How 'bout this-Mine BROKE

[maxrpierce]

Yep,
Broke- Ten minutes (is it even legal to talk about this)

 

[Les]

What broke? ???

 

[ejantny]

Yes!! Please let us know what happened.

 

[maxrpierce]

OK- just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to get bleeped for negative news.
Anyway the story is I had it out Friday night and drill / cut two mortises. This morning, after a few stupid questions to this owners group, I open the systainer, set the domino on my bench to reach over to plug in the hose and power chord- I hear what sounded like a screw or something hit the concrete floor ( you know the sound, a faint ting) looked on the floor and nothing had fallen so I continued on. Messed around setting the depth, height etc. and when I tried to set the miter angle (or whatever it is called) the locking lever would just spin and not catch--after examination I realize the pin inside the mechanism was broken-Heart broken I tried to call Festool no luck Saturday I guess. So I race off to Woodcraft, where I bought it to compare with theirs- sure enough broke.
Not that I am worried about convincing anyone but that is how it happened-no misuse or overtightening of any kind.
I am hoping for a return call from Festool I am dying to know if this is common problem or I am just (un)lucky!  P.S. It still a great tool!

 

[ejantny]

Being the one at Woodcraft was broken is proof enough you did nothing wrong. Return yours to Woodcraft and point out thier demo is also broken. Check the replacement one that it is in good working order.

 

[maxrpierce]

NO no no I am sorry I am a much better craftsman than a writer- Theirs was NOT broken- Where the part was located I couldn't tell mine was for sure until compared with theirs. Sorry again for my poor wording.

 

[sroxberg]

I believe in one of the many reviews I've read they warned about overtightening one of the adjustments, either height or angle don't remember which.

Both Woodcraft and Festool offer no questions asked returns, I'd return it and buy another if they have it.

 

[maxrpierce]

I haven't seen that review but makes me nervous that they may have a problem if you read that.
The troubling thing for me is I was caressing this thing like the piece of gold that it costs- if I over tightened taking it out of the systainer there will be many more coming back.
BTW my local Woodcraft took great care of me and I thank them again-
I think I am so shocked because although I do not own all the
Festool line but all that I do own have operated flawlessly- maybe I am spoiled

 

[woodshopdemos]

I haven't seen that review but makes me nervous that they may have a problem if you read that.

  I don't think they have a problem. One Domino Joiner has an over-tightened screw. You will have it replaced and/or fixed before you even have all the sympathy notes in. I never like product "failures" but I do not think that it warrants an all points "mayday."

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I open the systainer, set the domino on my bench to reach over to plug in the hose and power chord- I hear what sounded like a screw or something hit the concrete floor ( you know the sound, a faint ting) looked on the floor and nothing had fallen so I continued on. Messed around setting the depth, height etc. and when I tried to set the miter angle (or whatever it is called) the locking lever would just spin and not catch--after examination I realize the pin inside the mechanism was broken

I believe in one of the many reviews I've read they warned about overtightening one of the adjustments, either height or angle don't remember which.

Sroxberg may have been reading the review at http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=28038 which reports that a part fell off their machine and another part broke.

We had one problem with the fence. One of its pivot pins dropped out and had to be re-inserted and tightened.

Worse, though, part of the clamping mechanism broke. With lots of people using the tool in our shop, we can't say the broken part wasn't the result of user error. Still, close examination of the break reveals a thin cast section that must withstand considerable pressure if the fence is overtightened. Festool replaced the front half of the machine, and there have been no problems since.

Bottom line: Don't overtighten the clamp handles on the fence; they don't require much pressure.

Since he heard something drop to the floor, I'm wondering whether maxrpierce's problem is the result of a missing part rather than a broken part.

