Festool Domino Connection System Videos

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Hi Everyone

I am sure that many people will have received a free sample of one of the new Domino Connectors. After mine arrived I contacted Festool and asked for a few more so that I could make a video about them. They have let me have a part used systainer of the various components and the remaining ones are to be returned soon.

The video work is now done and I have to tell you that I cannot fault this in any way - I have tried but it is so easy to use (well I managed it) and it is extremely effective. But don't take my word for it - watch the videos and then try it out for yourself.

Here are the links:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Peter

 
I've just finished the first video - well done!

First impression - I could see myself using these, but not very often.  The 30mm minimum for wood width would make it impractical for most of what I do, which tends to be 18mm or less.  When I am using larger thicknesses, I seldom want to take the joint apart.  In the last ten years I can think of two projects that I've done that might have benefited.  One was a bedframe where I used traditional bed bolts.  The other was a bench with legs that used bench bolts.  In both cases I think I would still use the bolts.  However, there were two connections at the top of the bench legs where I might have used these.  I can't imagine using a systainer full of this size in my lifetime.

So for my part, I wish Festool would get into the business of doing smaller knockdown hardware, and will be looking forward to the third-party alternative.  I think some joint strength testing on the smaller third-part connectors would be nice when they are available.
 
Great videos, as usual, Peter. Very well explained and demonstrated.  [smile]
 
Just finished the second video - again, nicely done.

Same issue with thickness - when I've worked with countertops in the US, it's almost always been 3/4" material.  In some cases, I've laminated two pieces of particle board or MDF, or used support blocks.  So these connectors will stay in the back of my mind for now, and I won't be going out to get a Domino 700 just to use them :(.
 
Many thanks for all the replies above...

I nearly told to story of our first house which we bought in 1977 and cost £14,750 ! We were so cash strapped after paying the deposit even though we both had good jobs. We only had a picnic table and two canvas chairs downstairs and no other furniture (we had moved from Army accommodation). So, I made our bed from some nice bits of solid pine and a sheet of chipboard. It was great until 2 years later when we came to move.

I had glued the bed together and it got stuck on the stairwell sand would neither go down or back up. I had to saw it in half in situ and it never recovered. Now if I had the DF700 and the connectors in 1977 I would never have been in that mess ! How things have changed. My last car cost nearly 3 times the cost of that house.

Now the other points...

The 30 mm thickness is due to the depth required for the transverse anchor. It requires an opening 25 mm deep and it needs a tiny bit of meat behind it. For beds the 30 mm is not an issue. For some table designs (or rather table designers) it might be but I would easily be able to work around that.

I did not realise that kitchen counter tops were so thin in the US. In the UK we used to have 25 or 30 mm Formica faced chipboard years ago but now it is usually 38 or 40 mm. We also use a lot of solid wood too.

One thing that I meant to show in the video but will pick up in an "Xtras" video is the easy way to remove a transverse anchor. It has an 8 mm thread and the screw knob from the Festool Fixed Clamps fits and makes an easy way to remove the anchor.

I am not sure if these connectors are already available in North America - I am sure that Festool will have no problem with a 110 v version !

Peter
 
Michael Kellough said:
Are there plans to scale this system down to the 500 machine?

Michael,

There is company now marketing after market 500 compatible fittings in the sales and dealer area.

Peter
 
Peter Halle said:
Michael Kellough said:
Are there plans to scale this system down to the 500 machine?

Michael,

There is company now marketing after market 500 compatible fittings in the sales and dealer area.

Peter

Hi Peter, (both of you!)

I have been following the Dominofix development. I noticed in the Dominofix thread a guy lamenting the 19 Pound shipping fee to the UK so it will be a long while before I get to try them.

More critically, it seems like the Dominofix lacks the draw-pin function of the Festool Domino connector. If I'm not mistaken, in Peter's excellent video it looks like final tightening actually draws the boards together. The Dominofix lacks the transverse block that provides the anchorage that allows the screw to develop the leverage to pull the pin.

The Festool system is fairly elaborate but it seems like it could be scaled down. Or they could alter the design of traditional knock-down furniture fittings to be Domino 500 friendly. I wouldn't mind if I had to drill a hole with a drill to install a simple post. Using the Domino 500 to eliminate marking positions and changing drill bits and cleaning up the debris would be improvement enough to get me to buy the fittings...since I can't afford a Zeta.
 
Michael Kellough said:
Hi Peter, (both of you!)

I have been following the Dominofix development. I noticed in the Dominofix thread a guy lamenting the 19 Pound shipping fee to the UK so it will be a long while before I get to try them.

More critically, it seems like the Dominofix lacks the draw-pin function of the Festool Domino connector. If I'm not mistaken, in Peter's excellent video it looks like final tightening actually draws the boards together. The Dominofix lacks the transverse block that provides the anchorage that allows the screw to develop the leverage to pull the pin.

