Domino XL700 Follow-Up

[Jeanluc]

Well, having played some more with this toy I am starting to figure out some uses for it and some don't for it (like all tools).  I purchased a Senaca 500 to 700 adapter and then purchased down to 4mm size cutters so I now have 14mm, 12mm, 10mm, 8mm, 6mm 5mm and 4mm cutters.  The adapter works great and the cutters work just fine.  Using some drop cuts of 3/4" plywood I bored an 8mm and a 6mm tenon and then installed the tenons.  The 8mm was too much and split the plywood but the 6mm worked okay but could have been better with a longer tenon.  Have to see if I can get longer tenons.

All that said, I still prefer my Lamello biscuit cutter for a lot of my joinery but I think that is mostly due to my comfort zone and years of using a biscuit over a tenon.  The setups are nearly identical and so is the cutting operation but the Domino is twice as big and heavy so I still tend to reach for the Lamello.  I do have 2 outside yard gates to build and think the Domino will be beneficial for that.

Over the past 3 months I have replaced / acquired 8 hand tools from Festool because I really like their dust collection and build quality.  The hand sanders are nearly dust free and easy to use.  The drill is great and the router is very nice.

I now have a stack of these beige and green tool cases that I'll be looking to get rid of after the new wood shop is built onto the garage this summer so I can clear out the baggage, so to speak.  I'll check to see if any of you guys want them - free but you'll have to ship them.

Well, off to practice more dovetail on the new Leigh D4R jig - learning curve in place [tongue] - getting there.  Turning a lot of pine into sawdust while I practice.

Later...

 

[wow]

I not only want the Systainers, but you don't have to give them away - I'll pay you something for them. Just let me know when you're ready to ditch them.

 

[Bikeboy80]

Well, having played some more with this toy I am starting to figure out some uses for it and some don't for it (like all tools).  I purchased a Senaca 500 to 700 adapter and then purchased down to 4mm size cutters so I now have 14mm, 12mm, 10mm, 8mm, 6mm 5mm and 4mm cutters.  The adapter works great and the cutters work just fine.  Using some drop cuts of 3/4" plywood I bored an 8mm and a 6mm tenon and then installed the tenons.  The 8mm was too much and split the plywood but the 6mm worked okay but could have been better with a longer tenon.  Have to see if I can get longer tenons.

All that said, I still prefer my Lamello biscuit cutter for a lot of my joinery but I think that is mostly due to my comfort zone and years of using a biscuit over a tenon.  The setups are nearly identical and so is the cutting operation but the Domino is twice as big and heavy so I still tend to reach for the Lamello.  I do have 2 outside yard gates to build and think the Domino will be beneficial for that.

Over the past 3 months I have replaced / acquired 8 hand tools from Festool because I really like their dust collection and build quality.  The hand sanders are nearly dust free and easy to use.  The drill is great and the router is very nice.

I now have a stack of these beige and green tool cases that I'll be looking to get rid of after the new wood shop is built onto the garage this summer so I can clear out the baggage, so to speak.  I'll check to see if any of you guys want them - free but you'll have to ship them.

Well, off to practice more dovetail on the new Leigh D4R jig - learning curve in place [tongue] - getting there.  Turning a lot of pine into sawdust while I practice.

Later...

I'll take you up on that offer! [wink]

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

Yes, i would also buy them + shipping. Thanks.

 

[jacko9]

Glad your finally getting the hang of the XL700.  I have my Lamello Top 10 from many years ago and I have become so confident with my Domino 500 and my Domino 700 that the Lamello sits gathering dust (on it's nicely crafted box).

Good luck with your Leigh D4R,  I have the D3 24" wide but have yet to cut a single dovetail with it.  I read and re-read the manual and I just decided that it's easier to cut them by hand [unsure]

Jack

 

[Timtool]

I think that if you had the DF500 that your lamello would have been ebayed quickly, mine was. I am glad that i bought the DF500 before the XL or seneca adapted existed. Otherwise the temptation would have been very big to get the 700 plus adapter. But i think the xl is too big and heavy to do the tasks of the 500 as accurately and easily.
It sure is a way of getting off cheaper, but i am really glad i didn't.
I also imagine the annoyance of not being able to center the depth on thinner stock without shims.

 

[Kev]

I wish you'd stop using biscuit cutter and domino as close references ... you may as well say you prefer dowels to dovetails.

The Domino system is for floating tenons... it's great at making them ... if you really prefer using a different joining method you should stick to it.

Sorry if I come across snippy on this, but it really bugs me when people express opinions on tools when they clearly don't understand their specific purpose or try to use it for the wrong application.

I'm turning into Alex [eek]

 

[jacko9]

I wish you'd stop using biscuit cutter and domino as close references ... you may as well say you prefer dowels to dovetails.

The Domino system is for floating tenons... it's great at making them ... if you really prefer using a different joining method you should stick to it.

Sorry if I come across snippy on this, but it really bugs me when people express opinions on tools when they clearly don't understand their specific purpose or try to use it for the wrong application.

I'm turning into Alex [eek]

Not to beat a dead horse but, long before there was a Domino I made some heavy mahogany cabinets with a Lamello biscuit joiner using rows of twin #6 biscuits for a very sturdy design.  This unit is over 20 years old and has seen very heavy duty use.  Sure, I could have made it another way and today the Domino joiner would be my tool of choice but I can and have built furniture with both.  The cabinet is 1" thick Honduras mahogany it's 42" wide x 63" high x 21" deep.

Jack

 

[Stone Message]

I used to Lamello a lot and thought, at the time, that it was good. I did a complete kitchen in quarter cut French oak and had to modify my design to suit the biscuit jointing.

Now that I am a Domino fan I believe that I could shave 10-20% off the build time by using the Domino AND get the design that I really wanted.

The Lamello is a great tool and well made but it cannot be compared to the Domino which is not only in a class of its own it has set the jointing benchmark to beat.

Peter

 

[jacko9]

Peter

I agree and that is why I have both Domino machines however, I think that the success of the Lamillo might have had something to do with inspiring the German Engineers to create the "next generation" of must have power tools.  I still am dismayed that the Domino gets so little press in craft magazines.

My posting was meant to show that for its time, the Lamillo was revolutionary and with some imagination you could build furniture quicker than traditional methods of "that time".

I read a review of glue joints where the twin stacked biscuit was among the strongest tested.  Now I do admit that lining up rows of twin stacked joints using the over sized #6 biscuit where I had to use two marks and plunge twice was a bit of a pain but, it still beat multiple hidden tenons and don't even compare to the past practice of using dowels.

Long live the DOMINO [wink]

Jack

 

[Stone Message]

Good point Jack.

Whenever the clever guys at Festool put their minds to a task they start from scratch. They do not copy anything that is there already unless there is no other way of improving on it. The Domino is an excellent example of looking at the requirement and designing something that matches it - there are plenty of cloned biscuit machines on the market from others who have simply turned a handle and produced a copy rather than doing the analysis of the task.

The OF2200 is in the same category of innovation. I suspect their new edgebander is another machine designed from scratch that looks like it will knock the competition for six.

Peter