if i had the 500.

The whole point in this purchase is to speed up the process. I am currently making a floating twnnon joint on my slot mortiser to connect the haunched portions of my face frames. They have then been getting a series of rabets and dadoes to index them into the carcass. This is way to much work and i need to just face apply them.

Thoughts on what machine to purchas!

Thank you..

 

[bobfog]

Get the 500. It's the appropriate tool for the job. The 700 with adapter is a compromise and there's information to suggest Festool (whether legally or not) are denying warranty claims for 700's if they have evidence the Seneca adapter has been used. Supposedly on the basis that they are responsible for causing the gearbox to become misaligned.

 

[semenza]

If you have a slot mortiser you won't need the 700.  And I agree the 700 will be cumbersome to use on cabinet faces.

Seth

 

[waho6o9]

I vote for the 500 and the accessory kit as well.

 

[RussellS]

The 700 Domino is designed for 8/4, 12/4, 16/4 wood.  The 500 is designed for 8/4, 6/4, 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 wood.  The Seneca adaptors allow the 700 to work with the smaller wood.  But not as well as the 500.  Which size of wood do you work with the most?  Get the Domino for that size wood.

An analogy.  Half ton pickup trucks.  150/1500.  And one ton pickup trucks.  350/3500.  If you drive to Home Depot to get two 2x4s and drive to the grocery store and drive to the bar on Friday night and drive to your office job downtown.  One truck size is more appropriate than the other.  But both will work for these tasks.  Or you are pulling a 4000 pound trailer or hauling 1500 pounds of cement bags.  Both trucks technically and legally can do these tasks.  GVW/GCWR.  Pick the truck for the job you are going to do most.  Once in awhile you can use the truck for a job its not really suited for.  Get the truck for the job it is going to do 90% of the time.  Get the Domino for the wood it is going to cut 90% of the time.

 

[rst]

I love my 500...anybody want to buy an original Freud or newer PC biscuit joiner.  I would also love to have the 700, but haven't found enough justification for the tariff...I know it's Festool, so justifcation should not be a consideration butttt... I already have 90 some systainers with tools (not all Festools) I actually use often enough to think I need to own them.  Anybody need some custom wood doors or gates????

 

[bkharman]

I have used my 700 for more "500" tasks than for "700" ones. It is very well balanced and have had great luck with it. The only task I have done that wasn't a joy was doing some holes for fixed cabinet shelves. Unfortunately, it was one of my first tasks with it and had no experience and was over thinking it. Now that task is a 2 minute setup.

I like the analogy on the truck... in my case I got the 700 to cover both tasks because I didn't want or need to buy both. So I guess I got a Lorry that gets the mileage of a tesla.

If you can afford both, or can make money from it, go for it.

Cheers. Bryan.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Iceclimber]

This so what i needed to hear.

I always thought i would go the 700 route and make it work for smaller stuff.

The reality is for the work i do "for work" i also build stuff for myself, the 500 is the answer as im a finish carpenter/cabinet maker.

For personal projects i would tend to want the larger machine. The reality is i tend to use largely hand tools when doing personal work. Plus i have the slot mortiser for big stuff as it is.

I felt like i had read many people opt for the 700 claiming it is as or even more agile than the 500..

What accessories are must haves for what i will be doing. I will be joing haunched and beaded face frame stock then joining the face frames to 3/4" and 1/2" carcass.

Thanks again.

 

[RussellS]

I always thought i would go the 700 route and make it work for smaller stuff.

The reality is for the work i do "for work" i also build stuff for myself, the 500 is the answer as im a finish carpenter/cabinet maker.

For larger wood you can use the 500 Dominoes in 50x10mm.  Use 2 or 3 or 4 of them in 8/4 or 16/4 wood.  They only go in 25mm in each piece.  Not as good as a 100x14 Domino.  That goes in 50mm in each piece.  But with 2 or 3 or 4 penetrations of 25mm, it should be strong enough.  Maybe not as good as the 100mm.  But good enough.

