festool domino thoughts

[Casey kerner]

Hey all. New to the forum and figured this might be a good first post. I am looking into purchasing the domino and would like some opinions. I am thinking the 500 might be the better fit for me and my shop.This would be my first festool product so I'm a little nervous to drop the 1400 bucks for the dust extractor and domino.Thanks in advance!





KC

[Craig Behnke]

i can't comment on the domino but i do have a festool sander and router that I use along with a festool vacuum. their power tools are specifically made to be used together with their vac's and they are made very well to do just that. other vac's will work, but I doubt they are as high quality, well engineered, long lasting, etc, etc. as the festool.

it's simple, festools do a fantastic job extracting dust/waste and they are incredibly high quality products that are noticeably better than competitors (relax, just my opinion) and worth every penny they cost.

i'd say get the vac and domino and if you don't think it's worth it, I think you can return one or the other or both and get your money back. warning: check the exact details of the return policy but last time i checked it was festool policy to let you give it back with 30 days and get your dough back.

i was skeptical of the value proposition of their products when i first heard of them until i used them. yes, they're expensive, IMO they're worth it and they make my hobby more enjoyable. whether or not you think so is up to you. try them, you may really love the products.

[Wade Lippman]

i can't comment on the domino but i do have a festool sander and router that I use along with a festool vacuum. their power tools are specifically made to be used together with their vac's and they are made very well to do just that. other vac's will work, but I doubt they are as high quality, well engineered, long lasting, etc, etc. as the festool.



I had a Festool vacuum but got rid of it. My Dyson canister with a dust deputy is much better. Each to his own.

But to address the OP...
The domino is a fantastic machine. I have certainly used it enough to justify the price, but it really depends on what you will be doing with it and your budget. I mainly use 5 and 8mm dominos, so I doubt I would have much need for the big one. But you might.

[Craig Behnke]

I had a Festool vacuum but got rid of it. My Dyson canister with a dust deputy is much better. Each to his own.


I can see how a dust deputy on a vac would be fantastic. the cyclone method of dust collection is great (i have a 3.5 hp cyclone in my shop). i would love to try one of those dust deputy set-ups if one of my friends ever has one, they look very interesting....the biggest thing holding me back is what i perceive (may not be true though) as the awkwardness and size of those set up compared to the relative ease of a festool vac. but i've seen some guys set up their dust deputy to a shop vac so that it's a pretty slick, easy to move around unit. can you post of pic of yours?

and my festool vac is used just for duct collection on my festools, i do regular cleanup with a rigid wet-dry vac.

[Mike Henderson]

The Domino is a very good machine and I find new uses for it every project. However, you don't need a Festool vac. I have mine connected to a Ridgid vac and it works fine. For the Domino all you need is to get the swarf out of the mortise - no finesse, just lots of vacuum. You can buy a Festool hose (expensive) and it will plug into your shop vac just fine and will fit the Domino.

Mike

[Ralph Butts]

Casey,
I am a hobby woodworker and had the same hesitation when I deciding whether to drink the green kool-aid. I eased my plunge by purchasing some items used. My Domino is one of the tools I use the most.

[Bob Landel]

Casey, Domino is great. Really the only way to make joint connections as far as I am concerned. So easy to use. The smaller one (which I believe we are talking about) can make very strong joints by doubling up if necessary. I made a outdoor bench which two +300# people sat on with no problem. However by the time you buy the loose tenant package which is about $300.00, you are going to send well over $1,200.00 alone for the mortiser package.

I know noting about Festools vacumms other than they are expensive and maybe over priced for what you get.

[Bob Landel]

Just read Mike Henderson's post, you can also use a Porter Cable hose with a Fein "over" type fitting; total about $22.00.

You can also buy just the Festool fitting end which also fits on the Porter Cable type hose. I think I paid less than $20.00 for the Festool fitting.

I added a 2 1/4" end to my Porter Cable size hose and use it with a Shop Vac.

[Wade Lippman]

I can see how a dust deputy on a vac would be fantastic. the cyclone method of dust collection is great (i have a 3.5 hp cyclone in my shop). i would love to try one of those dust deputy set-ups if one of my friends ever has one, they look very interesting....the biggest thing holding me back is what i perceive (may not be true though) as the awkwardness and size of those set up compared to the relative ease of a festool vac. but i've seen some guys set up their dust deputy to a shop vac so that it's a pretty slick, easy to move around unit. can you post of pic of yours?
dyson
and my festool vac is used just for duct collection on my festools, i do regular cleanup with a rigid wet-dry vac.

