Used Domino buying advise

P

PeterMike

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Joined
Nov 1, 2025
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I’m in dogged pursuit of a DF 500. There’s a few options, lightly used, indeed nearly new. One has not had warranty registered. It’s only discounted about 15% from new, once import and sales taxes are included. Questions:
Is it possible to register warranty if purchased second hand?
How uptight should one be about warranty with respect to the Domino? Are they generally quite durable?
For 15% more is it smarter to buy new with a warranty?
Your insights appreciated.
 
If you decide to go with the one that has not yet been registered, be sure to get the original receipt from the seller. That will be the key to registering your DF500.

When I got my TS55F, I bought it used from a seller who had bought it a month before. At the time, he was asking $600 with the 1400 FS/2 rail and we agreed to $550. He had bought it online, had not registered it, and sent me the electronic receipt.

When it came to registering the tool, it was just as though I had bought it new. Went to the website, filled out all the information and included the jpg of the receipt and voila - registered.

Based on comments about the DF500 from other threads over the past year, it seems that there have been very few mechanical issues with the DF500, so buying used (and outside the warranty) should not be terribly concerning. Of course, you should scrutinize the tool, both in pictures and in-person, before finalizing the deal. If you've watched the used Festool market, you'll know it's not uncommon for sellers to be asking a considerable amount of money for a tool they state "used once", "used on one project" - and the tool looks like it's been through hell, or is a decade+ old (this can be quickly ascertained by the Systainer the tool is in and the date on the manufacturers plate).

Speaking of Systainers, also consider what the DF500 comes with. Does it include all the accessories of the current version? If not, how much will it cost you extra to bring it up to speed? And are those accessories important to you - and at this moment to get working?

When Festool updated the OF1010 earlier this year, the old SKU went on discount and a dealer was selling the old SKU for $500 - sounds like a great deal. But when I calculated what I would need to buy to bring the accessories up to the current assortment of accessories, the savings were a wash - and if I bought the accessory kit, i would end up with two rail adapters.

Currently, there's an OF2200 on Marketplace with the seller asking $550 - which is 60% off the current MSRP of $1220. But it comes with nothing. Getting the spanner, collet, adapter, dust collector, M337 Systainer and insert will cost about $300, bringing total cost to $850 - equivalent to a 30% discount off MSRP - but for a tool made in 2012 with no warranty. That said, it's still the lowest price I've seen on a used OF2200, but only by $50. Worth it? Maybe. The OF2200 is a beast that has no equal and I don't think I've seen anyone reporting issues with the tool.

But 15% off? If it comes with the receipt then all should be Golden. If not, I'd rather see a steeper discount or just buy it new with the full warranty. Also, another thing to consider in your calculus is just how long ago the tool was purchased new - if a month: yes. If two years and six months? That's a little different.
 
Ono gave you great advice.

For all the accessories that come with the Set, these are the ones I’ve used:
  • Support Bracket for the flip-down stops, otherwise I use the TSO Bigfoot as a bigger footprint substitute
  • Trim Stop for easily holding narrow stock
  • Cross Stops are rarely used, its too much of a hassle to setup
For the Domino tenon systainer, I’ve only used the 8mm and 10mm tenons on a single project each. The 4-5-6mm tenons always get used on my projects.

However, the systainer comes with a pack of cutters for all the thicknesses of tenons. That’s handy to have. You will then have an extra 5mm cutter because the Domino also has the same one with it.

Some friends choose not to get the Domino tenon systainer. They prefer to buy the bags and sizes and cutters on an as-needed basis.

When you buy a new cutter, stick with the Festool brand. I’ve seen some folks have complaints about the Amana and CMT cutters. I forget the exact reasons.
 
onocoffee said:
If you decide to go with the one that has not yet been registered, be sure to get the original receipt from the seller. That will be the key to registering your DF500.

When I got my TS55F, I bought it used from a seller who had bought it a month before. At the time, he was asking $600 with the 1400 FS/2 rail and we agreed to $550. He had bought it online, had not registered it, and sent me the electronic receipt.

When it came to registering the tool, it was just as though I had bought it new. Went to the website, filled out all the information and included the jpg of the receipt and voila - registered.

