Festoon Dominos - I bought the wrong one...

[Spartan300]

Hi All,

First post, and very newbie to Festool.  I am an DIY work worker, with a bit of kit fetish (please read "All the gear, starting to get an idea" here).  I have been completely a large project on my house which has largely been completed by others.  Now it's my turn.

I first bought a track saw which got me hooked on the system and is now causing the bank balance a whole range of pain.  My latest purchase was a Domino 500.  Now I did a good chunk of research on it, but subsequently have done even more and have started to get worried...

I am making a set of storage shelves out of 75x50 to take a range of storage items in the house as well as all my tools.  So they need to be sturdy but equally they are not holding up the forth road bridge.

My next projects will be some chest of drawers and a bed.  I'm pretty comfortable that the shelves with a combination of single and double 10x50 joints will be ok.  However the bed I am a little more worried about, as I've seen a few things that say a 700 with it's deeper cuts would be needed for something like this.  Clearly the answer to the question can I get away with the 500 for the bed will very much depend on the design however I am a couple of months away from that at the moment. 

So I guess my question is am I going to regret getting the 500, or should I have spent the c. £4/500 extra (inc. dominos, cutters etc) to get the 700.  I think both are excellent machines so I am just wondering if anyone else has gone through this process and has either ended up loving the 500, wishing they went for the 700 or replaced their 500 with a 700.

Many thanks for anyones opinions!!!

Phil

 

[flair woodworks]

Hi Phil, and welcome to the forum!  Many of us have gone through this process, myself included.  I ended up getting the 700 as well, expecting it to replace the 500.  Well, I find myself using the 500 probably about 80% of the time.  I'm definitely glad that I have the 700, mostly for the extended depth of cut.

 

[wrightwoodwork]

I think you'll be fine the only think is to add toggle bolts pull up and hold the joints tight or at least I think what's they're called. With the toggle bolts I can't see the joint pulling apart maybe need to in each and I can't imagine 10*50 domino shearing under normal load

 

[semenza]

I think you'll be fine the only think is to add toggle bolts pull up and hold the joints tight or at least I think what's they're called. With the toggle bolts I can't see the joint pulling apart maybe need to in each and I can't imagine 10*50 domino shearing under normal load

Exactly.

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Welcome to the forum, Phil!

Seth

 

[Spartan300]

Well gents thanks for the fast replies... Certainly has taken some of that post purchase regret away!

Now to get on with some doing!!

Thanks!!!

Phil

 

[Tayler_mann]

I have not found a job that the 500 could not do yet. I find it easier to use and also cheaper in all aspects. If you need more strength just add extra dominos. It takes about 5 second to add another slot on a piece of material. I did an experiment with the 8x50 mm domino and a butt joint with 5/4 white oak. I could not break the joint with all my might. The oak gave out before the joint. Keep the 500 it is by far more versatile than the 700. I don't own a 700 but have used them and i have a friend that own both and the 700 sits in the back corner all but twice a year.

 

[travisj]

I recently picked up the 500.  I second guessed it and spoke with my dealer.  He said the the 700 is great, but if you are not doing a lot of doors/gates, the 500 can handle 99% of what you throw at it.  It's smaller size, makes it a lot easier to handle IMHO.

 

[Birdhunter]

I have both the 500 and the 700. I use the 500 the vast majority of the time.

It's great great for book cases etc.

Both Woodcraft and Rockler have hardware for bed construction.

 

[Wuffles]

I have both the 500 and the 700. I use the 500 the vast majority of the time.

It's great great for book cases etc.

Both Woodcraft and Rockler have hardware for bed construction.

*cough* UK *cough*

 

[Birdhunter]

Just curious, but I can order items from the U.K. through Amazon.com. Does it not work the other way?

 

[Wuffles]

Just curious, but I can order items from the U.K. through Amazon.com. Does it not work the other way?

Import duty tends to not make it worthwhile on certain items. We're closer to China too  [smile]

 

[Mbconstructionjoinery]

I bought the 700 and then ordered the seneca adaptor and shim/imperial gauge from the states which allows you to used all the cutters, this was the best option for me  [big grin]

 

[icecactus]

I purchased the 500 last year. I considered going the 700 with the adapters but i decided the 500 was lighter and would do 98% of what i needed. And when I needed something bigger I would buy the 700.