Forrest

 

[maxrpierce]

The review mentioned above sounds just like my problem!
In retrospect I think the "sound " was this part snapping, there was no parts missing or on the floor. At Woodcraft, comparing to another we could see from below a portion of the locking mech. broke into two.
John, I love my Festools and in no way am trying to make an "all points mayday" but if as mentioned in the review" With lots of people using the tool in our shop, we can't say the broken part wasn't the result of user error. " if all those people lined up and swore to no misuse I certainly would believe them for I know how gentle I was with my new investment.
I hope you are right, we will see..

 

[Tinker]

Before i had had the chance to actually see a Domino close up, i had read the same review from FWW.  When i did get the chance to see and actually handle a real live D, i kept the review in mind and was very careful not to over tighten any of the handscrew knobs and levers.  Believe me, my fingers just do not exert the super human forces they useter.  if i need tight, i have always in my pocket a small pair of channel-lock pliers for such emergencies.  i call it my "Majic Thumb".  Anyhow, as i played around with the toy, and still not convinced it should find its way into my shop, I did not actually try running it, but just played around with the controls and feel for operating.  Sort of what I call, Dummy Runs.  I tried every operation i could think of without actually making noise.  i tried, after finger tightening, applying pressures in every direction immaginable, to make the plates move out of allignment.  I am sure that with first use, any inexperienced operator will put unnecessary force in unexpected directions.  I tried, knowing full well, and i agree with the theory, that "you broke it, you bought it".  well, the only thing that broke was my willpower.  When i finally quit playing, i made the purchases i had come for, got in my truck, headed straight home and got right to work on my IRS responsibilities.  I needed to know what i owe them/or they owe me before i can break down completely. 
Moral:  I am, personally,  not really concerned about a breakage problem.
Tinker

 

[Lou Miller]

Before i had had the chance to actually see a Domino close up, i had read the same review from FWW.  When i did get the chance to see and actually handle a real live D, i kept the review in mind and was very careful not to over tighten any of the handscrew knobs and levers.  Believe me, my fingers just do not exert the super human forces they useter.  if i need tight, i have always in my pocket a small pair of channel-lock pliers for such emergencies.  i call it my "Majic Thumb".  Anyhow, as i played around with the toy, and still not convinced it should find its way into my shop, I did not actually try running it, but just played around with the controls and feel for operating.  Sort of what I call, Dummy Runs.  I tried every operation i could think of without actually making noise.  i tried, after finger tightening, applying pressures in every direction immaginable, to make the plates move out of allignment.  I am sure that with first use, any inexperienced operator will put unnecessary force in unexpected directions.  I tried, knowing full well, and i agree with the theory, that "you broke it, you bought it".  well, the only thing that broke was my willpower.  When i finally quit playing, i made the purchases i had come for, got in my truck, headed straight home and got right to work on my IRS responsibilities.  I needed to know what i owe them/or they owe me before i can break down completely. 
Moral:  I am, personally,  not really concerned about a breakage problem.
Tinker

This whole thing worries me. Unlike you, Tinker, I over tighten everything. Not intentionally, but I do. I've been told that I have hands like a gorilla. I actually had one popular clamp manufacturer send me an updated version of a set of their clamps. They wanted to see if I could break them. They redid them really well, beefed them up considerably. I broke them anyway... I'm planning or ordering a Domino later this week. Its not that I'm concerend over whether Festool would make things right, cause I know they will. Its just that I'd rather not deal with the inconvenience of something breaking. That's why I started buying Festool in the first place. The fact that FWW had a problem and now Max has basically the same problem after only one day, I'm a little bit worried. Hopefully this is just an isolated thing, and not a wide spread problem. Cause if there's a flaw in the design, I'm sure I'll find it.

 

[Tinker]

As i said, my hands ain't what they useter be.  I am sure that by the time I (and maybe a few others) have decided finances will allow us to make the jump, you will have confirmed or disposed of any doubts. 
Tinker

 

[Forrest Anderson]

In retrospect I think the "sound " was this part snapping, there was no parts missing or on the floor. At Woodcraft, comparing to another we could see from below a portion of the locking mech. broke into two.

