First festool

[ddishman]

Couple weeks ago I asked about buying a domino or more tools for my shop. I decided to go with a domino simply because I can find a decent bandsaw or another router on Craigslist but never see dominos on there.

That being said I got my domino in today and excited to use it. Any advice on first time user of a domino 500? My first use will be to glue up a table top. My plan is to put dominos every 8-10 inches and the first on each row set on the tight setting the rest on the loose setting.

Am I attacking this correct?

 

[Birdhunter]

I suggest watching a few videos. Halfinchshy has a bunch of really good ones. Also, New Brit has some really good ones.

After watching some videos, practice on scrap. The Domino is an awesome tool, but technique has a lot to do with the results.

I know the tight/tight works for some people. I always make all the mortises on one side narrow and all the others loose. This gives me a little slop for error recovery. How you hold the Domino and how you push into the cut influence results. I push the Domino into the cut with my body as much as with the hands. This avoids introducing the cutter into the wood too abruptly. If you proceed too fast, you can get a slanted mortise or break the tip off the cutter. You want about 60% of the pressure holding the fence down onto the wood and about 40% on the barrel of the Domino. Setting the height of the fence first and then lowering it into position seems to maintain better alignment.

I'm sure you will get lots of tips, but the videos are a great start.

 

[waho6o9]

Congrats on a wise investment!

As stated above, practice on scraps first.

Please use with a dust extractor for optimum performance.

 

[ben_r_]

Have a read though the DF 500 Supplemental Manual: LINK

 

[sancho57]

Do some practices pieces after you do what everyone so far has suggested. Not only Half Inch Shys but other videos as well, Go to festool TV and search for various videos.

The domino is a awesome tool.
You did well getting one.
But there is a definate learnin
with it

 

[#Tee]

nice buy! paul marcel halfinchshy on youtube. he explains everything you need to know to get started. also make sure you have dust extraction with it.

 

[Bob D.]

=PLEF394D17F1B997AA

 

[ear3]

Congrats.

Do the calibration of the cursor and double check that there's a consistent offset on the left/right stops:


You might look into getting the Domiplate.  It's not just for consistent mortising on 1/2" and 3/4" plywood, but also really helps when doing vertical plunges:https://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/domiplate-for-1-2-and-3-4-ply