Rumor mill says new Domino on the (far off?) horizon - what would you hope for?

[bwehman]

It's hard for me to think of how they can be improved, but curious to see what you all might be hoping to see on a domino revision.

 

[ChuckM]

I can think of a few things for the DF500 (in random order):

- Improved cutting depth, but not as deep as the DF700 (I call it a DF600)
- Better switch
- Better/bigger support bracket (no plastic!)
- Built-in LED
- Multiple reference stops like those in the DF700
- Narrower middle width setting
- Handle added for pushing

-

 

[gharel]

Where did you hear these rumors?
I think a cordless option is an obvious upgrade, especially given they're really pushing cordless hard

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

 

[bwehman]

I think a cordless option is an obvious upgrade, especially given they're really pushing cordless hard

The domino doesn't really strike me as a job-site tool. I've only ever used it in the shop environment, never felt the need to take into the field. Wonder if others do?

 

[ChuckM]

The cord isn't an issue for me, and the hose is more a burden, if you can call it a burden.

I want a lighter Domino machine, so even if a cordless version was available, that wouldn't be my choice.

 

[Sheik Maboutie]

My choice

Turn off the wiggle
LED light

 

[usernumber1]

by far my biggest beef is ergonomics

then the overall toy-like fence

then maybe some sort of rail attachment

cordless yea why not if it's lighter only

the bigfoot base shows there's a market, maybe they can address that

some sort of domino stand / dock so you bring the workpiece instead.
radical idea: motorized plunge??

 

[usernumber1]

My choice

Turn off the wiggle
LED light

if you turn off the wiggle, it becomes a dowel machine?

or maybe a 5mm lr32 boring machine? 6mm shelf pins?

 

[Birdhunter]

I think the only change would to make the 500 in the 700 form factor. Basically, a smaller 700. A battery would just make it heavy.

 

[squall_line]

I think the only change would to make the 500 in the 700 form factor. Basically, a smaller 700. A battery would just make it heavy.

The Lamello Zeta P2 corded is listed as 3.7 kg, the cordless P2 is listed as 3.7 kg with the 4.0 Ah battery and 4.1 kg with a 5.5 Ah battery.  Cordless doesn't have to be appreciably heavier.

I agree on the form factor of the 700 (depth stops, width adjuster, fence, handle) feeling quite superior to the 500, other than the overall weight.  Using the DF 500 and then the MFK 700 makes you realize how similar some of the tooling is for the various offerings within the product platform...

 

[rmhinden]

I think the only change would to make the 500 in the 700 form factor. Basically, a smaller 700. A battery would just make it heavy.

That is my thought as well. 

One of the reasons I got the 700 was that it seemed like it was improved in several ways in addition to the larger size.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if they just kept the externals the same and updated the inside based on improvements in motors, manufacturability, etc.   

Bob

 

[gunnyr]

I think a cordless option is an obvious upgrade, especially given they're really pushing cordless hard

The domino doesn't really strike me as a job-site tool. I've only ever used it in the shop environment, never felt the need to take into the field. Wonder if others do?

The Domino is ABSOLUTELY a job site tool!  I use it to assemble casing and other trim elements whenever the profile allows (interior and exterior).  Keeps everything nice and flush.  Fantastic for attaching cabinet spacers and scribes.  I often use it with pocket screws so I don't have to wait for the glue to dry.

IMHO the whole idea of the Festool System is to bring shop level precision to the jobsite.  The most basic principle of the system is to bring the tool to the work; that doesn't just refer to bringing the tool to the material, but truly to bring the tool to where the work is.

 

[Coen]

Improved "foot" (495666)

Sturdier dust extraction port that doesn't give the idea that it might break at the next hose connection / disconnection.

 

[Svar]

I think a cordless option is an obvious upgrade, especially given they're really pushing cordless hard

Domino can't be used without dust extraction. Since you have a hose anyway, power cord doesn't make much difference. Cordless would require some kind of built in blower to clear the mortice.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Since there have been rumors, I would seriously doubt that it's way too late for anything we would say to have any influence. By the time anyone outside gets wind of it, the design is done.