I don't move mine. I have the dd on the floor and the dyson on a shelf above it. I have one of the rigid vacuum line kits from HD and have one line going to my SCMS and a second line with a long hose on it. The hose attaches to sanders or the domino, or to the dyson floor attachment for cleaning up. I expect the long hoses cost some suction, but the dyson is sufficiently powerful that it stll works well.

[Lewis Justis]

I have had my domino and fs vac for about 3 years. Could be some of the best money that I ever spent. If you have been using biscuits, you will be amazed at the huge improvement in strength and especially, precision. Unless you plan on making entrance doors, the smaller one will probably do everything you need do.

[eugene thomas]

I have couple festool vacs, could get by without them but only way will ever get my domino is at my estate auction..,...i

[Bill Wyko]

I've had a Domino for years, use it all the time. I can say you will save more than enough money to justify your purchase. It's an incredible tool. Be careful though, it's a slippery slope. I own sanders, jug saws, TS saws, a Kapex and more. Every tool I own from them is top notch and a justifiable investment.

[Sam Murdoch]

$ 1,261.50 delivered for the Domino 500 and a Midi which is more than a great combo http://www.bobmarinosbesttools.com/df-500-t-loc-+-ct-midi/p/PD574332/

The Domino is an excellent tool in soooo many respects. Just search the threads for how much you can do with it. Yes it could be hooked up to other dust collectors but if you don't already own a good vac the Midi is an excellent choice and can easily accept your TS 55 track saw or ETS or RO sanders or whatever other Festool you might later decide to purchase.

[Joe Adams]

I'd get the Domino 500 unless you're planning on building entry doors or something else that requires large tenons. The tenon assortment will provide the flexibility for different sized material but may not be necessary. We generally work in 3/4 stock so the 6x40mm size is what I reach for most of the time. I'm actually using some 5x30mm tenons on a project tomorrow and have used the 8's and 10's on occasion.

You do not need variable suction for a Domino and a Shop-Vac will work just fine.

There is an adapter that fits it sold by Industrial Vacs dot com for $11.98 - Product Code H302000535 that will allow you to use a 1.5-inch hose (which is very close to the Festool 36mm hose). Be sure to email them and get an adjusted shipping quote for delivery via U.S. first class mail. Their online system doesn't offer this option and shipping costs more than the part. You can get a 1.5-inch hose from Shop-Vac or Mr. Nozzle.

Another idea is to get a Festool 27mm hose end (Part# 487071) for $20 and put it on the end of a 1.25-inch hose. That's what I did when I bought a Fein Turbo II to use with my Festool sanders. I know it's blasphemy but I'm still a little bit of a rebel.

[Jery Madigan]

I have the Domino and a Festool and Fein vac. The domino is great. Both Vacs are good, but I actually slightly prefer the Fein because the sound, while at a similar level as the Festool, is at a lower, less annoying frequency. A Mr Nozzle hose on the Fein connects easily to almost anything and is a larger diameter than the stock Festool.

[Richard Shaefer]

I have a domino and it's a really great tool. I don't use it all the time, but when I need it, there really is no substitue. If I used it for nothing else other than aligning solid stock for large panel glue-ups, it would still be worth it's price in sanding savings, alone.

[Casey kerner]

Wow! Thank you all for the great advice! I have a great dust collector but it is much to loud and large to be run all the time. I am thinking a trip to the local Rockler may be in my near future! I think the smaller domino is my choice. Now, dust extractor wise, mini?midi? 26? 36?48? Can't see much difference besides size. Am I mistaken? Thanks again for all the great help!

[Steve Kohn]

Like others have said I long resisted the thought of going to any Festool product simply due to the cost. However I needed to build a crib for my latest grandchild. I have a pretty complete shop and there were multiple options to join the wood together. It seemed to me that loose tenon seemed to be the easiest and most accurate way to accomplish the goal. After searching for a couple of weeks I found a Domino 500 available on CL with an almost complete set of domino's included. I bought the machine, downloaded the manual, and made some practice cuts. The machine is very accurate and worked well for the project. However, after spending the money for the machine (I still shake my head at what they used cost was @ $725) I was not enamored enough with the Festool name to spring for the hose or vac. I modified some fittings, took an old hose from my CPAP machine and rigged everything up to my 30 year old shopvac. It has been working fine for my purposes.

