First time using the XL DF 700

[MontyB]

So the XL 700 arrived last Friday, but I did not have a chance to play with it until yesterday (Monday). My initial thought are this thing is going to save me time and money. It also appears to be pretty easy to use. However I think the Senco adapter for the 5mm domino's will be a must. My first project will be rebuilding and hanging kitchen cabinets that I removed from an old farm house that I am using in my new house. For the most part the cabinets are all solid 3/4" thick pine and a bit of 3/4" plywood. Not sure if I will rebuild the drawers using domino's or build new with dovetails like they should be. I also have four window casements that I will be building...not sure if I will use the XL here or not.

Do most users scribe a line across the face, so that they can line the machine up to a center line? I marked it with a pencil which helped but was curious what others did.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Monty

That is a great machine to have and you must be very pleased.

You may well be able to do all your casement work with 8 mm dominos, perhaps 10 mm depending on the scale.

As far as scribed lines go everyone seems to have their own way of doing things. I always try and use a scribed line which I place using my Incra Precision T Rule. If I am putting dominos in the end of stock then I almost always use the Trim Stop which is the "must have" accessory for both the DF 500 and DF 700 machines (it fits both).

I have found that my workflow has been improved by using the MFT3 as a clamping/jig setting/work holding station for Domino work.

Peter

 

[jacko9]

While the Seneca adapter is a good choice for those that already have the DF500 with the 5mm and 6mm cutters, Seneca sells the 5mm and 6mm cutters for the XL700 which gives you a greater depth of cut for through mortise and tenon work.

http://www.senecawoodworking.com/collections/all

Jack

 

[Birdhunter]

Suggest spending time watching Halfinchshy's YouTube videos. He has several wonderful videos on setting and using the Domino.

 

[ScoFF]

I bought the XL DF  700 as well (first and only Domino).  I bought the Seneca adapter to use the small bits as well as the small bits kit (and dominos) because I'll be doing mostly smaller work in 3/4" material.  I bought the larger one because it's the only one I'll be able to afford and wanted the ability to do small and big jobs. 
I was disappointed when I got it because I had to fiddle with it in order to work in 3/4" or maybe I just didn't know how to use it.  I got the Seneca Domi-shims and found when using the domino on the face, it plunged too deep and went through.
So I spend a while making a shim for the face of the domino to limit the plunging.  Then 2 weeks later they came out with the "new product" with the imperial thickness set.  Crap !  I'm from Canada so every order costs me an extra $20 in brokerage fees from USPS.
Something else I had to mess with when doing perpendicular joints to is change up the depth stop because of this, so it was like 30% depth for face mortises, 70% for edge mortises or cut the domino shorter.

 

[MontyB]

Thanks to all for the responses. A question, should the unit come with 12mm Dominos? 1/2 inch shy's review said that it did but mine did not.  It also did not have the protective plastic on the base. Got it from Amazon.

 

[copcarcollector]

Pretty sure the Domino does not come with any tenons any longer.

 

[tbellemare]

The "scope of delivery" has changed since it came out.

It originally came with populated domino boxes. Now they're empty.

Tom

 

[ScoFF]

I wish it did 10mm depth instead of minimum 15mm.  I've had times when I was working with 1/2 stock and I needed 10, 15 was too long for face mortises.  I know it wasn't designed to be used with small cutters and dominos.

 

[MontyB]

Why not just make a 5mm shim to face plate? I think Senco may make something for this.

 

[Ivanhoe]

I wish it did 10mm depth instead of minimum 15mm.  I've had times when I was working with 1/2 stock and I needed 10, 15 was too long for face mortises.  I know it wasn't designed to be used with small cutters and dominos.

1/2" pvc pipe cut to any length you desire to impede the 15mm depth stop is a very cheap fix...

 

[ScoFF]

I did, 5mm thick wood slice with double stick tape.  But then with face mortising (I was also using the plastic stabilizer) I had to take the shim off since it stuck out and didn't sit flat.    Then put it back on for the edge work.  Unless you did all face joints first, then edge after but I usually don't end up working like that.

Why not just make a 5mm shim to face plate? I think Senco may make something for this.