I too would like to see some more depth of cut, but it would mean new bits too. That might be a sticking point?
The switch should be easy enough. The thing is already so similar to the MFK700, so why not that one?
Back to the pins, rather than paddles, multiple would be nice too.
No battery, just adds to the weight/complication

I'm not so sure about a light? where would you want it to shine?

 

[jeh]

The domino bits are round so maybe the ability to do dowels. No to discuss which is stronger as it has been done over 100's of time. There a places a larger dowel would fit versus a smaller dowel especially on smaller pieces.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.

I'm not so sure about a light? where would you want it to shine?

I think I can answer that: The LED is incredibly useful to me when I position the machine using the sight gauge against a placement line:

[attachimg=1]

My shop-made LED works, but once the battery is gone, the battery can't be replaced.

 

[ChuckM]

When I say handle, I don't mean the kind of handle used in the DF700. I don't like it at all, nor its weight. I have to wrap all my fingers around the handle and squeeze and push at the same time, which plus the weight, can be torturous for my physique if I'm milling half an hour long. 

By handle, I'm thinking of a hand plane handle with which I can push using the palm of my hand (my fingers won't get tired):

[attachimg=1]

 

[squall_line]

Snip.

I'm not so sure about a light? where would you want it to shine?

I think I can answer that: The LED is incredibly useful to me when I position the machine using the sight gauge against a placement line:

[attachimg=1]

My shop-made LED works, but once the battery is gone, the battery can't be replaced.

This, a hundred times.

I can't tell you how many times I had to re-position my body or my KAL-II to get light where I could see a placement line.  I feel like the Zeta is better in this regard, but I'd have to pull them both out again to know for sure.

I DO know that using a line can be a huge pain depending on whether it's an end plunge or a face plunge. I can never remember which one needs a long line and which can use a line right at the cut; I think it depends on whether you're using the "foot" or not as well.

 

[smorgasbord]

As discussed, the obvious first thing is to make a DF600 that sits between the DF500 and DF700. I once posted that this would be the equivalent of making a ⅜" socket set. Yes, you can cover everything with a ¼" socket set and a ½" socket set, but you'll find that 90% of the time the ⅜" covers what you need and is just the right ratchet size in your hand.

My personal recommendation for sizing:
Bit Diameters: 5, 6, 8, 10, 12mm (lose the 4mm and 14mm sizes) Push comes to shove, lose the 5mm too.
Dit Depths: 12mm - 50mm. The deeper option isn't just for bigger joints, it's also to enable using dominos for real strength on cope and stick joinery in ¾" stock. Festool will have to work out how to lock out the deepest depths for the 5mm & 6mm bits.

Festool made a number of improvements in the DF700, which came out after the DF500, that I'd like to see also incorporated in a DF600:

• D-Handle
• Fence design of the DF700 is overall better.
• Fence height markings should be like the DF700 - Actual distance from cutter centerline to fence, not the DF500's stock thickness markings, which screw you up if you're not putting mortises in the center of the stock.
• Note also that the DF700's use of a step wedge for height stops enables aftermarket/self-made 3D printed replacements for things like custom offsets or imperial offsets. This is cool.
• DF700 depth adjustments include a Minimum and a Maximum Limit. This is really handy for right angle joints where you can't go as deep into the face as into the edge, or just for offset dominos in special purpose joints (like chair joints).
• The stop pin setup on the DF700 has more options than the DF500.

I'm torn on having the 3 slot widths - I don't miss that on my DF700, but others might.

Finally, as someone suggested, while there have been some really clever mounting jigs for Dominos (ranging Ramon's vertical Dock to the inverted table mounting that Woodpecker's copied), it would be good for Festool to think about angled joinery and small piece joinery and come up with something better than the Narrow Frame Fence thingie.