Domino Owners: What's best about the Domino for you?

[Administrator_JSVN]

So, the launch of the Domino XL is nearing in the U.S. and Canada (official date coming soon), so I wanted to poll the members and get their opinions. For those of you who own the Domino, what do you like best, what are the advantages that you've found over other joinery methods, how has it changed the way you do joinery? Sure, I could ramble off a few dozen answers on my own, but I'm always interested to learn more about how our customers use the tools.

For those considering the Domino XL, do you already own the original Domino DF 500, what is compelling you to consider the Domino XL, and what do you hope to gain from using the Domino XL over your current processes? Do you have any questions about the Domino XL (other than price and launch date)?

Any feedback would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Shane

 

[ajones]

Shane

I just sold my 1" mortiser in anticipation of the 700 110v version being available here in the Uk,I have the 500 and it is plain to see my mortiser will just gather dust. I think that just about sums it up..

 

[mouppe]

Do you have UL approval?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Do you have UL approval?

Yes.

 

[webfarmer]

The Domino was a game-changer for me.  Joinery was drudgery until this convenient, fast, and repeatable system was introduced.  For sheet goods, a biscuit system helped line joints up, but the lack of strength was a deficit.  Domino joints rectified that problem.

The interim challenge has been, "what to do with larger joint connections?"  Should I "stack" the dominoes two-deep?  Or even four-deep?

So to answer the question, if I find myself planning projects that need larger joints, I will be ordering the new Domino machine.

 

[Theshipstore]

For me the Domino was a great find. I had been using a biscuit setup for all my cabinet joinery for many years. The most frustrating part was the dry fitting of my cabinet carcase.

I would always need clamps nearby to hold the assemblies together and sometime even a second set of hands to assemble the larger cabinets.

The domino has solved that problem, my dry fitting stays together without clamps and overall because of this has save me time in all my builds.

It has been a very useful item in my cabinet making for the carcase and even faceframe assemblies.

Sal

 

[barnowl]

The Domino was a game-changer for me.  Joinery was drudgery until this convenient, fast, and repeatable system was introduced. 

My sentiments as well.

For cutting mortisses, I started out with a drill press attachment. One of the worst investments I ever made.

So I gave it away, and bought a dedicated mortissing machine. It was much better, but still not perfect.

And I have a tenoning jig.  Very labor intensive, both machines. Not to mention, allot of layout work and pre-planning.

And shoulder cuts, and cheek cuts, and centering tenons and mortisses. A royal pain.

The Domino was definitely a game changer.  I bought one fairly early, as mine has the pins.

It's perhaps my favorite tool now. The mortiser and tenoning jig sit and watch how it should be done.

I think that the perhaps the best feature is the fact that the tool goes to the workpiece, rather than the workpiece going to the tool.

That expands all posibilities, and limits none.

It's also a blessing to be able to cut pieces to exact size, rather than having to add for tenon length, and eliminates any shoulder cut issues.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Same here.  I make furniture.  The current Domino makes the process much faster without sacrificing structural strength.  When I have a high stress joint, I double up on the Dominoes, but that consumes more 'real estate'.  I will get the XL (if the price is not out of the ballpark) for high stress joints in small places, e.g. joining a chair leg to the seat.

I expect the small one will still get most of the use, but the large one will be a real time saver when its needed.

 

[davee]

I greatly enjoy all of my Festool, but the Domino is unique - as others mentioned a game changer.  I am in process of selling my benchtop morticer.  I have 10 doors for a new build and am waiting for the XL to come available.  I think the two sizes will compliment each other.  I'm looking forward to the official launch date to be released!

 

[bruegf]

The thing I like best about the domino is the ability to dry fit everything and verify that everything is cut/fitted correctly.  With the domino I've not only been able to do this, but can pick the piece up and move it around, even hang doors, and fit drawers to check fit. 

Fred

 

[jacko9]

Shane,

The Domino was an impulse purchase for me almost 4 years ago and at first it seemed useful but, I still was looking to purchase a horizontal slot mortiser.  

However, after building several pieces of solid hardwood furniture, I realized that the Domino is so much handier than a stand alone mortising machine.  The layout process alone for standard mortise and tenon joinery took longer than just cutting the joints with my Domino.

I will purchase the new XL machine for the increased size capability when doing large case work, large table and doors.  I won't be giving up my smaller Domino since it is so handy right down to the #4 tenons on thin pieces like blades on small cabinets.

I have been building furniture for over 35 years and I can definitely say for myself that using the Domino has cut my production time by a factor of 10.

