Unapologetic Blatant Sales Pitch for Domino

[Oso Rojo]

I used my Domino 500 for the first time this morning. My local dealer was helpful and worked out a deal for me to get it early. Tomorrow is the official start anyway. So that's no longer an issue.

My buddy needed a simple face frame for some built in spaces on a room he is remodeling. Noting fancy, but the joints must be right.

I don't have my domino assortment with cutters yet, please let's hope this is not another tool shortage like the MFTs! So I used the 5mm bit that came with the unit and put two domino's at each joint. The rails are rather thick at 3.75" so I wanted more support.

I didn't even bother with any of the alignment jigs, I just worked on pencil marks. It took about 90 seconds to cut the 16 slots I needed and I was done!

Alignment? I couldn't ask for better! It won't even take a full finish sanding to have these absolutely flush.

Was it worth it? Can it really do what it says? Is it a game changer? YES to all of these!

If you are on the fence about switching from biscuits or pocket holes, then make the jump. Take advantage of May's sale and move into the new paragon of jointing!

Bernie Hunt

 

[Kev]

I think you're preaching to the converted on this forum [wink] [big grin]

 

[sgt_rjp]

I'm still struggling with the decision.  I've got a DD40 dual doweler.  It's nice because in a small package, I can not only do joinery, but also drill shelf pin holes.  But, I really want a DF700 and the Lamello Zeta. It's just hard to justify them as a hobbyist.  I'd like to take advantage of the domino sale, but already having the doweler, it probably makes more sense getting the Lamello for knock-down stuff.

 

[jacko9]

I'm still struggling with the decision.  I've got a DD40 dual doweler.  It's nice because in a small package, I can not only do joinery, but also drill shelf pin holes.  But, I really want a DF700 and the Lamello Zeta. It's just hard to justify them as a hobbyist.  I'd like to take advantage of the domino sale, but already having the doweler, it probably makes more sense getting the Lamello for knock-down stuff.

In my long experience in woodworking the most frequent joint failures in furniture is in dowel joints.  The book by Bruce Howley "Understanding Wood" explains the limitations of dowel joinery in the expansion/contraction of the wooden dowel over time.

The Domino joiner is a far superior tool and yields great Mortise and Tenon joints that have been stood the test of time as a superior joining technique.

Jack

 

[Dan Clark]

Bernie,

You're definitely preachin' to the choir.  It's a great tool for Pros, but an even better tool for amateurs.  Pros can get decent with almost any tool because of better skills and knowledge.  Amateurs like me, with less skills and knowledge, can still get great results using the Domino. 

I've had my DF500 since it first came out.  Excellent tool!

Dan.

 

[adsjoin]

I used my Domino 500 for the first time this morning. My local dealer was helpful and worked out a deal for me to get it early. Tomorrow is the official start anyway. So that's no longer an issue.

My buddy needed a simple face frame for some built in spaces on a room he is remodeling. Noting fancy, but the joints must be right.

I don't have my domino assortment with cutters yet, please let's hope this is not another tool shortage like the MFTs! So I used the 5mm bit that came with the unit and put two domino's at each joint. The rails are rather thick at 3.75" so I wanted more support.

I didn't even bother with any of the alignment jigs, I just worked on pencil marks. It took about 90 seconds to cut the 16 slots I needed and I was done!

Alignment? I couldn't ask for better! It won't even take a full finish sanding to have these absolutely flush.

Was it worth it? Can it really do what it says? Is it a game changer? YES to all of these!

If you are on the fence about switching from biscuits or pocket holes, then make the jump. Take advantage of May's sale and move into the new paragon of jointing!

Bernie Hunt

Id kinda already made my mind up to get the 500 but with a review like that I think it'll be time sooner, rather than later in making the purchase
This green bug is killing me :/

 

[Roseland]

I got mine (a DF 500) last Thursday, but didn't get a chance to play with it until Sunday.  Yesterday I used it for the first time "in anger" and it is awesome.  I've had a biscuit jointer for years and thought the Domino would be a bit better, but it's altogether a different tool.

Andrew

 

[upscale]

I got mine (a DF 500) last Thursday, but didn't get a chance to play with it until Sunday.  Yesterday I used it for the first time "in anger" and it is awesome.  I've had a biscuit jointer for years and thought the Domino would be a bit better, but it's altogether a different tool.

