DF500 upgraded support bracket (integrated index stops included)

[ChuckM]

Those non-Festool support brackets with a much larger footprint (commercial or shop-built) are better than the original bracket, but at the expense of not having the index stops feature. I value that feature, and, in the absence of a better alternative, I came up with this modification:

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The only drawback of this upgraded bracket is that the systainer has no more room for it.

(Edit: Three outstanding tasks to complete the upgrade: 1) Round the corners. 2) Drill a small hole to reveal the center mark on the original bracket, 3) Affix a strip of self-adhesive sandpaper to the bottom (under the handle part))

Shop time spent so far: 3 hours.

 

[ChuckM]

Final support bracket:

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The larger footprint and the sandpaper strips add tremendous stability to the use of the machine. No more struggling with vertical precision cuts when using the intersecting lines technique! [big grin]

FESTOOL: Please redesign and make your new support brackets about 3 times longer (deeper?) and with a screw-on (or optional) handle.

 

[grbmds]

I think that there are some very cool 3rd party accessories on the market made by some very innovative companies who produce high quality products. Whether you actually need them or not depends on what types of work you use the Domino for. If you do a lot of joints in the middle of a board which require the Domino to be used vertically, I would agree that there are definitely accessories which make that job easier and, if I were doing that repetitively, I'd certainly research them and find the best one for my work. That holds true for any work you do that is repetitive. For that matter, it holds true for almost any tool. If you can find or make a jig which makes your work more easily and quickly done, it's worth it. For most of us woodworkers who are not dependent on making cabinets or furniture for a living, and just make pieces for enjoyment or for friends and relatives, I don't find most of the jigs useful.  Don't get me wrong, I own some of those jigs and wish I had the money I spent back because I really tend not to use them for the occasional task they are useful for. For the occasional use of the Domino in the vertical position, there isn't a jig on the market which would be worth the cost. I do those kinds joints periodically and have found the Domino as is with the Festool accessories which come with the set adequate to the task.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.If you do a lot of joints in the middle of a board which require the Domino to be used vertically, I would agree that there are definitely accessories which make that job easier and, if I were doing that repetitively, I'd certainly research them and find the best one for my work. That holds true for any work you do that is repetitive. Snip.

In general, I do vertical cuts in the following situations:

1) Butt joint on the edge of the face grain board when the board is long (too long to stand up the board and clamp in the vise)
2) Mid-shelf mortising on the face grain board (i.e. the side piece)
3) Vertical mortising using the intersecting lines technique
4) Vertical mortising using a jig.

In 2) & 4), the support bracket is not installed. However a large support bracket will help greatly in executing 1), and 3) esp. when milling narrow stock.

Little support from the factory bracket near the edge, making it possible for the machine to rock or tilt when plunging the machine:
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Tendency to move as the machine is plunged down:
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[ChuckM]

Used the support bracket for the first time after the upgrade. The index stops and extended bracket worked hand in hand.

All boards are 2-1/4" wide, too narrow for use with the paddles (1/2" thick stock; 5mm x 30mm tenons, milled at 10mm and 20mm deep):

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No placement/pencil lines were needed.