Talk Me Out of Returning the Domino 500 - Not happy with it

[grbmds]

Glad to hear to hear things worked out. My Woodcraft Festool dealer in Norfolk, VA - And now my current one in Colorado Springs, CO - Have both been great to work with. I've bought a lot of Festool products - And love 'em.

The cost of the Domino wasn't the deciding issue. I like to collect and use good tools. And... Festool = Money well spent.
But after reading some of the "Domino difficulties", I decided to "pass" on this Festool product.

It also wasn't the "learning curve". I have/use a Leigh FMT Pro Mortise & Tenon Jig (and Leigh's D4R Pro Dovetail Jig) - Anyone will tell you that they both have a significant "learning curve" (and both are expensive).
I also have/use: A DowelMax, a Kreg K3 Pocket Hole Jig, and a Porter-Cable 557 Plate (Biscuit) Joiner.
I use whichever jig/tool is best for the joinery project at hand. And all of them give me great results.

But... I'm a hobbiest - Who enjoys the "process" - And making tight fitting joints - Resulting in cabinets and furniture -
For my home and family - Versus "the need for speed" of professional tradesmen.
I "get" the professional's "time is money" thinking. The Festool Domino looks like a great tool - For them.
But it's not for me. I'll spend that $1,000+ on some other great Festool product.

Sounds like you made a smart decision. I don't believe there is much a learning curve on the Domino, however. I took mine out of the box, cut 4 test slots, and the result was perfect. I can't say that every Domino out of the box is perfectly calibrated, but mine was. At one point, I decided to try to adjust the cursor a minute amount and, fortunately, I was able to get it back to the original because I could not get it better myself. Since then I have cut and Dominoed 2 drawers for a shop table. While I have not yet glued them together the dry fit was perfect. For me, there was no learning curve. I also have FMT and found that much more difficult to use and get up and running. In fact, it is still a purchase I wish I had not made given how little I've used it. The Domino, on the other hand, was a piece of cake.