Your next thought (down the road) after you've used your Domino for awhile, will be to sell off your biscuit joiner. But, you'll struggle mightily with that decision. I had a middle of the road biscuit joiner and a box of 2000 biscuits. Once I started using my Domino, the biscuit joiner was completely forgotten.

It was two years after I bought the Domino that I went looking for another tool and happened upon the biscuit joiner. Must of had 1/2" of dust on it. Wiped it off and put it and the box of biscuits up for sale ~ $50.00 which was less than the cost of the biscuits themselves. Enough money for a 24 case of beer and I never looked back.  

My father once told me: You NEVER sell your tools. I followed that rule religiously for a number of years until the Domino came along and the biscuit joiner went into the halls of history. Sure wish my dad was still around so I could show him the Domino.  

 

[PaulMarcel]

If I had to give up all my Festools but one, I'd keep the Domino without question.  I'd be grumpy as hell about having to give up the others, but some solace in still having the Domino.

 

[Kev]

If I had to give up all my Festools but one, I'd keep the Domino without question.  I'd be grumpy as heck about having to give up the others, but some solace in still having the Domino.

you mean more grumpy [big grin]

 

[eddomak]

I am a DIY'er and have owned the DF500 for around 6 weeks now and did a relatively simple frech-cleat hanging melamine cabinets (6 of them) project.  I would have been using solely pocket holes in the past, but splashed out on the Domino as an investment. Wow - I had so much fun and it was so precise! As mentioned on another thread these two methods really compliment one another well. Dominos for alignment (and additional strength), and pocket holes for clamping.

Last night I assembled another identical carcass using pocket holes only as a quick knock-up model and it was so much harder to ensure correct alignment without the dominos keeping everything in place. To prevent the 90 degree joins from moving in any way at all when driving in the pocket hole screw I needed to resort back to using a Kreg 90 degree clamp on one end, and a quick clamp as a stop block on the end I was screwing in. Gee did I notice how much easier it was with dominos and was glad this was only a mock-up (due to some shifts). All the production cabinets were perfectly aligned with minimal effort.

Another wholehearted recommendation from me.

 

[Ted Miller]

In my long experience in woodworking the most frequent joint failures in furniture in in dowel joints. 

This is by far the most repairs I do on both furniture and cabinets is due to dowel failures. Most of time I see that there is very little to no glue at all on either end of the dowel. Particle board does not help either in these situations. I fix them all with dominos and yet to have a call back that the domino failed.

I fix many kitchen drawers as well, I try to use the through dominos for the applications that allow it...

 

[pugilato]

Well, I got a birthday coming up and Social Security right after... I think I'm going to jump in. That and a nice project that I just bid.

 

[JonSchuck]

I used my Domino 500 for the first time this morning. My local dealer was helpful and worked out a deal for me to get it early. Tomorrow is the official start anyway. So that's no longer an issue.

A couple of years ago my dealer told me about letting a customer have a tool the day before he was supposed to.  Festool found out and were not amused.  Seems like he said they threatened to take his dealership away.  Also, I think his was a new tool release and not just a tool going on sale.  Just saying, I hope you didn't get your dealer in trouble.

 

[Oso Rojo]

Just saying, I hope you didn't get your dealer in trouble.

I doubt that will happen. I was standing there when he called his Festool rep and they worked out how to do it. The bottom line was I could have purchased the tool, used it for a week and then returned it under the 30 day rule. Then immediately purchase the tool again under the sale pricing. If I did that then Festool is stuck with a used tool they can't sell as new anymore and I still get the good price. So they worked out some kind of deal. No was Festool can come after the dealer without having to punish one of their own.

 

[JonSchuck]

Just saying, I hope you didn't get your dealer in trouble.

I doubt that will happen. I was standing there when he called his Festool rep and they worked out how to do it. The bottom line was I could have purchased the tool, used it for a week and then returned it under the 30 day rule. Then immediately purchase the tool again under the sale pricing. If I did that then Festool is stuck with a used tool they can't sell as new anymore and I still get the good price. So they worked out some kind of deal. No was Festool can come after the dealer without having to punish one of their own.

That's makes sense.  You kind of had them over a barrel.  Much different than the release of a new tool.

Glad your new Domino works so good for you right out of the box.  I've had mine for a few years now.  I figure if you have it calibrated correctly and have the right technique everything should line up perfectly when assembled.  For me, occasionally they do.  On other occasions I have to resort to foul language and 40 grit Rubin.  On other occasions the slot ends up in entirely the wrong place, which  baffles me, because I know I would never have put it there!  I'm thinking voodoo.