Which Festool Domino should you buy? - #MWShopTalk -

Lamello and Domino Xl

Lamello Zeta p2 and Domino XL- Sunday update

XXL Worlds Biggest Festool Domino (Sunday update)

Lamello Perfect Mitre
Birch Ply Marmoleum - Sofa Table

Dinning Table made with Domino and Zeta P2
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See me at Makerscentral NEC 11th 12 May 2019

[lcb]

I bought the 500 when they were first available in the US. I am on my 3rd box of 1800 5mm dominoes. Essentially I have used just shy of 6000 5 mm dominoes and that equates to over 10, 000 5 mm mortises. I primarily build furniture and the 500 is plenty adequate. I have never wanted for a larger mortiser.
If I was building heavy oak doors or enormous conference tables and maybe even doing timber framing I would get the XL.
There really should be no question as to which to get. If you always build really big and heavy get the XL. If you build furniture out of 4/4 and 5/4 stock the 500 is absolutely big enough.
AND as mentioned in the video the XL is heavy, the 500 is no feather weight. My experience is that the easier the tool is to lug around the shop the more likely you will be to use it. I seriously had no idea that I would use the 500 as much as I have. Oh, and one more thing. I'm still using the same 5 mm bit that came with the 500. These are quality machines built to last a very long time.
I think what I am trying to say is buy the machine that you will use daily, not the one that you might need on occasion if you are trying to decide which one to buy.

[richdomikis]

My answer is the 700 and buy the adaptor to use 500 smaller bits if you can't justify both.
The 700 is bigger and heavier but the extra size means you can build a table today and a frame tomm.

[bjharlow]

This was the most helpful explanation of the differences of the models I’ve found. Thank you!

[antonoat]

Absolutely love my little Domino 500, I don’t create work for others but it’s quite obvious why someone like yourself also requires the larger version, it’s a great concept either machine. One wonders if they will ever create an even larger version, I guess it would have its uses too! 👏👍😀

[jeffhreid]

Still don’t understand the perception of this tool as something special. Loose tenons aren’t unique to Festool domino. Bead lock, dowels and router mortise are all the same functional joint. The domino is a high priced uni-tasker, I’ll take a drill and doweling jig or a router mortising jig any day. From a price and multi function standpoint the drill or router have WAY more utility than the domino.

[TeamProsperity]

Which one to buy? It’s easy, you buy the DF 700 and then you purchase the adapter from Infinity Tools that allows you to use the smaller bits for the smaller size dominos but of course you gotta get the set of smaller bits too but yeah, that’s what I have done and now I can use the full size from smallest to largest using the 700 🤙🏻🤙🏻

[nobbyroj]

Thank you for your brilliant video. You're a very clever guy, and I thought I was a clever chap also ( I am actually). I`m an `old school` cabinet maker yet `young-ish school` regarding these new technologies. YES, I do have a domino 500 but I wanted you to explain the beautiful benefits of the XL700. And, ... YOU DID.
Think I will be spending some serious Dollar on the XL 700 now. Perfect.
Well done .

[VirTERM]

Very informative, I am almost convinced to add the 700 to my Festool brigade. I love my 500 that I am using on a daily basis for the last 3 years.

[JeffMarxWoodworking]

Great information, thank you for another great video! When faced with the decision, I ended up buying the XL and aftermarket converters from Seneca Woodworking to let me cut smaller mortices and closer to top surface (Imperial standoffs). As you point out, I can't cut some mortices referencing the bottom surface like I could with the smaller unit - but I can do almost everything else. The Domino is very expensive, but it really is a game changer in the shop.

[steinbierz]

Always love your videos. I am currently shopping for a Domino for an upcoming barn dining table I want to make and am trying to figure out whether the largest tenon that the 500 can accommodate would be big enough for 1.5" - 2" thick breadboards on the end of the table or if I would need to step up to the 700. I was leaning towards buying the 700 because I know that you can buy an adapter from Seneca that allows you to use 500 bits but when I saw in your video that the 700 couldn't do thinner materials (bit would be past center on thinner material) I went back into this-or-that mode. Thoughts?

[G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Great comparison. Thanks for helping me make the right decision, since I’ll only be able to afford to buy 1.

[georgerafa]

You're a fantastic resource! Thanks for making this

[davidndahura]

My take is 700, big not a problem but have options to grow business faster. ❤

[perrinekld]

I think the best combo is the mafell doweller for small things and the domino XL for larger jobs.

[austin]

I love the 500 but agree sometimes more depth would make a better joint, I try to compensate with more dominoes in each joint. Just for interest it would be interesting to see the tenon sizes laid out.

[bighands]

If you cannot afford a domino you can also drill dowel through (after laminate glue up).

[amccormick]

Seneca domi plate works great then the xl does it all, they also do a bit reducer so you can fit small domino bits to the large machine but festool do not endorse using them.

[simplediyr]

This completely answered my question on which one to get. Thank you so much. Best video on the difference between the two.

[mbcarpentryltd]

Another good vid mate 👍 t-shirt arrived and fits like a glove 😉 looking forward to maker central

[hgohlke]

Honest, cool video, thank you for sharing