It just didn't make sense to me to spend money on adapters etc for a tool that really wasn't designed to be doing what I was doing 98% of the time. The adapters aren't cheap either. Its a good chunk of change I could use towards the 700.

2 months later they put the dominos on sale for 10% off and I bought the 700. I haven't used it yet other then to test it out. I definitely prefer the size/weight of the 500. The 700 is a very nice machine though!

 

[Mort]

Riddle-me-this, Batman,

Is it absolutely physically impossible to build a door or gate with a DF500? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a Domino XL, but after I get done buying all the cutters, tenons, and Seneca adapter, I'll be in it as much as my truck cost.

 

[griffs]

Hi All,

First post, and very newbie to Festool.  I am an DIY work worker, with a bit of kit fetish (please read "All the gear, starting to get an idea" here).  I have been completely a large project on my house which has largely been completed by others.  Now it's my turn.

I first bought a track saw which got me hooked on the system and is now causing the bank balance a whole range of pain.  My latest purchase was a Domino 500.  Now I did a good chunk of research on it, but subsequently have done even more and have started to get worried...

I am making a set of storage shelves out of 75x50 to take a range of storage items in the house as well as all my tools.  So they need to be sturdy but equally they are not holding up the forth road bridge.

My next projects will be some chest of drawers and a bed.  I'm pretty comfortable that the shelves with a combination of single and double 10x50 joints will be ok.  However the bed I am a little more worried about, as I've seen a few things that say a 700 with it's deeper cuts would be needed for something like this.  Clearly the answer to the question can I get away with the 500 for the bed will very much depend on the design however I am a couple of months away from that at the moment. 

So I guess my question is am I going to regret getting the 500, or should I have spent the c. £4/500 extra (inc. dominos, cutters etc) to get the 700.  I think both are excellent machines so I am just wondering if anyone else has gone through this process and has either ended up loving the 500, wishing they went for the 700 or replaced their 500 with a 700.

Many thanks for anyones opinions!!!

Phil

I purchased the 500 last year. I considered going the 700 with the adapters but i decided the 500 was lighter and would do 98% of what i needed. And when I needed something bigger I would buy the 700.

It just didn't make sense to me to spend money on adapters etc for a tool that really wasn't designed to be doing what I was doing 98% of the time. The adapters aren't cheap either. Its a good chunk of change I could use towards the 700.

2 months later they put the dominos on sale for 10% off and I bought the 700. I haven't used it yet other then to test it out. I definitely prefer the size/weight of the 500. The 700 is a very nice machine though!

I also purchased the 500 last year and also purchased the 700 a couple of months ago with the idea of buying the adaptors etc and selling the 500,  not a chance the 500 is worth its weight in gold (nearly) the 700 will probably pay for itself within a year and will only be used for a small amount of time , but it has got the ability to cut the larger and longer dominos.

The speed and accuracy on these dominos is amazing.

  Now time to think about sanders?

 

[jacko9]

I purchased the 500 when it first came to the USA along with the CT22.  When the 700 came to market, I knew I wanted one for the additional capability of joint thickness and extra length of mortise for larger work.  I use the 500 about 80% of the time but it sure is nice to have the 700 when doing large furniture or through mortises.

Jack

 

[griffs]

  I also purchased the 500 last year then purchased the 700 a couple of months ago with the idea of buying the adaptors and selling the 500, not a chance the  500 is worth its weight in gold (nearly) the 700 will not be used very often but it does the larger and deeper dominos and will pay for itself within a year ,these domino machines never fail to amaze me with the speed and accuracy they achieve.

  Now on-to the shopping list a new sander?

 

[JimD]

I'm still looking at Dominos but I've made 7 beds so far with conventional mortise and tenon joints.  The bed joints you would use the domino on are the headboard and footboard.  They do not support your weight.  They may get a little racking load but are not really high stress.  I wouldn't use just one 10x50 but with 2 or more, you should be plenty strong.  I think 1 inch tenons would work fine although I used longer ones with conventional joints. 

 

[SoonerFan]

Like many that have posted in this thread, I went with the 500 which I bought during the last sale.  For me it has been perfect.  I have come to believe I wanted the 700 and the adapters but I needed the a 500.  Then I bought a CXS with the extra money.

 

[Kev]

I got my 500 before the 700 was released. I considered the overlap and decided the added range of the 700 justified the second Domino. I've got the Seneca bits, but to me its a case of having even more options.