Domino buyers remorse

[VesaS]

Anyone else feel this way about their Domino or am I alone on this.

I think Domino is unreplaceable. (is that is a word?)
So far I've done one table with Domino and I'm selling biscuit joiners away. One table means 16 dominoes and 32 mortises for legs and apron + few for the top.

The Domino in my experience requires the most practice and experimentation to use with confidence.

My experience was different, it was easy to work with. Few scraps and less than 40 mortises for testing and tuning.
Comparing for RO 125, well that was difficult ..

Vesa

 

[skids]

I am on the fence about the utility I would get out of the Domi as well.

When I committed to Festool I told myself I wouldn't fall too deeply into the whole "system" trap to far and only buy pieces I know I would use for the work I do. Well whether I have been faithful to that mantra is debatable, but I do use everything I own so far, and often enough (relatively speaking) to justify some of the expense. The trap I fell into was more about setting up a legit shop and less about Festool than anything else. For years I suffered with my crap everywhere, taking up space it didn't need to. Now I have a portable shop, and a shop that can be folded up and put aside for storage, and a level of integration I consider mind boggling by comparison. There are however pieces I question whether I will use often, and may not puruse until I know for a fact I will use them often enough,  and the Domino, and believe it or not the TS55r are two of them. With the Domino being twice the price as the TS it's alot harder to justify that tool sitting idle.

I plan on trying my hand at more cabinetry with what I have so far, and for joinery will just use pocket screws until I become experienced in building the units. My whole goal is to be able understand the process of building built ins and Festool helps me alot with that effort. Domino is not a requirement for Cabinetry, maybe for furniture or doors.

PS- I completely agree with the post above about the ro125 learning curve. Hardest sander you will ever learn to use.

 

[barnowl]

The first time I ever heard of a Domino was in a thread where everyone was raving about it.  I Googled it and watched some videos and yes, it looked like a great replacement for a biscuit joiner as well as some other tools.  ...

Julie, not singling you out, just the misconception that the Domino compares in any way to a biscuit joiner.

I've seen it many times, and can only figure that it's made by folks who havent used a Domino.

While at a distance, it may resemble a biscuit joiner, as it's a portable cutter, but that's where the similarity ends.

The best way I can describe it, is that it's a hand held Multi-Router, that goes to the work, in any configuration, on any sized workpiece.

 

[Jmaichel]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I just got caught up in the moment when buying tools without bunking it through. I will probably end up selling it or trading it off.

 

[ajones]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I just got caught up in the moment when buying tools without bunking it through. I will probably end up selling it or trading it off.

Why not use the classified section of this website to sell your domino

 

[barnowl]

...
I plan on trying my hand at more cabinetry with what I have so far, and for joinery will just use pocket screws until I become experienced in building the units. My whole goal is to be able understand the process of building built ins and Festool helps me alot with that effort. Domino is not a requirement for Cabinetry, maybe for furniture or doors....

Actually, on the last cabinet that I built, a vanity, I used the Domino for the fabrication of the face frame pieces, with the exception of the trapped pieces, where I used pocket screws.

While it could all have been done with pocket screws, the Domino was much quicker for the joinery that I used it on.

The face frame was attached with dominoes as well.

The mitered corner face frame doors and drawers (the look we wanted) were assembled with 4 mm dominoes.

 

[tiralie]

Anyone else feel this way about their Domino or am I alone on this.

James
If you aren't gonna use it either now or in the future, sell it.
I would rather have an MFT, or a Kapex than an unused Domino.
I have never regretted getting my Domino. While I have not used mine as much as I thought, over time it's paid for itself. I really like the tool, the accuracy of the joint, but I probably use my biscuit joiner more. Old habits die hard.
When you need it or design a project to incorporate dominoes, it just works  really well.
Tim

 

[Kodi Crescent]

I created a project to learn how to use it.  I built a toy box.  It went together well.  The lid slams on my daughter's head, but that's not the Domino's fault.

I'm building my first built ins.  I blew it with some measuring.  But, I was smart enough to Domino the front edge where the face frames go.

I couldn't figure out how to get the proper reveal and account for aligning my Dominos in my face frames.  No need.  The Domino offsets correctly for a nice reveal.  Once I figured this out, the face frame building and installation went very well.

If you decide to keep it, I suggest you get those Woodpecker's Story Sticks (Pro?) to help you repeat Domino alignments from item to item.

I don't use it often when compared to my MFT, but I would not get rid of it.  Plus, I have bragging rights for those who don't have one!

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I used the Domino for the fabrication of the face frame pieces, with the exception of the trapped pieces, where I used pocket screws.

Sorry to be off topic, but there is no such thing as a trapped piece on a faceframe. It just means that you need to change your order of assembly. From the picture you posted, you start with the 2 inside verticals and attach the 2 inside horizontals. Then you assemble these 2 T's between the upper and lower rails, and finally attach the 2 outer stiles. Nothing is ever trapped. I would do it as a single glue-up with 6 clamps, but you could chose to break it down to subsections. (oops, 7 clamps. There is an upper rail that I overlooked.)

Edit: By the way, that order of assembly would be the same regardless whether I was using pocket screws versus Dominos.

 

[Tinker]

Rick thanks for the advice. I know everyone probably thinks I am nuts [eek] I really don't have any need to build cases right now and I hate to build something just so I can use the Domino. I have not had a moment yet where I thought "oh I am glad I have the Domino" but I have had a couple moments where I caught myself saying "I wish I had gotten and MFT instead of a Domino" or "I wish I had gotten a (blank) instead of a Domino." I just don't build enough projects over the course of a year to have a real need for one. I also don't want to become a Festool fanboy. Although I love all the other Festool stuff that I have, I don't want to get in the habit of buying something just because Festool makes it.

