Tombstonetommy
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I am in the market for a domino joiner but which one do I go for
Any advise would be welcome
Any advise would be welcome
Domino joiner which one?
- Thread starter Tombstonetommy
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Tyler Ernsberger
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Look in the search on this website. It has been discussed many times before in the past
copcarcollector
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Tombstonetommy said:
What do you plan on making? That may also influence the decision.
I'd not recommend the XL unless 30% or more of your projects can only be handled by it. (Your deciding % could be lower or higher.) The DF500 is much lighter and if you have hundreds of mortises to cut, you will find the XL wearing you down quickly.
For large projects that can't be handled by the DF500, I would go with a different joinery, e.g., M&T. Or, or as I did with one table project which had 24 deep mortises, I used the DF 500 to cut the mortises and then deepened them with a drill and guide bushing jig. I used the XL's longer dominoes for that project. It wasn't efficient, but that was one of the only two large projects that I needed dominoes longer than the ones available to the DF500.
If you work with narrow stock, say, mortising the ends of 60 pieces of 2" wide stiles, it is much harder to align the cuts with the pencil lines using the XL with a third-party bit and the narrowest setting.
The decision is like getting a van vs a bus. If most of my trips were done with 6 passengers or less, I'd choose a van (DF500). For the few occasions that I needed to transport 30 people, I could rent a tour bus. It is tiring, fuel-inefficient and high maintenance cost (not to mention parking issue) to drive around town daily in a coach bus with only a handful passengers in it.
For large projects that can't be handled by the DF500, I would go with a different joinery, e.g., M&T. Or, or as I did with one table project which had 24 deep mortises, I used the DF 500 to cut the mortises and then deepened them with a drill and guide bushing jig. I used the XL's longer dominoes for that project. It wasn't efficient, but that was one of the only two large projects that I needed dominoes longer than the ones available to the DF500.
If you work with narrow stock, say, mortising the ends of 60 pieces of 2" wide stiles, it is much harder to align the cuts with the pencil lines using the XL with a third-party bit and the narrowest setting.
The decision is like getting a van vs a bus. If most of my trips were done with 6 passengers or less, I'd choose a van (DF500). For the few occasions that I needed to transport 30 people, I could rent a tour bus. It is tiring, fuel-inefficient and high maintenance cost (not to mention parking issue) to drive around town daily in a coach bus with only a handful passengers in it.
DrD
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+1 of matching your projects to the tool. I have a DF500, and since we sold the ranch and moved closer in, don't need to build any ranch sized fence gates, so the DF500 is more than sufficient. The XL is a hoss, and there are lots of folks extol the XL's virtues, especially with the new knock-down type tendons. Large tables, other large furniture, maybe XL, but I believe it can be handled with DF, especially with double tendons.
ChuckM said:
This is a good analogy. Its easy to read about these units online and think "meh im strong i dont get worn out by using heavy tools." But in reality its just too big for many small joinery tasks.
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Rob-GB
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I went for both.
The little DF500 is for any cabinetry and small furniture jobs and the DF700 is for anything from joining worktops to making the mortises in doors and stairs. I has made the need for a bench morticer null and void for most of my work. (not all of the mortises I produce with it are filled with domino's [wink] )
I know that there is the cost issue but for my varied work projects it makes sense to have both.
Rob.
The little DF500 is for any cabinetry and small furniture jobs and the DF700 is for anything from joining worktops to making the mortises in doors and stairs. I has made the need for a bench morticer null and void for most of my work. (not all of the mortises I produce with it are filled with domino's [wink] )
I know that there is the cost issue but for my varied work projects it makes sense to have both.
Rob.
I recently bought a Domino DF 500 q. I was in the same boat as you choosing which one to buy. It came down to what others have already stated, get the one that will fit your needs most of the time. Although the 700 can be fitted with adaptors to do the work the 500 does, this is a workaround. Each tool was designed for its own purpose. The 700 would be cumbersome to use on smaller projects. For me, 99% of what I do, the 500 can handle. For the other 1% I use other methods. Because it’s only a small portion of the projects I do; it’s ok that it takes a little longer. I will eventually get the 700 because of the versatility of the tool but for now the 500 suits my needs.
Midnight Man
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#Tee said:
Whilst I don't yet have a Domino, I am researching them right now as I am planning to buy soon. In my research, I discovered that for smaller items (for example, desk drawers), where one might be using 12mm thick material, it would be recommended to use a 4mm Domino.
From my understanding, the DF700 can only go down to 8mm minimum thickness.
If my understanding above is correct, it would seem that the choice of which of the two Domino units to buy could be quite important, and would largely be dictated by what the user wishes to build?
Midnight Man said:
There are adaptors made by Seneca that allow the 700 to use 500 cutters. The 700 would still be cumbersome to use on smaller projects. There have been people who have done it and are quite happy with it. It’s a personal choice. It is nice that there is the option to use the 700 for 500 applications. It all depends on what you do most. If the work you do primarily is in the 500 range it doesn’t make sense to get the 700 and adapt it. If you do a lot of larger projects then it would make sense to get the 700. It’s like the guy who buys a 1 ton dually as an everyday driver because once a year he hauls a fifth wheel trailer. If you can afford it, get both. If you can’t, get the one that suits your needs most of the time.
Midnight Man
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RNEMTP said:
Aha, many thanks - this is something I hadn't yet come across! Good to know
Birdhunter
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I have both the 500 and the 700. I use the 4mm Dominos frequently. Trying to do those with the 700 would be difficult for me. I like the ergonomics of the 700 better than the 500, but it is a hefty beast.
I use the 500 90% of the time. The 700 comes out for projects like benches.
I use the 500 90% of the time. The 700 comes out for projects like benches.
#Tee said:
TXFIVEO said:
Using that logic, finish carpenters should swing 32 ounce hand mauls to drive those 4 penny nails. The BIG hammers can drive 16 penny spikes and the little finish nails. Whereas the itty bitty 12-16 ounce finish hammers can't drive spikes. Using all the adaptors and extra equipment, the big Domino can do the tasks of the small Domino. Just not as easily, conveniently.