 

[Giff]

+1 for the 500 for this application. I bought the 700 first,which is brilliant for windows dooors and bigger furniture but too big for cabinets, face frames snd smaller profiles. I wouldn't be without either and have used both on some projects. G

 

[sheperd80]

This so what i needed to hear.

I always thought i would go the 700 route and make it work for smaller stuff.

The reality is for the work i do "for work" i also build stuff for myself, the 500 is the answer as im a finish carpenter/cabinet maker.

For personal projects i would tend to want the larger machine. The reality is i tend to use largely hand tools when doing personal work. Plus i have the slot mortiser for big stuff as it is.

I felt like i had read many people opt for the 700 claiming it is as or even more agile than the 500..

What accessories are must haves for what i will be doing. I will be joing haunched and beaded face frame stock then joining the face frames to 3/4" and 1/2" carcass.

Thanks again.

You may want to get the df500 set which comes with the cross-stop and trim-stop accessories. The trim-stop will make it much easier to mortise the ends of narrow face frame material.

 

[Giff]

I would say the Domiplate is another essential for timber and sheet sections of 1/2 and 3/4 inch stock. Improves accuracy and stability. I think I got mine from Seneca Woodworking and had it shipped to th UK.

 

[Birdhunter]

I have both machines and the 500 gets 90% of the usage. If you buy the 500, get the Domino assortment with all the different cutters and tenons. I keep a couple of spare 4mm and 5mm cutters in the kit. Very occasionally, the cutter tip will snap off of the smaller cutters. I don't want to be out of business until I make a run to the store. The Senaca Domiplate is a good investment. I'd highly recommend watching YouTube Halfinchshy videos on using the Domino and then practicing on scrap.

 

[Cheese]

Third vote here for the 500 + Domiplate.

You may want to also consider the Seneca Imperial thickness gauge. It's convenient but certainly not mandatory. They seem to always be back-ordered.
http://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/domiplate-for-1-2-and-3-4-ply
http://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/imperial-thickness-gauge-df500

 

[ben_r_]

Another vote for the 500 and the accessory kit!

 

[Iceclimber]

Isn't the Domino in the US imperial now.

If so i would think not only the sclae but also the bits and offset of the bit in relation to the machine would be geared towards american 1/2-3/4" stock so forth and so on.

Or am i dreaming?

I would say the Domiplate is another essential for timber and sheet sections of 1/2 and 3/4 inch stock. Improves accuracy and stability. I think I got mine from Seneca Woodworking and had it shipped to th UK.

 

[Iceclimber]

Again isn't the US domino now imperial with no need for the thickness gauge?

Gonna purchase the 500 kit and the domino systainer and any other accesories today.

I should be excited. Im not for some reason.

Third vote here for the 500 + Domiplate.

You may want to also consider the Seneca Imperial thickness gauge. It's convenient but certainly not mandatory. They seem to always be back-ordered.
http://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/domiplate-for-1-2-and-3-4-ply
http://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/imperial-thickness-gauge-df500

 

[ear3]

The Domino was not one of the machines included in the imperial switch, so both the fence stop gauge and the cutters remain imperial.

One note of caution about the Seneca imperial gauge -- the thickest mark only centers on boards up to 1 1/8 (/2 = 9/16).  You can also use the very top of the gauge, which, if I recall is a little under 1 1/2 (-3/4).  But I was kind of disappointed in the limited range at the upper ends, and don't think it was worth the investment for me. 

If I recall, someone else on the FOG made their own imperial version which had more stops at the upper end and is selling them for fairly cheap.  Maybe someone can drop the link here.

 

[Coliban]

For furniture/cabinets, the DF700 is oversized. The df500 is ideal because if its size and handiness, i would not recommend the df700, for furniture the tool has to be hold in several positions and has to be flexibel, no need for the heavier df700. And if it comes to heavier task, the df500 dominos can be doubled, i made this for wood shets with can carry several tons of weight, much more than needed for furniture:

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[Giff]

Slightly sideways to the topic discussed....does anyone know if it is still possible to buy the RTS self entering guide, SCG-10,  for the Domino,and if so where from......UK preferred or US if not and I will ship..