My (unusual) take on the Domino DF 500...

[Stevenski]

Dear FOGgers

Some of you may be aware that I not so long ago took the plunge and purchased a DF500 (thank you so much for your pre-purchase help, by the way!!)
I have now had some time with it and given a bit of test drive and I "review" it in my new video diary.

Maybe you would be so kind and give me 10 minutes of your time and take a look at what I think of the Domino and how I used it in a way that I haven't seen in any text book

FYI - I am very serious about what I am doing and making even I do not take myself too seriously in the process
Let me know what you think - I am thick-skinned (not really hehe)

Very best!
Stevenski

 

[ChuckS]

Congrats on using your DF500 with great results -- and satisfaction.

Two things came to mind that would help you achieve precision when making vertical plunges:

1) Find a spacer (any scrap) of the same thickness as the work and lay it by the work to enlarge the registration surface for your machine
2) Use the support bracket when making vertical cuts, or better, use an upgraded support bracket for added stability (such as the TSO Bigfoot or a 3D printed bracket (Etsy is one of the sources or anyone who has a 3 D printer) - https://festoolownersgroup.com/thre...domino-that-is-the-question.77064/post-750746

Even though new to the machine, you just proved some naysayers wrong who think the Domino machine isn't worth its weight in gold.

 

[Michael Kellough]

That is a clever use of the Domino. Many people have made stuff from “long Dominos” that they custom made but this is the first use I’ve seen of the fan array.

While it looks like it worked out just fine I think your mortise angles might not be what you expected them to be. This is because the Domino fence did not completely contact the work surface. The base of the machine is proud of the fence when the fence is angled. This makes the angle you get less than the angle the fence is set to. So if you set the fence to 10 degrees the mortise would be about 7 degrees. Your stock is flexible so this discrepancy didn’t prevent the piece from being assembled. To avoid the discrepancy just add a flat shim (about 10mm) to the face of the fence then you can go by the degree increments on the tool.

 

[ChuckS]

That is a clever use of the Domino. Many people have made stuff from “long Dominos” that they custom made but this is the first use I’ve seen of the fan array.

While it looks like it worked out just fine I think your mortise angles might not be what you expected them to be. This is because the Domino fence did not completely contact the work surface. The base of the machine is proud of the fence when the fence is angled. This makes the angle you get less than the angle the fence is set to. So if you set the fence to 10 degrees the mortise would be about 7 degrees. Your stock is flexible so this discrepancy didn’t prevent the piece from being assembled. To avoid the discrepancy just add a flat shim (about 10mm) to the face of the fence then you can go by the degree increments on the tool.

Good point about the angles @Michael Kellough

 

[Stevenski]

Congrats on using your DF500 with great results -- and satisfaction.

Two things came to mind that would help you achieve precision when making vertical plunges:

1) Find a spacer (any scrap) of the same thickness as the work and lay it by the work to enlarge the registration surface for your machine
2) Use the support bracket when making vertical cuts, or better, use an upgraded support bracket for added stability (such as the TSO Bigfoot or a 3D printed bracket (Etsy is one of the sources or anyone who has a 3 D printer) - https://festoolownersgroup.com/thre...domino-that-is-the-question.77064/post-750746

Even though new to the machine, you just proved some naysayers wrong who think the Domino machine isn't worth its weight in gold.

Two excellent pieces of advice, many thanks!

BTW funnily enough that post is from a thread I started last year when I was deliberating whether to get the DF or DFC and was looking for wise advice then also One of my challenges I have set myself is to try 3D printing and I am waiting on a Bambu Lab A1 so I will definitely be giving that support bracket a look in!

Did you print yours yourself?

 

[Stevenski]

While it looks like it worked out just fine I think your mortise angles might not be what you expected them to be. This is because the Domino fence did not completely contact the work surface. The base of the machine is proud of the fence when the fence is angled. This makes the angle you get less than the angle the fence is set to. So if you set the fence to 10 degrees the mortise would be about 7 degrees. Your stock is flexible so this discrepancy didn’t prevent the piece from being assembled. To avoid the discrepancy just add a flat shim (about 10mm) to the face of the fence then you can go by the degree increments on the tool.

Fantastic feedback! Thank you so much - I will take a second look at that to fully understand the nitty-gritty of the point you are making. But for sure you are right and I "got away with it" this time, it seems...

again, many thanks for the great advice!

 

[ChuckS]

Two excellent pieces of advice, many thanks!

BTW funnily enough that post is from a thread I started last year when I was deliberating whether to get the DF or DFC and was looking for wise advice then also One of my challenges I have set myself is to try 3D printing and I am waiting on a Bambu Lab A1 so I will definitely be giving that support bracket a look in!

Did you print yours yourself?

Oh, you own that thread! A woodworking buddy's bro printed it along with the DF500 handle for me ($20 Cdn each). He also printed these lateral spacers for me: https://festoolownersgroup.com/threads/festool-domino-lateral-offset-spacers.76821/post-742585