Pricing an older DF500 for sale

[Nbrauer]

I'm looking for help pricing an older but never used Domino DF 500. I bought it and accompanying tenon and cutter kit and a few attachments as part of an estate sale lot of Festool goodies. I already have a Domino so I'm going to sell this one. I'm a little unsure of how it should be priced because it's older. I'm unsure of the age, but it has the old style Systainers. I'm also a little unsure of how much to discount the price because the previous owner labeled the Sustainers with his initials and color (bright yellow). Thankfully I was able to remove the paint from the tool and cord, but I'm afraid that anything that would dissolve the paint would damage the ABS boxes. I'm thinking $900 for the lot, but not sure how to price given the age and defaced Systainers. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ChuckS]

I'd set it to about 60 to 70% of the current retail price. The asking has to be lower than that of the 100th anniversary kit.

However, since Festool is releasing the new DF500 (new fence and base) and a cordless version, I'd discount the price further if there's little response. Ultimately, the price you can get depends on how knowledgeable your potential buyer base is. If they don't know anything about the new release, they may think a 30% off is good deal.

 

[Nbrauer]

Thanks. That's pretty much the math I used to arrive at $900. $1355 for took, $343 for the tenons and cutters.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Out of curiosity, is the fence a pin fence or paddle fence?

 

[luvmytoolz]

If it's a very old DF500 it might have the slipping/misaligned fence issue, which might possibly present an issue selling it for what you want. Others will likely chime in but I'll see if I can find the original thread.

 

[Dr. P. Venkman]

Out of curiosity, is the fence a pin fence or paddle fence?

The picture in the systainer lid shows the old metal pins. (I would hope they fixed the picture when they switched to the paddles, but maybe not).

 

[Neil Lickfold]

An older one sold in NZ yesterday for $1200 NZD. It was from the mid 2000's as it had the metal pins, and was also 110v-120V tool. Out here we are 240v 50hz, so the machine on a transformer will be 20% less rpm. Meanwhile, another is for sale from 2006, it has not sold, and they are wanting $1900 for it. I think for a used item it is over priced at $1900 and should be close to $1400 NZD. This one is NZ new, not from the USA/Canada market with the starter Domino set and Systainer and has been used by a hobbyist since 2006. It also has the metal pins, so is also most likely the model that slips on the fence mechanism. They may have had this one fixed , I don't know.
This DF500, looks to being the same with the metal pins, Picture on the systainer is showing metal pins, and the most likely slipping fence model. It looks like the one with the slipping fence to me.
Without being in this group, would never have known about the slipping fence situation on the Domino machines. My guess is it is worth 50% of the new price in your area. It will need to be looked at to see if it has the fence locking fix or is the earlier model that slips.

 

[Nbrauer]

Thanks! I'm getting so much good information from everyone! Do you know if there's a way to check if it has the fence locking/alignment issue without actually using it? Obviously, one of the selling points is that it's never touched wood, so I'd rather not do any rigorous testing.

 

[Nbrauer]

The picture in the systainer lid shows the old metal pins. (I would hope they fixed the picture when they switched to the paddles, but maybe not).

Sorry I thought I replied (new to this forum) it has the pins. When did they switch? My "old" one was purchased in 2019 and it has the paddles.

 

[Cheese]

When did they switch? My "old" one was purchased in 2019 and it has the paddles.

In late 2009 they introduced the paddles.

 

[PaulMarcel]

I have the pin fence and the paddle fence (one Domino, two fences). Maybe because I started on the pin fence, I greatly prefer it. The only benefit of the paddle is being able to lock them inside the fence. I, too, had the issue with fence drifting, but it resolved itself on its own. Don't know if I somehow improved my technique to avoid the problem or if the bite of the fence lock stopped slipping. Probably nothing some swipes of P600 couldn't fix right from the start.

 

[onocoffee]

While the tool has never been used, I don't think that's as ideal of a situation as one that has been used but was well-kept by its owner. It's a mechanical piece of equipment and it's been sitting for (ostensibly) 18 years. Like a car that's been sitting, I'd be concerned that seals and lubricants may have dried and maybe rust or corrosion may have occurred with the internals. I would not be willing to consider paying $900 for an 18 year old tool (presuming that this is a first-generation tool - which the classic systainer suggests) that is well out of warranty and who knows how much it might cost to send it in to Festool for service work should there be a problem. To my mind, $600 would be the absolute most I would consider paying.

That said, price flexibility will depend on the buyer and their knowledge about the Domino (or Festool, in general). Some positives are that it is a very clean example and the systainers look to be in great shape. The tenons look to be in good condition, but we recently had a poster complaining about swelling tenons, so that might be an issue with 18 year old tenons. The tool probably has the locating pins versus the current flaps - but some users seem to prefer the pins, so that could be a plus for some buyers.

