Festool DF500 Connector

[pingvinlakrits]

FWIW...I'd think that if Festool was going to release a knock-down style connector for the DF 500, they'd have already released a 12mm version for the DF 700 as opposed to just the 14mm version they currently have.

According to a german Festool rep I spoke with in person they are working on a DF500 connector. I think they are landing at the 8mm mark - it was not possible to make it smaller but from what I gathered they wanted to make it small enough to work with the DF500 yet differentiate it from the XL connectors and 8mm was the minimum. Or was it 10mm? Nah, pretty sure he said 8mm. There were other aspects that they were more concerned with than the size for practical purposes. The XL cuts both the tenon holes and access hole for the hardware connector and hex/fastener but they are (seemingly) doing it differently with the smaller connectors. Probably a 5/6mm hole for the hex key and with a separate jig for drilling that hole.

BTW I have made a very large build, essentially a large indoor greenhouse about 3x6 meter in size, using the XL and Domino XL connectors. We did all the load bearing joints with two 14mm Dominos perpendicular to a centered Domino connector to form a "triangle".  It was very solid and strong. Material was 100x100 or 115x115mm, honestly don't remember exactly what dimension it was.

 

[Stone Message]

Obviously there will be commercial competition when Festool release a Domino 500 based connector system but I see no reason why [member=59835]Dominofix[/member] will not be able to post in the Sales and Dealer area.

I am sure that Festool will produce a DF 500 connector as it would be mad to ignore market demand. The DF 700 system is brilliant and I have visited commercial woodworking enterprises that use it a lot. A DF 500 system would be available to a far wider customer base than the DF 700 system and would provide an interesting alternative to Lamello and the range of other systems used in the flat pack world.

I don't trust rumours but I bet that there is at least something on the Festool drawing board and it may well be being prototyped right now.

Peter

 

[Cheese]

According to a german Festool rep I spoke with in person they are working on a DF500 connector. I think they are landing at the 8mm mark - it was not possible to make it smaller but from what I gathered they wanted to make it small enough to work with the DF500 yet differentiate it from the XL connectors and 8mm was the minimum.

BTW I have made a very large build, essentially a large indoor greenhouse about 3x6 meter in size, using the XL and Domino XL connectors. We did all the load bearing joints with two 14mm Dominos perpendicular to a centered Domino connector to form a "triangle".  It was very solid and strong. Material was 100x100 or 115x115mm, honestly don't remember exactly what dimension it was.

Hey I hope your Festool rep is right on this...not every knock-down project can utilize 14mm XL connectors. I'd imagine there's a huge market for 500 sized connectors.

I'd be very interested in seeing a picture or two of that greenhouse. [smile]

 

[Gregor]

According to a german Festool rep I spoke with in person they are working on a DF500 connector. I think they are landing at the 8mm mark - it was not possible to make it smaller but from what I gathered they wanted to make it small enough to work with the DF500 yet differentiate it from the XL connectors and 8mm was the minimum. Or was it 10mm? Nah, pretty sure he said 8mm.

8mm would be useable for more project types than a 10mm one, still both the 500 and 700 could be used to make the mortices needed (as 8mm is the smallest cutter available for the 700XL).

There were other aspects that they were more concerned with than the size for practical purposes. The XL cuts both the tenon holes and access hole for the hardware connector and hex/fastener but they are (seemingly) doing it differently with the smaller connectors. Probably a 5/6mm hole for the hex key and with a separate jig for drilling that hole.

A cross anchor piece that could be located flat (opposed to the current ones that are perpendicular and need an extra mortice on the face) inside the material would open the way toward interesting new builds...

 

[pingvinlakrits]

According to a german Festool rep I spoke with in person they are working on a DF500 connector. I think they are landing at the 8mm mark - it was not possible to make it smaller but from what I gathered they wanted to make it small enough to work with the DF500 yet differentiate it from the XL connectors and 8mm was the minimum.

BTW I have made a very large build, essentially a large indoor greenhouse about 3x6 meter in size, using the XL and Domino XL connectors. We did all the load bearing joints with two 14mm Dominos perpendicular to a centered Domino connector to form a "triangle".  It was very solid and strong. Material was 100x100 or 115x115mm, honestly don't remember exactly what dimension it was.

Hey I hope your Festool rep is right on this...not every knock-down project can utilize 14mm XL connectors. I'd imagine there's a huge market for 500 sized connectors.

I'd be very interested in seeing a picture or two of that greenhouse. [smile]

He BETTER be right - he was an official German Festool rep from the company on a Demo day here in Sweden. Language barrier aside (I practiced my german, which is rusty and his english was a bit odd) but still it was very clear that he only gave away information on stuff that they had come a long way in developing.

I would rate the information given on these four levels of confirmation:

We currently have no plans for it (most likely will never happen - we don't see the point)

We are aware of the high demand and are looking in to it (is under development - stage of development not disclosed)

We are working on solutions for a Domino DF500 connector (it is almost done, otherwise I would not tell you any details)

There is one impact in development and it will maybe be released next year (it is done, for sure, we just need to fix the packaging and make sure we have a solid initial batch to send out, update the catalogue etc etc)

Of course I could be wrong but that would mean that he was lying (which I doubt) or that I was not getting the message right. But, I did ask sly counterquestions when he "slipped" on some details.

/ H

 

[Stone Message]

Fingers crossed that it is [member=2085]Henrik R / Pingvinlakrits[/member]  fourth option and it is just the packaging and instructions that need to be sorted out.

We shall see.

Peter

 

[bobfog]

Hope it is true, and Festool produce a decent solution with some good clamping power - as opposed to the half baked options currently available from third parties.

 

[bertv]

[member=2085]Henrik R / Pingvinlakrits[/member] — I see a future for you in counter-intelligence; you seem to have interrogation technique pat down.  [smile]