Would you be able to identify the part that broke? An illustrated spare parts list is available from www.festool.co.uk (choose "Spare parts List" in the menu at the left-hand side, then choose "Routing" and then "DOMINO joining machine" and lastly "493908 - DF 500 Q GB"). I've taken the liberty of combining the relevant portion of the diagram and the corresponding list of parts and displaying it below. For actual photographs of the Domino's adjusting mechanism, check out pages 7, 8, 11 and 19 of Rick's excellent manual at http://festool.home.att.net/

Forrest

 

 

[mysterium]

Lou Miller said....

"This whole thing worries me. Unlike you, Tinker, I over tighten everything. Not intentionally, but I do. I've been told that I have hands like a gorilla."

Note to forum about Lou Miller...

He thinks a 22 oz steak & a 6 pack of beer is a meal... a Skil worm drive is a "one handed saw"... 

Based on some of Lou's descriptions of things on this & other forums.... it seems the line from the Jimmy Buffet song about "he's a Kodak fellow about 19 feet tall..." fits Lou.

I'd say it would be a good idea for Festool to send tools to Lou for testing to get his "Lou L" approval....  'cause if it passes... it will surely work for us "little guys". 

jim

 

[Lou Miller]

Jim,

I'm really not a very big guy. 6'-2", 215lbs. Bigger than average, but I'm not a linebacker. Strong Safety maybe, but not a linebacker...

I just have unusually strong hands.

BTW I like at least 24 oz. steaks, 22 oz. doesn't get it done.  ;D

 

[Jerry Work]

Let's be sure this does not get blown out of proportion.  I think the appropriate question to ask is, "out of a production run of X, how many experienced a problem with a broken Y?"  If that is a relatively large number then a redesign is in order.  If that is a really small number then the no questions asked return policy is the right response.  My $.02 anyway.

Jerry

I open the systainer, set the domino on my bench to reach over to plug in the hose and power chord- I hear what sounded like a screw or something hit the concrete floor ( you know the sound, a faint ting) looked on the floor and nothing had fallen so I continued on. Messed around setting the depth, height etc. and when I tried to set the miter angle (or whatever it is called) the locking lever would just spin and not catch--after examination I realize the pin inside the mechanism was broken

I believe in one of the many reviews I've read they warned about overtightening one of the adjustments, either height or angle don't remember which.

Sroxberg may have been reading the review at http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=28038 which reports that a part fell off their machine and another part broke.

We had one problem with the fence. One of its pivot pins dropped out and had to be re-inserted and tightened.

Worse, though, part of the clamping mechanism broke. With lots of people using the tool in our shop, we can't say the broken part wasn't the result of user error. Still, close examination of the break reveals a thin cast section that must withstand considerable pressure if the fence is overtightened. Festool replaced the front half of the machine, and there have been no problems since.

Bottom line: Don't overtighten the clamp handles on the fence; they don't require much pressure.

Since he heard something drop to the floor, I'm wondering whether maxrpierce's problem is the result of a missing part rather than a broken part.

Forrest

 

[pteubel]

A 22 oz. steak is just one PART of a meal...

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Let's be sure this does not get blown out of proportion.  I think the appropriate question to ask is, "out of a production run of X, how many experienced a problem with a broken Y?"  If that is a relatively large number then a redesign is in order.  If that is a really small number then the no questions asked return policy is the right response.  My $.02 anyway.

I've no problem with that approach at all. The Domino has been available in European and Australian markets for some time, and the only problems with the machine that I ever remember reading about have been the two instances mentioned earlier in the thread. It doesn't make me at all concerned, but the engineer in me would still like to identify the precise piece that broke, so that if I do get a Domino one day, I can keep my eye on it.  So far I've only handled one at a woodworking show, but I was extremely impressed with the fit and finish of it.

Forrest