I realize that my position is starkly different that the others, but I've spent the past year wading through quite a bit of used Festool offers. I think most sellers are unrealistic with their prices and the people who are paying some of the asking prices just don't know enough thinking that any amount off of MSRP must be a "deal".

But you want to get the most bang for your buck, so price it as others have suggested and see what you can get. Someone out there will probably think it's a great deal. If interest is mild, consider your cost. You said you got it as an estate sale, so I presume you got it for a song. If it doesn't move quickly, be open to offers. Consider your actual cost and if an offer comes that gives you a decent return on that cost, sell it to them. You get a good return and that buyer gets a good deal.

And I agree with ChuckS - the new, cordless Domino is coming. You probably want to sell this one ASAP, because if I were in the market now considering a new DF500, it would be for the cordless.

Good Hunting!

 

[ChuckS]

As I indicated in my previous post, the final price you can get depends a lot on who is seeing your ad. I've seen people paying outrageous prices for old tools because they didn't do their home work.

If yours is a pin machine, it might sell for less, depending on whether the potential buyer knows about its two problems (a - you can't hold the pins in a retracted position and b - its fence can drift). The only good thing about the pins is that they're useful if you want to use the pin to register against a previous milled mortise.

So, set the price to about 60% or so; reset it to 50% if you're not getting any serious responses. Unless you're in a hurry to sell it, why start with a low offer?

 

[ChuckS]

While the tool has never been used, I don't think that's as ideal of a situation as one that has been used but was well-kept by its owner. It's a mechanical piece of equipment and it's been sitting for (ostensibly) 18 years. Like a car that's been sitting, I'd be concerned that seals and lubricants may have dried and maybe rust or corrosion may have occurred with the internals. I would not be willing to consider paying $900 for an 18 year old tool (presuming that this is a first-generation tool - which the classic systainer suggests) that is well out of warranty and who knows how much it might cost to send it in to Festool for service work should there be a problem. To my mind, $600

And I agree with ChuckS - the new, cordless Domino is coming. You probably want to sell this one ASAP, because if I were in the market now considering a new DF500, it would be for the cordless.

Good Hunting!

$600 should be of appeal to someone who has waited and waited to lay their hands on the machine. I have never come across fence drifts because mine is the paddles not pins. But I'm sure I could fashion something to fix it if it were in my hands.

The new corded machine's base has four retractable pins (the kind in the DF700), which are superior to the paddles and pins. I'd definitely wait for its release....

It's possible Festool will soon reduce the price of its current DF500 (by 15% to 20%?) to get rid of inventory to pave way for the new corded and cordless machines. If that's the case or a major concern, the op has a reason to sell his new but old style of DF500 soonest.

 

[Vtshopdog]

A quick eBay "sold Item" search shows used DF-500's going for $900-$1100, mostly for the tool with cutter sets. To me, eBay sets a national price, pure invisible hand supply and demand and shows the market price for an item. Of course if you sell there they will take about 12-15% cut once you're done with fees.

None of above had the accessories or tenon systainer you have with yours so my thought is $900 for everything would sell very fast and you can likely get a bit more and buyer should still be happy.

Citrus degreaser and some mild abrasive fibertex likely would safely remove the paint.

LOL:
Maybe we should all chip in and buy it for Packard and he can retire his Dowling jig???

 

[ChuckS]

And then he'll also truly understand and appreciate why sometimes his comments on the domino machine might be a little off!

 

[smorgasbord]

I still think our Domino indexing nomenclature is confusing. I've proposed:

S

Post in thread 'Welp. The battery powered Domino is a real thing I guess.'

Jul 16, 2025

not pins like my DF700

OK, terminology. There are 3 versions:

A) Original DF500 (what I call "pins"):


B) Later DF500 (what I call "flaps"):


C) DF700 and now cordless DF500/latest DF500 (what I call "paddles"):



If you want to call "C" as "pins," then what do you call "A"?

• smorgasbord

But I guess people don't mind confusing pins with pins. As in "early pins" versus "DF700 style pins."

 

[ChuckS]

My official Festool manual refers to the paddles on my DF500 as "[2.8] Stop latch[es]," while Lee Valley Tools uses "spring stops" for them.

My Supplemental manual uses "T1 Locating Pins" for the pins." (The Supplemental manual for the DF700 uses the same term for the pins on the DF700; I don't have any official Festool DF700 manual.) I refer to the pins on the DF700 as retractable pins and the pins on the older DF500 as pins.

Is there a version of the Supplemental Manual on the current DF500 that is equipped with the stop latches?