Dominos!

[Stevec717]

I picked up my 500 Domino Friday (along with the domino assortment/kit) and a bag of 6x40 Sipo Mahogany dominos.

Haven't built anything yet (I have some drawers to do) but did a lot of playing around with it ver the weekend. It's hard to justify nearly $1000 as a hobbyist but all I can say is - for me it's worth every penny. Every joint is flush and true. Super easy registration, whether by pins or lines. And using through dominos on drawer fronts with Sipo dominos is beautiful! This may be my favorite tool to use even though it's very specialized.

You can't justify cost when you're not selling anything, but for me I HATE putting good time and effort into planning and layout only to get sub-par results. Festool has reflected my efforts perfectly. That is, if I put the time and care into layout and setup I get a perfect result back for the effort (whether cutting, joining, whatever).
So for me the payoff is reduced frustration and better results.

I was also lucky enough to sell my biscuit joiner and an old router on EB over the weekend so that buffered the hit a bit.

Steve

 

[Birdhunter]

I put off getting a Domino because of the cost justification issue. Now, I regret all the projects I could have used the tool on.

Won't be long before you are adding the 700 to the tool kit.

 

[greg mann]

Sure you can justify the cost, and you did! You said it was worth every penny. It cracks me up sometimes about this 'cost' thing. I am sure there are guys, usually on other forums, that rail on us for our foolishness all the while having snowmobiles in their garage that only get out to be used once or twice a season. We are all crazy in our own way. My wife has a sewing machine that costs far more than the first new car I ever bought and she uses it quite a bit less than she had expected. I never ask her to justify its existence. We have created a world where a lot of us can and do aquire things that are not necessary for our day to day existence but do it anyway. I have four kayaks and don't get to paddle any of them enough to justify more than one, but I enjoy just having them. I made three of them, each in a different tradition and they are cool. (Here I am, trying to justify why I have them. Get it?) My wife and I also have four dogs. The only justification is the pleasure we receive from them. We are not shepards.

Enjoy your Domino and just smile everytime you use it.

 

[Stone Message]

I had to sell my (then) top of the range Lamello biscuit jointer to help fund my Domino purchase - it was the best thing that I ever did.

The Domino has made my work quality go up by a quantum leap and I can justify every penny twice over.

A simply brilliant concept and a fabulous tool.

Peter

 

[Holmz]

I am leaning towards the 700... And I cannot afford both.
??

 

[Stone Message]

I am leaning towards the 700... And I cannot afford both.
??

What sort of woodwork do you do?

I managed very well for 2 years with just the DF 500 but like the DF 700 for doors, sheds, gates and some of my heavier projects.

This might help making the choice between the two Dominos:

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/choosing-between-dominos-videos/msg381996/#msg381996

Peter

 

[Holmz]

Yes thanks - I have seen those videos earlier, which got me thinking a Seneca adaptor and 700.

I have some gates to make, which are probably going to be 1-1/2" (40-mm) or so. So I am thinking that the 700 seems a better choice and then just using a lexan plate for the 4 & 5 mm tenons if I need to use them.

Also have a table to make and the pear slabs are pretty cupped, so I may need to saw them and rejoin them before planning in order to make the cupping less. Essentially sawing a wedge lengthwise...??? Then rejoining the planks with dominos...???
I am at a total loss as to how to approach the chairs though.

I have not done much with sheet goods, but I am leaning towards a track saw.

 

[Stone Message]

Yes thanks - I have seen those videos earlier, which got me thinking a Seneca adaptor and 700.

I have some gates to make, which are probably going to be 1-1/2" (40-mm) or so. So I am thinking that the 700 seems a better choice and then just using a lexan plate for the 4 & 5 mm tenons if I need to use them.

Also have a table to make and the pear slabs are pretty cupped, so I may need to saw them and rejoin them before planning in order to make the cupping less. Essentially sawing a wedge lengthwise...??? Then rejoining the planks with dominos...???
I am at a total loss as to how to approach the chairs though.

I have not done much with sheet goods, but I am leaning towards a track saw.

The DF700 is one of the best engineered machines that Festool make.

