Festool Domino DF 700 vs Festool Domino DF 500

[welb2]

Hi All,
Newbie to this forum. Have been a woodworker for many years and am going to build bedroom set, kitchen set and frontroom furniture. My question is this, which jointer should I purchase along with dust collection system? I'm not sure I am going to use it much after these projects and not sure I need to spend the $$ on the 700. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thank you,
welb2

 

[Alan m]

welcome tot he fog/
only you can answer that  . what size material do you normally use.
i have the 500 and havnt needed to go bigger. normal furniture is well within the 500s capabilities.
i would use the 700 for large furniture and gates,doors etc

i would reconment the 500 because you can use it on sheet goods

 

[erock]

Welcome to the FOG!

I used my 500 for my kitchen cabinets.  For both the cabinet and drawers (I made domidrawers)

If you go with the 500 I would highly recommend the DOMIPLAE to help center the cutter on 1/2" and 3/4" materials.    The Domiplate really speeds up the

building process.

And depending on the style of furniture you plan on building, I would guess that the 500 would handle those projects as well.

The 500 is a sweet machine.  You can't go wrong with it.  The 700 may be to much for your task and the amount of work you have planned.

Just my two cents.

Eric

 

[welb2]

Thanks for the info. I plan on building Stickley design furniture so good M&T joints are necessary.

 

[Samo]

If you are doing stickley  [blink]  I know you will end up doing true floating tenons and custom mortises.  OF1400 and a very big spiral upcut  [eek]  that's the dust collection you are looking for.

The Domino, as my bro Eric said, is a beautiful machine.  The 500 being the most popular all around machine and the 700 more for large door and gate building.  Of coarse I want the 700  [tongue]

 

[jacko9]

Welb2,

I have both Domino machines and I find that the DF 700 is a more balanced machine even thought it weighs more.  You can do everything with the DF 700 except the fine work of cutting cabinet blades with a 4mm cutter.  Sorry that I can't give you a definite opinion but, it really depends on the furniture you want to build and how large the M&T joints are going to be.  If I had to only buy one machine IMHO (with great resale) I would buy the DF 700.

 

[Samo]

Interesting Jack.  Thanks for posting.

I guess I need to add the 700 sooner than I thought  [cool]

 

[jacko9]

Welb2 and Samo,  Your comments about the through tenon design on Stickley furniture is another reason to buy the DF XL 700 with it's larger depth of cut you can easly do through tenons with a sacrificial backer material.  I have cut through tenons with the DF 500 and I have plans to do the same with the DF 700.  Also see Paul Marcel's web site where he has videos of using both tools @ http://www.halfinchshy.com/2012/04/oversized-mortises-with-festool-domino.html?showComment=1355700527757#comment-c7749445742714490832

My advice would be to go to a Festool Dealer and try both machines.  My local dealer that just closed their retail store used to have scrap pieces of wood for experimenting.  I just bring in some scraps from my shop and cut away while trying to decide between various machines.  But beware that you don't do what I have done on a few occasions,  I wound up buying both [eek]

 

[welb2]

Great reviews! Thanks all. One more question. Festool's prices on their dust collections vacuums are a bit higher than FEIN. Am looking at the Fein 9-20-25 Turbo-II 9-Gallon Vacuum with Auto-Start. Anyone have any experience with these to vacuum systems? I had my own countertop business and used a FEIN. It worked great and was pretty quiet. The new ones are supposed to be even better.

 

[jacko9]

Great reviews! Thanks all. One more question. Festool's prices on their dust collections vacuums are a bit higher than FEIN. Am looking at the Fein 9-20-25 Turbo-II 9-Gallon Vacuum with Auto-Start. Anyone have any experience with these to vacuum systems? I had my own countertop business and used a FEIN. It worked great and was pretty quiet. The new ones are supposed to be even better.

Welb2,

I know Festool is a bit high in price but, I have owned mu CT22 for over 5 years now and it works great.  One advantage with the Festool dust extractor is the ability to stack tools on top of it which is quite handy when working. 

Jack

 

[PeterK]

I had a Fein Turbo II that is 10-11 years old and still works great. Actually gave it to my son and have a Couple Festool vacs now. The Fein is not HEPA I don't believe. It has a weird hose that needs adapters to connect to other brand products. The hose is not anti-shock. You can't stack stuff on top. Luckily, the Festool hoses fit the Fein perfectly.

 

[welb2]

I have to say though, using a quiet vacuum as opposed to a louder one does it make a difference? I ask because if I'm working with the DF700 or a router or whatever loud electric tool, I have ear protection on. So does it make a difference of what vacuum I purchase? Looking at ones like the Fein or even DeWalt, they pretty much do the same thing. Yes??
welb2

 

[welb2]

BTW, I really appreciate everyones input on this subject. I try to evaluate machines for performance, power, amps and whatever to get the tools that will last. You all have been very helpful. Thanks!
Welb2

 

[Stone Message]

I am probably a bit late joining this thread but...

I have done a lot with both the DF500 and DF700. I do not own the DF700 (yet) but have managed to borrow one from a very understanding UK dealer (Toolfest of Woking). I have featured both machines in umpteen videos that I have made and a lot of those have included project work.

If I were to start again and only be allowed one machine it would be the DF700 because it can be set up far more precisely than the DF500 (depth setting and greater height range). I realise that I would lose out on the smallest domino sizes but I would work around that. Having said that I believe the DF500 to be a fantastic machine which is head, shoulders and torso better than my old Lamello - I would never go back to the dark days of biscuit work.

Peter

 

[PeterK]

I would look for a vac with variable speed as slowing it down can really help when sanding wood like maple and cherry. Also the vac should have 2 stage cooling or some such terminology so that the dust filled suction air bypasses the motor. The Fein and Festool vacs have a separate air source for motor cooling. Also a quality motor that will last and can handle long run times. You can only go on reputation for that and again Fein and Festool are quality machines. Lastly would be features. Festool wins this with the very pricey and oh so useful boom arm, hose garage, tool storage accessories.

As to the Domino, you need to figure out what thickness range of wood you will be using. I have not tried the 700 but would not think you can use it on 1/2" material. Not sure if it can handle meters on 3/4" material as don't know if it will cut too deep. Others will have better info.

 

[welb2]

Hello All and thank you for your input on the Vacuum. I purchased the Fein ll along with the XL 700, 10mm bit and 2 different sized dowels. Will start my project next week. However I must ask about accessories. Is the RTS self centering jig good or the Multi position guide better? Any other recommendations for accessories?
Thank you,
Rob(welb2)