Domino 700 Question

[Birdhunter]

My Domino 700 came back from being adjusted to correct slanted mortises.

It is definitely better now, but not perfect.

I joined two boards as a test. About 8” away from the mortise, there is a 0.6mm height difference between the tops of the two boards indicating the mortises are still slanted.

Is this within specs for the machine?

P.S. my Domino 500 has always been perfect in this regard.

 

[grbmds]

I haven't used my 700 that much and didn't notice even any slight misalignments when it was used, but I ran a test before using it the first time and, to my eyes, it was essentially perfect; just as the 500 always was. I will try to find some time in the next few days to run a test to see if that has changed. It's always possible that I just didn't notice, but I'm a perfectionist so I tend to notice even tiny misalignments.

Unfortunately I would guess that the only people who can tell you whether the difference is within specs is Festool and I guess they already feel it is.

 

[ChuckS]

I would be much surprised and disappointed if the DF700's tolerance level is set at 0.6mm or even at 0.5mm. The last time I used a demo DF700 it did not give me any noticeable gap as you experienced (which was just shy of the thickness of a credit/gift card). There is no reason why a DF700 would perform so poorly as compared to a DF500.

Did you get a repair report as some Kapex users did after they sent in their machines for a fix?

 

[Cheese]

My 500 is perfect in this regard and my 700, the few times I've used it is also perfect...if I remember correctly.

Besides, it just doesn't make sense that if the function of the Domino is to join 2 boards together, that it'd be okay to have a .024" height difference between them. That kind of negates the basic function of the tool and would make producing a table top a project from hades.  This is exactly the reason I moved away from biscuits.

I'd return the tool to Festool and include a short section of the 2 boards you joined together. Use tape to hold them so if Festool needs to look at the mortices your DF 700 produced, they can do so.

I just think Festool service failed to perform some functional testing after their tune-up.

 

[John Stevens]

Is this within specs for the machine?

I own a Domino 500 and have spent thousands on other Festool tools and accessories.  My impression is that, regardless of what Festool thinks, no one would buy the Domino 700 if it was expected to produce a result with any visible misalignment.

P.S. my Domino 500 has always been perfect in this regard.

Same with mine.  And all my other Festool tools.  I had a sander once that needed a little warranty work, and after Festool fixed it promptly it ran perfectly.  My experience has led me to expect that a Festool tool will work better than advertised, or Festool will fix it so it does.  I wonder if you just had the misfortune that someone at their repair facility had a bad day, or was new to the job.  I would be surprised if you woudn’t obtain satisfaction by calling and telling them nicely that you expect better.  Good luck!  Let us know what happens.

—John

 

[derekcohen]

My Domino 700 came back from being adjusted to correct slanted mortises.

It is definitely better now, but not perfect.

I joined two boards as a test. About 8” away from the mortise, there is a 0.6mm height difference between the tops of the two boards indicating the mortises are still slanted.

Is this within specs for the machine?

P.S. my Domino 500 has always been perfect in this regard.

How many times did you test this out? Is there a consistent mis-alignment? How are you setting up the 700 - registering off the bench and off the fence? Can you tell if one or the other is different, since this would be a guide to differentiating whether there is an alignment issue with the blade, or movement of the fence.

Can you rule out user error? I'd want to be certain of this before contacting Festool.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Birdhunter]

I talked to Festool service yesterday. I was told that less than 1mm out 8” from the Domino was within expectations. I had sent in a sample joint showing the mismatch. Festool returned the two pieces joined after calibration. Pretty darn close to flush, but not perfect.

The tech said a dull bit could result in some amount of “climb” and a slanted mortise.

I’ll try the test with a new 8mm bit and continue to use the swing down fence.

Frankly, the adjusted 700 is close enough for the work I do.

 

[ChuckS]

If 1mm out 8" from the domino (edge?) is the tolerance, then it means in joining two 1" thick boards, any gap between the two surfaces should be 1/8mm or less. Is my interpretation correct?

 

[Birdhunter]

I had sent a sample in with the 700 that I had joined with an 8mm tenon at the ends of 10"  boards. The two boards surfaces were misaligned by about 1/4" at the far end away from the tenon. The slanted mortise was the problem.

Festool sent the test boards back after having done the alignment. They jointed the boards as I had done.Their joint yielded what looks like a perfect alignment. My post alignment wasn't perfect (0.6mm off at 8"), but well within what I can accept.

My guess is that the Festool techs have a better technique than do I. I almost always use the drop down fence and not the base. That's what the Festool tech recommended.

 

[derekcohen]

BD, when I used my Domino DF500 to make a run of frame-and-panel doors for my kitchen, I relied on a Seneca fence for alignment. There is one for the 700 as well:https://www.festoolproducts.com/accessories/aftermarket-accessories/domino-joiner-accessories.html

The fence on mine is accurate, but most often errors of the type you describe are made by humans. Even the Seneca fence cannot avoid that. But it does make it a little easier.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Gregor]

My guess is that the Festool techs have a better technique than do I. I almost always use the drop down fence and not the base. That's what the Festool tech recommended.

In case you get good alignment using the base but slanted mortices using the fence... the fence is the problem and needs alignment.
I really hope no festool employee ever communicates to not use the fence as a fence as it's not suitable to be used as a fence.

 

[ChuckS]

I, too, suspect the fence is the culprit here unless Birdhunter really found out from his further test cuts that he had some user error to blae for.

The baseplate is not designed to be used as an alternative to the fence for registration. One would come across other kinds of problems using it as a fence down the road.

 

[Birdhunter]

The Festool tech was clear that the swing down fence was the preferred reference. He also recommended trying with a new bit. This 8mm bit I have in the machine now was used to cut LOTS of mortises in Ipe so it is not as sharp as a new bit.

I think I was clear that the tech produced what looks to be a perfect alignment joint. The mismatch I got was probably my error.

Even if the machine has some remaining skew issue, it is so small that it is not material to my use of the machine.