Domino DF700XL and Seneca adaptor

[Bernmc]

I'm considering a Domino, and thinking of going for the DF700 rather than the 500, mainly because I can make the 700 do 500 things, but not the other way around. So one tool to do it all.

I've seen Peter Parfitt's video comparison of the two machines, as well as his setup for using the Seneca cutter adaptor to use the DF500 cutters with the 700 (https://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/rts-500-cutter-adapter-for-festool-df700)

Has anyone used the above setup for any length of time? I've got a fair amount of house reno work coming up, so the bigger dominos will be handy there. I'm also churning out workshop benches and cabinets, where the smaller Dominos will be ideal. I'm hoping the 700 won't feel too bulky or cumbersome for volumes of small work.

(And I can't afford or justify a 500 and a 700, so it's one or the other)

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[JFelchlin]

I first bought/used the DF700 with the Seneca “adapter setup” -
For the same economic $$$ reasons you refer to.
It functions OK with the Seneca “adapter setup” -
And absolutely “works” alright for “large and small”.

Having said that - As soon as I could afford the DF500 - I bought one.
I now use the DF500 90+% of the time -
And never use the DF700/Seneca “adapter setup” anymore.

The DF700 is a solid tool and great for what it does when I need it.
But for me, the DF500 is much more nimble and easier to handle for the overwhelming amount of joinery that I do.

Although I didn’t realize it or consider it at the time -
In retrospect, the Seneca “adapter setup” was simply a good economic interim transition -
To affording/owning both Dominos.

 

[ChiknNutz]

I have the same setup for the same reasons.  I also bought the Domino 500 Systainer Assortment so I have a wide variety of dominos, but have yet to use any.  Have so far only used the larger 12mm dominos so have yet to even use the adapter.  I tend to build larger stuff so for me the larger capacity made the decision easier for me, but still plan to try out some smaller stuff.  I had also read the ergonomics of the 700 are better for most users than the 500 even though the 500 is smaller.

 

[ttf5003]

I had the 500 first and then bought the 700 and the seneca adapter, planning to sell the 500. One major problem, I had become used to assembling plywood case goods by using the 500.

If you need a shelf in the middle of a cabinet, you can draw a line, lay the shelf over and clamp it against the line. Then simply use the shelf as your fence and cut dominoes in both the shelf and the case. I saw this method in a video once and used it a lot.

That method doesn't work with the 700 because of the height. So I ended up keeping both.

 

[Bernmc]

I went in to the local tool shop just to have a play with the two machines. Couldn’t actually use them to do any dominos, but got to go through the motions. The 700 does feel like a BIG beast compared to the 500 - possibly quite cumbersome . It’s made me have a another think.

The rep is going to try to get hold of the demo machine so I can try it properly

 

[Birdhunter]

I have both machines and use the 500 about 90% of the time. There are few times I need to use really big tenon.

Whichever machine you buy, look at the TSO Big Foot. I thought it might be just a gimmick, but after using one for a while, I think it is a wonderful addition to the Domino.

 

[RKA]

What kind of things do you imagine using a domino for during the house Reno?  I’m with the other, using the 500 is much easier and it gets more usage than a 700, but if some of your tasks really cannot be done with extra 500 tenons, you may have your answer. 

 

[rmhinden]

I have the 700 XL and the Seneca adapters.  I like the ergonomics of the XL, the dual depth stops, and the ability to change the mortice width with the machine off.  I don't find it too heavy, it's not like the 500 is a lightweight either.  7.05 lbs (3.2 kg) vs. 11.46 lbs (5.2 kg).

I also have several other accessories I use with the XL.  Ramon Domino Dock, TSO Big Foot, and Seneca Dock Plate XL.  This essentially turns it into a stationary tool that makes it easy to put mortices in smaller pieces. 

There is clearly not one answer for which or both machines to get.  The XL works well for me.

Bob

 

[TSO_Products]

I have both machines and use the 500 about 90% of the time. There are few times I need to use really big tenon.

Whichever machine you buy, look at the TSO Big Foot. I thought it might be just a gimmick, but after using one for a while, I think it is a wonderful addition to the Domino.

Whichever Domino you choose or already have: TSO's DBF-45 BigFoot fits both Domino models perfectly and is on sale at TSOproducts.com on BLACK Friday [smile]

Hans
PS - thanks Birdhunter for the shout out!

 

[Bernmc]

[member=61691]TSO_Products[/member] - I'll be getting a bigfoot. Actually filled my basket with black Friday deals, but the postage to Aus seems astronomical (sent you an email to see if there are cheap snail mail options)

Thanks for the replies - Bob, I'll look up those accessories.

I'll be using the thing for a mix of big and small stuff. The 700 can be made to do both - I just have to decide if it's going to be practical/comfortable. I'm attracted to it for similar reasons that Bob mentioned above

 

[RNEMTP]

I first bought the DF 500 and used it quite a lot. I then needed to make some bed frames and wanted to use the 700 connectors so I bought the DF 700. The 700 can do almost everything the 500 can if you have the Seneca adapters but it is a workaround. I have them both and I'm glad I do.

 

[JimD]

I have the 700 with the Seneca adapter.  I have used it, however, only on two projects so far and both needed larger tenons.  The first was a crib where I made 14mm wide slot mortises for rails of 19mm plywood.  A quick side cut on the table saw trimmed the plywood to the right width.  The more recent project was a bed for me.  I used 12mm domino tenons in some locations but had to use slip in tenons that were wider in other locations due to a layout issue. 

I don't think it is hard to use based upon size or weight.  It is much smaller than my track saw and weighs about the same. 

I've only cut mortises with the small bits and the Seneca adapter to make an example block.  I did not see a problem.  Maybe I will when I use it more but I don't think so.  I plan a dining table soon where I will use smaller dominos to help align the pieces of the top.  So the pieces will be big (10 foot long top) but only about 13/16 thick so the dominos will be small.  I saw a post where somebody made a small box using the XL as his test of whether it was too big.  Seems like a better test. 

Only issue I see so far is the offset of the bottom of the machine to the cutter is big for small bits.  But there are multiple solutions for that.