The Festool system is fairly elaborate but it seems like it could be scaled down. Or they could alter the design of traditional knock-down furniture fittings to be Domino 500 friendly. I wouldn't mind if I had to drill a hole with a drill to install a simple post. Using the Domino 500 to eliminate marking positions and changing drill bits and cleaning up the debris would be improvement enough to get me to buy the fittings...since I can't afford a Zeta.

Hi Michael

Yes, the Festool system does draw itself in very well indeed. That demo joint that I showed in Part 1 was able to withstand a lot of abuse after I screwed the grub screw in tight even though it did not have a stabilising domino nor half the wood because so much was cut away.

I do not want to comment on someone else's system that I have not seen or tried but my gut feeling is that a lack of the draw function is rather a pity. I do think that a Domino 500 version, operating in a similar (not necessarily the same) way, might be possible with some minor changes beyond making things smaller.

Although the Festool system may seem elaborate it is very easy to use and the only bit of maths required is being able to divide the rail thickness by two and adding 10. I would call it a thoroughly well thought out design and agree that compared to the other jointing solutions on the market it may certainly appear to be elaborate.

The Lamello system(s) cannot do the job that the Festool system is designed for and the reverse is also true.

Peter
 
Peter,
Great videos as usual- Thank You for sharing!

I don't have the XL yet, but this may push me over the edge- I have several projects coming up that could use these, and they certainly look easier to machine/install than standard bolts.  Now the question of availability- has Festool announced when they will be available and if there are different sizes?

Thanks and I'll be watching with interest.

Gerald
 
Thank you very much Peter for taking the time to provide a video demonstration of these new fasteners. The videos are very well done, clear and concise.

For the work I do I could certainly envision using these but first I need the 700XL. Perhaps festool could "give" the tool away like inkjet printers so I will buy the fasteners?  ;D A boy can dream, can't he?

Kevin
 
It would surprise me if Festool DID NOT bring out a smaller version.  I remember going to JLC in 2012 or 2013 and seeing the XL for the first time.  I looked over at Sedge and making the comment that Festool needed to make knock down fittings.  He just smiled like only he can and said "You never can tell what those engineers are up to.  I saw some really cool things in Germany."

Peter
 
I have no "inside" knowledge of anything that Festool might be planning but I would say that they would be nuts not to keep going with connectors and expand into the DF500 area as well.

As for other types right now, it is just what I have shown.

I like the idea of the tool being sold dirt cheap in order to get consumable sales but that will never happen they do this already - it should really sell for $10,000  [laughing].

Peter
 
Thanks so much for the demo video, excellent work. I'm interested in the Domino system, and will get it in a year or so..the Connection system makes the Domino  even more useful.
 
Thanks for sharing the video Peter.  Very informative as usual.

I have a DF500 and it handles all my needs so no XL for me anytime soon.  Therefore, add me to the list of people hoping Festool comes out with connectors for the smaller machine.
 
I thought that it might be interesting to share this with you...

I have spent the last 3 days helping my elder daughter and her husband move house. Nothing unusual about that except that the world has moved on since their beds and tables were made...

The tables were not so bad but I had a pair of large nuts (don't we all) at each leg to undo at old house and redo at new house. Even with just 2 tables that soon became a bit of a bore. Then there were the beds which had, at each leg a pair of the old fashioned connectors - things were not helped by me assembling the first one with the rails upside down (as you do).

The point is that each of these tasks would have been so much simpler with the Domino Connection System. I might still have managed to get a rail upside down but it would have taken a quarter of the time to fix it.

I am not trying to push this product but must say that my life would have been so much easier with the house move if it had been used on the beds and tables. You will find out what I mean when you try it for yourself.

Peter
 
I'm fairly new to posting on this board, and so I hope this doesn't violate any rules.  I am a Festool Junkie, but there are times where there are what I consider better ways to do things. (I hope this isn't considered blasphemous).

I was fortunate enough to have seen the Striplox booth at the International AWFS Fair held in Las Vegas in 2015, and in my opinion they have developed "the better mousetrap" for quick, strong removeable joints in woodworking.  I think their products are a much better joining method in most circumstances than the removeable domino. One more for the Aussies.

Their website is http://www.joinlox.com/striplox/

I've wanted to share this information with the FOG community, but didn't know where it should be posted, so if it should be somewhere else please let me know.

I've truly enjoyed your videos and comments, and am waiting for my Axminster package to arrive by the 18th.

Thanks.

Larry
 
Hi Peter,

  Back to the 30mm minimum width, would it be ok to glue two boats together
to meet that width or are we limited to using these connectors in solid pieces?

Thanks
Oscar
 
oscaro928 said:
Hi Peter,

  Back to the 30mm minimum width, would it be ok to glue two boats together
to meet that width or are we limited to using these connectors in solid pieces?

Thanks
Oscar

Hi Oscar,

Two bits glued together are just about as good as a solid piece if it is done well.

Peter
 
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