James

If you had the MFT first, the domino would probably been a piece of cake to use.
I have watched others, especially Dave Rienhart (sorry Dave, if i spelled your name wrong).  I cannot imagine any joinery method that is quicker that the MFT/Domino combination.  A few dogs to hold the pieces while drilling the mortices makes it so easy.  I have used dowels as well as pocket screw joinery for many moons.  I would say that Dave has done an entire frame (2 stiles a top, a bottom and a center) in the time it takes me to set up my Dowel Max for one corner joint.  BTW, I have found that in have to be very careful to really rare on those lock knobs to be sure the Dowel Max does not slip. The domino does not have that problem. 
Tinker

 

[kfitzsimons]

  I agree with Tinker. The MFT probably should be one of your first purchases. I makes layout, gluing, cutting "domino" projects and all kinds of clamping, so much easier. I have the older versions of the MFT - a 1080 and an 800. It's a great combination. Joined together, I've clamped a full size bed headboard that I joined with dominoes.
  Here's a thought - if you would sell it to someone local, sell it at a pretty good discount with the agreement that you might use it on a project in the future. Sort of a co-ownership. I have a friend who owns some tools that I don't, and I have some that he doesn't. He's a good woodworker who cares for his tools and we borrow each others unique tools. It saves us both money and we have an expanded tool collection. Just an idea. (No one uses my Lie-Nielsen planes but me).

 

[Jmaichel]

Anyone else feel this way about their Domino or am I alone on this.

James
If you aren't gonna use it either now or in the future, sell it.
I would rather have an MFT, or a Kapex than an unused Domino.
I have never regretted getting my Domino. While I have not used mine as much as I thought, over time it's paid for itself. I really like the tool, the accuracy of the joint, but I probably use my biscuit joiner more. Old habits die hard.
When you need it or design a project to incorporate dominoes, it just works  really well.
Tim

This is what makes the most sense for me right now. There have been several instances where I wish I had an MFT.

 

[Jmaichel]

Any suggestions on a fair price for the DF500 set and the Cutter and Tenon Assortment with only a couple of the tenon stock missing? Less than 1hr of use on the Domino.

James

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Unless you are in a hurry to sell it, I would put it on Craig's List at 90-95% retail and see what happens. You really have nothing to lose. To get that kind of price, make sure you take good quality pictures with good lighting, and write an informative ad.

 

[Mavrik]

I oscillate on this.
I certainly use the domino less than any other Festool.
But when I need it, it is the best tool in the world for the job and I'd hate to not have it.
For the casual hobbyist woodworker, it gives me the power to do rapid tenon based joinery.
I'd be much poorer without that angle to my woodwork.

 

[Kev]

I oscillate on this.

I think we all do [wink] [big grin]

The Domino is a tool that can save you a LOT of time. You don't need to use is much to have saved hours. For this reason I think it's value can sometimes be overlooked after a little familiarity.

 

[Paul G]

Rick thanks for the advice. I know everyone probably thinks I am nuts [eek] I really don't have any need to build cases right now and I hate to build something just so I can use the Domino. I have not had a moment yet where I thought "oh I am glad I have the Domino" but I have had a couple moments where I caught myself saying "I wish I had gotten and MFT instead of a Domino" or "I wish I had gotten a (blank) instead of a Domino." I just don't build enough projects over the course of a year to have a real need for one. I also don't want to become a Festool fanboy. Although I love all the other Festool stuff that I have, I don't want to get in the habit of buying something just because Festool makes it.

James

If you don't mind my asking, what kind of projects do you do?

 

[upscale]

The Domino is a tool that can save you a LOT of time. You don't need to use is much to have saved hours. For this reason I think it's value can sometimes be overlooked after a little familiarity.

When it came to me and the Domino, I had to go through a significant change in thinking. The dozens of years before I first saw the capability of the Domino, I mostly used dowel with some added biscuit joiner tossed in for variation.

Then I saw the Domino for the first time and realized the added dimension including speed and accuracy that it could add to my woodworking. Even now though, I sometimes have to stop myself from automatically going to my tried and experienced method of joinery and consider if the Domino would make it easier and faster ~ and it often does.

 

[Memphis Larry]

The Domino is the first Festool I bought.  I bought it because it was/is unique in its capabilities.  Since it was more expensive than my usual tool purchases at the time, I had to save up some $$ to acquire it.  Now a few years later and many thousands of $$ later spent on other Festools, I realize it was one of my best decisions.  (For me, the Domino was like an entry-way drug that led to my Festool downfall.) 

When I play out in my head if I had to run out of my burning house and could only save one Festool (woodworker's Sophie's choice), I would have to pick the Domino.  It is not my favorite tool to use (I love the MFK 700 for its ease of use and how it feels in my hands.), but it was, and still is, a game changer for me.  If a job comes up that demands and will support the purchase of its big brother, I will be giving Bob M. a call and have him put one on a plane to me.

 

[Kev]

The Domino is the first Festool I bought.  I bought it because it was/is unique in its capabilities.  Since it was more expensive than my usual tool purchases at the time, I had to save up some $$ to acquire it.  Now a few years later and many thousands of $$ later spent on other Festools, I realize it was one of my best decisions.  (For me, the Domino was like an entry-way drug that led to my Festool downfall.) 

When I play out in my head if I had to run out of my burning house and could only save one Festool (woodworker's Sophie's choice), I would have to pick the Domino.  It is not my favorite tool to use (I love the MFK 700 for its ease of use and how it feels in my hands.), but it was, and still is, a game changer for me.  If a job comes up that demands and will support the purchase of its big brother, I will be giving Bob M. a call and have him put one on a plane to me.

Madam Zelda here ...

I can see some heavy duty barn doors in your future  [wink] [big grin]