Based on comments about the DF500 from other threads over the past year, it seems that there have been very few mechanical issues with the DF500, so buying used (and outside the warranty) should not be terribly concerning. Of course, you should scrutinize the tool, both in pictures and in-person, before finalizing the deal. If you've watched the used Festool market, you'll know it's not uncommon for sellers to be asking a considerable amount of money for a tool they state "used once", "used on one project" - and the tool looks like it's been through hell, or is a decade+ old (this can be quickly ascertained by the Systainer the tool is in and the date on the manufacturers plate).

Speaking of Systainers, also consider what the DF500 comes with. Does it include all the accessories of the current version? If not, how much will it cost you extra to bring it up to speed? And are those accessories important to you - and at this moment to get working?

When Festool updated the OF1010 earlier this year, the old SKU went on discount and a dealer was selling the old SKU for $500 - sounds like a great deal. But when I calculated what I would need to buy to bring the accessories up to the current assortment of accessories, the savings were a wash - and if I bought the accessory kit, i would end up with two rail adapters.

Currently, there's an OF2200 on Marketplace with the seller asking $550 - which is 60% off the current MSRP of $1220. But it comes with nothing. Getting the spanner, collet, adapter, dust collector, M337 Systainer and insert will cost about $300, bringing total cost to $850 - equivalent to a 30% discount off MSRP - but for a tool made in 2012 with no warranty. That said, it's still the lowest price I've seen on a used OF2200, but only by $50. Worth it? Maybe. The OF2200 is a beast that has no equal and I don't think I've seen anyone reporting issues with the tool.

But 15% off? If it comes with the receipt then all should be Golden. If not, I'd rather see a steeper discount or just buy it new with the full warranty. Also, another thing to consider in your calculus is just how long ago the tool was purchased new - if a month: yes. If two years and six months? That's a little different.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your generous clarification. This is so helpful. This one was bought in February 2025, from a retailer. I’ll ask for the receipt.
 
MacBoy said:
Ono gave you great advice.

For all the accessories that come with the Set, these are the ones I’ve used:
  • Support Bracket for the flip-down stops, otherwise I use the TSO Bigfoot as a bigger footprint substitute
  • Trim Stop for easily holding narrow stock
  • Cross Stops are rarely used, its too much of a hassle to setup
For the Domino tenon systainer, I’ve only used the 8mm and 10mm tenons on a single project each. The 4-5-6mm tenons always get used on my projects.

However, the systainer comes with a pack of cutters for all the thicknesses of tenons. That’s handy to have. You will then have an extra 5mm cutter because the Domino also has the same one with it.

Some friends choose not to get the Domino tenon systainer. They prefer to buy the bags and sizes and cutters on an as-needed basis.

When you buy a new cutter, stick with the Festool brand. I’ve seen some folks have complaints about the Amana and CMT cutters. I forget the exact reasons.
Click to expand...
Yes great advice. That TSO Bigfoot looks almost indispensable, I enjoy their other products and they are great to deal with. Thank you for bringing the tenon systainer to my attention, I was unaware that it included those extra bits. Looking at item 576794 in the catalog I now the that. Thank you!!
 
The TSO Bigfoot is a fantastic accessory, much better than the stock one. Despite the high cost here, if I lost mine I'd replace it in a heart beat.
 
I wouldn't try to save only 15% with an used tool that doesn’t come with warranty even if it's a premium brand like Festool. For me, I'd rather pay extra and buy new, with full assurance that everything is "protected."

In your case, if you can't examine the machine and do a test cut, you can't be sure how well it performs: Is the fence loose, square, etc.? angles correct?

For regular brands of tools, any saving less than 40% off from the current retail price (remember, the owner might've bought the tool several years ago, and so it isn't really 40% discounted as promoted) wouldn't interest me. For Festool, 25% or more would be the minimum discount for me (provided I can examine the tool and do test cuts).
 
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Thanks Chuck.
Yeah I thought the discount to be meager. But the guy is is inflexible. He states it is virtually new. Looks good in pictures. I would meet him and test it.
 
My DF700 was bought new. My DF500 was bought "used". I put that in quotes because it had only been used to cut like five mortises by the original owner and came with "all the things" including a Sustainer filled with Dominos, other than the five that had been used. I "saved" several hundred dollars buying it this way and frankly, didn't worry about warranty and registration.
 
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