[Jeff Monson]

Now, dust extractor wise, mini?midi? 26? 36?48? Can't see much difference besides size. Am I mistaken?

Casey, I have a CT22 which is a nice mid-sized vacuum. I'd go with the 26 if I were starting out, not too big, not too small. If you pick up a domino take the time to read a couple of the free manuals that are found online, they are good reads and full of great uses for the domino. Then spend some time in the shop with scraps, you will quickly find the many different uses for this tool.

[Matt Meiser]

You definitely want the smaller machine for most furniture or cabinetry type woodworking. The larger machine like someone else said is more for architectural woodworking or very large projects.

Vac--there's valid arguments both ways but if you want to save money watch for a used vac. I've gotten a couple used CT22's in the $200 range in nice shape, one of them with a hose and extra bags. I wouldn't buy a mini or a midi unless you need a really small portable vac for site use as you'll never be able to put a boom arm on it if you ever decided you wanted one (I love mine on the vac that lives next to my bench.)

[Chris Padilla]

The Domino is horrible...don't get it. It is an overpriced biscuit cutter with even pricier biscuits. :D

Well, SOMEONE had to have a dissenting voice here!

(I love my Domino)

[Ted Calver]

I recently went through the decision process on a Domino and ended up with the XL DF 700 and the CT 36 vacuum. With the addition of a 6mm bit and shim plates from Seneca Woodworking my system has 6/8/10/12/14 mm cutters. The DF 500 comes with 5/6/8/10 mm cutters. I like the range on my set up better for the larger projects I do. The 6mm cutter and shims give me 3/4" joining capability and that's about as thin as I typically work--just right for cabinet work.

[Chris Padilla]

You can add in the 4 mm cutter for the DF 500. I picked that one up as soon as I heard about it.

[Casey kerner]

Thanks for all the replies! I ended up ordering the smaller domino, midi vac and the domino assortment. The domino and vac came yesterday, not I'm waiting for the tenon kit. I have played a little with it and I am happy so far! Thanks again!

[Dan Ness]

Ted,

Can you elaborate on the quality/ease of use, etc. of the 6mm cutter & shim from Seneca. I am thinking it will be my next domino purchase (but currently sold out), and there isnt much feedback out there.

-Dan

[Ted Calver]

Ted,
Can you elaborate on the quality/ease of use, etc. of the 6mm cutter & shim from Seneca. I am thinking it will be my next domino purchase (but currently sold out), and there isn't much feedback out there. -Dan

Dan, I haven't used them yet, but I just went and checked what they sent. I signed up for e-mail notification and ordered them as soon as they said they were available. The bit came in a container marked Festool 8mm, but the actual bit had a Seneca tag that said 6mm. The two shim plates, one labeled Nominal 1/2" and the other labeled Nominal 3/4" are well machined, with good fit and finish. They are substantial, which is good because I was afraid they were going to be some sort of plastic. There is a package of small screws for attaching them. If there were directions, I can't find them, but given the state of my shop they could be there. That's all I can tell you until I try them out.

[John Piwaron]

I've got the 500, bought before there was a 700. I also have one of their vacs. Bought before I had the 500. They work great together. You may not need their vac with it but you *will* need someone's vac to pull the chips out of the hole it makes.

Overall, a good machine. Better and more accurate than a biscuit joiner. Initially mine had a problem that some others have had - the fence would slip vertically. There's another (or so I've read) potential problem with the lever that locks the fence at whatever angle you choose. That one is simply a matter of don't over tighten it or it'll break. The slipping is claimed to be caused by lubricant that may have been left on the die casting during the machining process. The fix is to clean those surfaces with a solution of Simple Green or dishwashing soap, then use an ignition file *gently* to slightly roughen the surface that the lock mechanism touches. I suspect that doing something like that voids the warranty so you might want to think about that if you think yours needs it. I did all that and haven't had a slip since.

Overall, a very good machine. Probably not the ideal choice in every situation but a great one in others.

FWIW, the Festool vac is the bomb for sanding. It connects directly to my old PC random orbit sanders. Nowadays sanding is a dust free experience for me.