For an example of joining boards for your table top take a look at this video where I show the making of a walnut top for my TV cabinet:



As for the chair, I have made a few but long before I started making videos (and also before I got into Festool). So, in the not too distant future I will make one to demonstrate the use of domino joinery for chairs. I will video it and create a thread for it here on the FOG. I am not sure when I will be able to start but will do so as soon as I can.

Peter

 

[Thebesciak]

This is my first Domino project
I used 6mm and 5mm dominos, I did two sections separate, but everything is connected together with dominos and "crazy" Gorilla glue
Thats a great tool...
PS. I am sorry about the mess ...

 

[Holmz]

...

The DF700 is one of the best engineered machines that Festool make.

For an example of joining boards for your table top take a look at this video where I show the making of a walnut top for my TV cabinet:



As for the chair, I have made a few but long before I started making videos (and also before I got into Festool). So, in the not too distant future I will make one to demonstrate the use of domino joinery for chairs. I will video it and create a thread for it here on the FOG. I am not sure when I will be able to start but will do so as soon as I can.

Peter

Yeah thanks Mate.
The pear slabs are ~40-mm x 600 x 2500.
They are cupped severely in the dry weather. I was thinking of keeping the grain the same. So either cutting and glueing, or maybe I should see if they can be wetted and clamped while redrying??

I am pretty much settled on the 700 and a Seneca adapter.
I need the Mrs to sketch the gate designs so I can use that as evidence of the need for the 700...

 

[John H]

Peter

After watching you try to pound those boards together with the dominos - I can't help think to myself why wouldn't you just use a biscuit?  Am I missing something here?

 

[ajcoholic]

I question the seemingly large amount of woodworkers who "get rid of" their biscuit machines when they get the Domino.

I have been using biscuits since I bought our first Lamello back in the 80's.  Today I use a Top 20, and a P2 Zeta (both top notch Swiss made tools) in the shop as much as I use the Festool Domino.

Domino certainly has a place in the shop - I use mine for floating mortises where that type of joint is superior to a biscuit.  In joints where the strength is a plus and much faster to use than a traditional cut M&T.

However, I use the "lowly" biscuit more in places where you are just needing some alignment, or edge joining boards, etc.  Places where the biscuit is more than enough - and the lateral adjustment is also a plus.  And, at about 3 cents a pc for name brand plates, they are a whole lot cheaper than Dominos if you use them often.

In my shop, the Domino and Lamello machines get used an awful lot - and I certainly would not want to be without one or the other.

By the way, if you havent used a "real" Lamello  - especially the newer breed top 20/21/P2 with the same dust extraction etc as the Domino, then please do.  Compared to the Porter Cable/DeWalt/etc it is night and day.

Dare I say I wish my Domino was as finely finished and the adjustments as smooth and secure as my Lamello?

 

[John H]

I agree with you 100%

I also am a Lamello Top 20 owner - and it amazes me sometimes when I see someone using dominos to edge join something like that I can't help think they are so desperate to use their Domino or they are so desperate to justify the cost...  I don't know - but just my 2 cents

 

[Stone Message]

I had one of the top of the range Lamellos a few years back and it served me well for joining sheets, general cabinetry and so on. But when I saw the Domino demonstrated I reckoned that it could easily take over those tasks that the Lamello was good at BUT on top of that take over a lot of the drudgery of mortice and tenon work.

I have not looked back but I do respect those people who have centred their work on the biscuit joint. The real hero is probably the guy who has both and uses each to their best advantage - but I had to sell my Lamello to get my Domino and that has proved a brilliant choice for me.

Peter

 

[bkharman]

Here are some "sneak peaks" on my latest project. I wanted to get back to basics and use dados and rabbets.

When all was said and done, I cheaped out on the birch ply I bought. It was a great price, but not such a great sheet. I had a slight bow in it and I have plenty of clamps but this was a chance to mess around with some through Dominos mainly for alignment.

I am writing it up but I like the look!

 

[Knight Woodworks]

Nodding my head in agreement with aj & John H. I own a Lamello top 10 and both Dominos. Wouldn't want to be without any of them. I appreciate having the right tool for the job.

John 

 

[jacko9]

I bought the DF500 several years ago and use it a lot.  When the DF700 came out, I ordered one for the heavier case work and doors, etc.

I just got the Seneca 6mm cutter for my DF700 which will allow me to easily cut thru tenons on a lot of projects.

Jack