I forgot to mention in my original post that the Domino was the first tools that I have purchased in 35 years that had an effective dust collection system.  This feature alone drove me to continue to buy Festool products and the more time I spend on this forum the more items I find to buy [eek]

 

[Bob MN]

For me it's versatility. Like I tell people who have never heard of the Domino......it's in a class by itself. It does something no other tool (that I know of) does. A portable mortise and loose tenon machine.

I have a Leigh FMT and it's great. But, the Domino is easier to use because I can take the tool to the work instead of visa versa.

Probablt won't look into getting an XL for a while. But it'll be cool to check one out.

 

[Rembo]

I'm still surprised that you do not have XL, the question is why?
a lot to say about the XL 700, but you need to first try df500, whatever it was clear what I mean ..
I spoke with many people having Festool tools, and they do not have Domino, or appears at the last moment)) I do not understand this.
I took the best from Festool - it's DF500 and DF700.

 

[VictorL]

It's better, faster and smarter. It saves time and money. I can buy much less material.  Also if you consider formula time is money is saves much more money. It is precise, error forgiving tool. I use it in the vast majority of my projects. I'm using it in cabinets, drawers, solid wood furniture, outdoor projects etc.
With proper planing assembly of complex components is error proof, no single spindle or part will be out of right alignment.
I'm happy with my DF-500, but sometimes I need more. XL-700 won't replace DF-500, but it will be great addition to my tool arsenal.

VictorL

 

[Nespresso]

The Domino was my third Festool purchase ... saw, dust, Domino ..  No wood touches another piece of wood without a domino.  It is easy and brain drain free to use.  I make large panels from small pieces, all using glue and dominos.  My cabinet doors rails and stiles are all dominoed together.  My poor biscuit cutter is lonely

 

[Waka]

Before I bought the domino I used a PC biscuit jointer for joining and aligning panels etc. The domino has made my workshop life so much easier, I feel more confident with the joints now, with the BJ there was always that doubt that it wouldn't hold.

I'd say that my domino is used on nearly every project I do, I'm even eyeing up the 700 for a couple of jobs I've got coming up. It's a big expensive plunge so it will take some thinking.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Glad to share my experiences, Shane.

Having used the Domino 500 while on trips to Europe prior to its USA launch, I pre-ordered one from my primary dealer. Of course that one had the pins. I also bought the assortment set with the cutters. About a year later I bought a second Domino 500, by which time they had the paddles. I find both work fine, especially when used with appropriate accessories. From buying my first Domino 500 until I opened my shop in mid 2010 a whole lot of my cabinets used Domino joints. We still use Dominoes for certain styles of cabinet doors and drawer fronts.

The floor style mortiser I bought a long time ago remains in storage. Such a machine has no place in cabinet construction in my experience, yet I have not sold it because it could well be useful for some furniture designs I hope to prototype now that my administrative chores are reduced at the cabinet shop.

I have pre-ordered the Domino 700 XL. As has been the case with Festools introduced after 2006 I find all kinds of new uses for them once they are in my hands. I can experiment on scrap material as time allows. Now I simply will have more time to do the experiments. Frankly, as with the Domino 500, I really like the concept of taking the mortiser to the work. This should make the Domino 700 XL especially useful.

Still, with the sort of parts used in furniture, it often makes good sense to use a floor mortiser. So in an ideal world both Dominoes and floor mortisers are available to the furniture maker.

Not so long ago Festool took a chance bringing out the 4mm Dominoes, which have proven to have so many uses. I have faith this will be the case with the Domino 700 XL.

 

[fatroman]

Best thing about the Domino?

If I hadn't seen one on my local Craigslist and gone to look at it, I'm not sure I would have jumped into the Festool pool. Once I saw what it could do, and the dust free sanding, I was hooked. So it was the gateway to all the fun for me.

I use it for face frames, mouldings, cabinets, etc. Only thing I've tried it on and didn't like was joining mitered casing, and that's only because the Domino was too accurate.

Now I've got a whole list of ideas for the XL and can't wait to test drive it next week at JLC.

 

[Timtool]

just teasin

[attachthumb=#]

 

[nclemmons]

I've had a drill-press mortiser which I quickly sold for a Delta bench top unit.  I also have a mortising table on an Inca 259 saw with a full assortment of bits.

I bought the domino when it was released and have never looked back.  Ready to sell the bench top unit and hardly ever use the Inca table.

What I like:
- repeatability
- speed of use
- fast setup / put away vs alternatives I have used
- accuracy
- simplicity
- dust collection
- size assortment

What I wish was improved:
- not having to microwave the biscuits when inserting
- simpler glue application / measurement
- more domino uses - hinges, for example, alternative woods

I had had three biscuit joiners through the years but sold the last one - a Dewalt and have never looked back.

I don't have the need for the larger unit personally, but can clearly see for larger furniture or door making that it would be a great addition.

neil