Festool domino df500 or Mafell dd40

[enavarro]

Hello everyone

My name is Eduardo and I am from Chile. Some time ago I started making furniture (mainly in melamine and plywood) and I want to acquire a new tool to make better joints.

The festool domino df500 is very popular and seems to be a good option, however what worries me is the cost per connection (for example if I buy the tenons or connectors from amazon).

The other option I have is the Mafell DD40 Duo-Dowel (from what I see a new version came out recently). What attracts me about this tool is that I can find dowels easily in Chile and economically.

Either of the two tools would have to import it from the United Kingdom or Germany (In Chile the electrical devices work with 220V). The costs are similar in both cases, only change is the cost of consumables.

For the manufacture of furniture (kitchen cabinets, beds, bedroom furniture), which of the two tools do you recommend me?

 

[jacko9]

If the cost of the Domino tenons is an issue for you where you live, make your own.  It is not difficult to mill some wood of your choice to the proper thickness, cut to width and length and round the edges with a router.  I prefer a Domino joint to a dowel joint for long term stability.

 

[Cheese]

Hello Eduardo and  [welcome] to the Fog. The Duo Doweler is a real nice tool but is targeted towards larger pieces of furniture. I believe it uses from 8mm to 12mm dowels. That's more in the governance of a DF 700.
FWIW...I've used a ton of 4mm & 5mm Dominos for trim work using the DF 500 and appreciate that it works effortlessly throughout the 4mm to 10mm range.

If the pricing of dowels versus Dominos is the real issue, you'll never justify the Domino because it's not a commodity item. The dowel is a commodity item because it has 100 more years of usage and they're easier to manufacture. It's the woodworking equivalence of a tooth pick.  [smile]

It's really about your needs. If you need to go small the Mafell will not get you there, if you need to go medium sized and less expensive, then the Mafell may be your go-to tool. For my needs, a 500 and a 700 offer the best of both worlds.

 

[grobkuschelig]

Buenas Dias Eduardo,

What I like about the domino tennons is that they inherently offer „rotation lock“ even with just one tennon on a small connection.
I am always enjoying my DF500 during use, because I find it mostly „fool proof“ (good for me. [emoji51])
If you might have a need for knock down furniture, the Domino Connectors also are a viable option.

On the DuoDoweler, I think there should not be a huge difference in terms of handling (never tried one, but watched some reviews..).
One thing the Mafell has going for itself might be the ability to manufacture System32 holes.

Both have their benefits. I would suggest to look at what you think might benefit your creations the most and go with that.
...you can always add the other one later. [emoji6]

 

[enavarro]

Thanks for the answers, I think I'll buy the DF500.

I'll have to make my own tenons

 

[Linbro]

DD40 will drill holes from 3mm to 16mm. Very handy for drilling shelf pin holes and hardware based on 32mm centres. Extremely accurate, whether using the built in stop-pins, or the guide rail. No twisting of components, due to the pairs of dowels. Build quality is amazing, very easy to use and set up. Dust extraction is excellent. For cabinet work, DD40 is the best choice, IMO.

 

[jacko9]

Thanks for the answers, I think I'll buy the DF500.

I'll have to make my own tenons

Making your own tenons has the added advantage of using the same wood as your project if you choose to do through tenon and wedge work.