Why is the DF 500 so readily available on eBay?

[DynaGlide]

I just got into Festool with a TS55, CT26, and Pro 5 as gifts for Father's Day. I already know I want a router and a domino. I keep an eye on eBay and it seems like every other day a new DF 500 listing pops up.

Are people dumping it in favor of the 700? Is the 700 really that much nicer? I'm aware of the Seneca adapters. I've read a few threads on people going straight for the 700 who were in my shoes. It's quite a bit more expensive and it'd be a real stretch to get it over the 500 but I'm wondering if this is one of those buy it once, buy it right scenarios. Going 700 over 500 would set me back several months to a year on getting the OF 1400 but maybe grand scheme of things worth the wait.

Thanks

 

[Klaus Hergesheimer]

I've found eBay availability of Festool tools to be very streaky. Sometimes there are a lot of ETS 150s, or various jigsaws. There are sometimes three 1010 or 1400 routers up at once when there are ~90 used Festool auctions. Right now there are a bunch of Domino tools up. There are some great deals from time to time (I bought my Domino on eBay several months ago for significantly less than the current listings and have been very satisfied). Just keep looking, and if you're using your phone, download the eBay app and set up notifications.

 

[Birdhunter]

I can't speak as to why DF500 show up on the used market more than 700s except I think that Festool sells a lot more of the smaller Domino machines.

I have both and the 500 gets 90% of the use, but I do mostly small to medium size projects.

I have been asked to make a bed and I am sure the 700 will get lots of work.

If you buy used, think through the warranty issue. These machines do break. If you get a bad one and there isn't a warranty, you could be out a lot of money.

 

[EquatorTwo]

I believe it's just the price/value position of the tool and nothing related to the tool itself. It's an expensive tool with few substitutes, and when the project is over and the tool hasn't been used in many months, the tool can be very easily sold on eBay for close to what the buyer paid. If Festool priced it at $500, you'd see far fewer on eBay. 

 

[BJM9818]

The 500 has been out for 10 years ??  The 700 only a few.  Factor in the $800(what some people paid years ago) vs  $1400 price difference and I bet there are 30X more 500's in circulation than 700's. 

I own both, my 700 is a recent purchase and haven't used it.  If i find either sitting for a few years without use and can get 85% of retail for it I may sell it.

 

[grbmds]

My opinion is that the 500 and 700 are very different tools and clearly meant for very different project sizes. While there are a lot of people who have bought the 700 with the Seneca adapters, I would never recommend that to anyone. Buy the Domino that you feel will meet most of your needs. If you are going to build cabinets, drawers, shop jigs and furniture, and small and medium pieces of furniture, the 500 should serve all your needs. Many times, with planning, larger pieces can be well built with the 500 by doubling up on tenons. Most of us tend to overbuild things anyway. If you plan to build a lot of larger projects like beds, large tables, and outdoor pieces like arbors or gates, the 700 is the tool that will work best. Building smaller pieces with the 700 and adapters would be very cumbersome and difficult with the 700; at least for me.

Second, I would agree that you should seriously consider buying the Domino new rather than used. The Domino is a very precise machine and I wouldn't want to bank on the previous owner handling it carefully, the tool never being dropped, or that it got heavy use resulting in significant  wear. If you buy new and there is something wrong with it you can return it within the first 30 days and get a new one. My Domino 500 was perfect out of the box. My Domino 700 was not. I returned it, got a brand new one, and it was, in fact, perfect out of the box.

It's hard to know why people sell the Domino. It's the most useful tool I've ever owned. It makes it easy and fast to create furniture, shop tables, drawers, cabinets, and almost anything that requires a solid joint. The accuracy and precision you get in joint placement is amazing and the result, for me, is always a solid joint. If you buy used, just be very careful. Try to find one local so you can actually see and use it before buying.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I think it is a typical tool that's very appealing to people who want to get into woodworking because it does a somewhat special function and looks impressive, but after a few projects they lose interest and find it's just sitting there.

 

[waterloomarc]

I'll throw my .02 in as well. As somebody who has both, I use my 500 way way way WAY more than my 700. The 700 is a huge tool and I, personally, would hate to use it for most of the stuff I use my 500 for. If you're able I suggest trying them both first. The 500 handles like a biscuit jointer the 700 is not nearly as nimble.

 

[Coen]

I bought a DF500 in ... 2009? So far, I've used it for one project  [blink]

I'm not a person that quickly sells unused stuff, but I guess there are others that bought a DF500 imagining they would build all kinds of cool stuff with it... but didn't and then sold the tool.

Half a year ago I bought a used VS 600 unit... not used it once yet. Lots of good intentions, a lot less realizations. Although I do 1000 km per month cycling now. Family visits, friends moving house, tax returns, appealing fraudulent fines; it all eats from the ever-diminishing amount of time off.

 

[Nat X]

The 500 vibrated off the mark and pinched my thumb in an excruciatingly painful manner every time I flipped it on, so I put mine on eBay and got the 700. It suffers from none of these issues and I've found all the warnings about the viability of the Seneca adapter to be completely baseless. I mostly work with 8/4 stock, but even if I only did plywood, I never want to touch another 500, personally.

 

[flair woodworks]

I'll throw my .02 in as well. As somebody who has both, I use my 500 way way way WAY more than my 700. The 700 is a huge tool and I, personally, would hate to use it for most of the stuff I use my 500 for. If you're able I suggest trying them both first. The 500 handles like a biscuit jointer the 700 is not nearly as nimble.

Ditto.

 

[ChuckM]

The 500 vibrated off the mark and pinched my thumb in an excruciatingly painful manner every time I flipped it on,

In most of my domino operations, I hold the tool by its handle and never experience anything like yours on the occasions where I am not holding the handle. But good to know and remember about the potential "hazard" when handling the tool by its fence.