Standard with the DF 500 Q-Plus is a Trim Stop for precise and repeatable mortising in the ends of delicate parts. ![]() Holding and cutting thin rails and stiles is always a challenge, no matter what method of mortising is used. The spring-loaded stop presses out of the way when the Domino is used in the center of a piece but lets the user join parts without bothering to measure. While not immediately intuitive (especially when Americans use Imperial measurements), one learns to cut at the center of a 3/4″ thick piece of wood (actually 19.05 mm), as indicated by the 20 on this tool.įlip stops on the Domino face allow for the accurately indexed joining of parts. ![]() Oddly, these numbers indicate a cut in the center of a piece with the millimeter thickness indicated. With seven built-in height stops, dialing in a repetitive cut is easy. I find the depth adjustment a great improvement over stationary slot mortises, which generally don’t have measurable depth stops built in.Īnother feature is the fence height adjustment stop. When joining one thinner part to a deeper part, it is possible, for example, to split the mortises of a 40mm Domino into a 12mm and a 28mm deep mortise. These measurements indicate the depth in millimeters, corresponding to the length of the different Dominos. The angle is adjusted by rotating the black knob in the foreground.īecause the Dominos come in different lengths, the machine has an easy-to-use depth adjustment. It has positive detent stops at 45, 30, 15, and 0 degrees. This one, made from cast and stamped aluminum, is extremely accurate. Like a biscuit cutter, the Domino comes with an adjustable fence. I was disappointed to find that multiple-width Dominos is not available, as this would broaden the capabilities of a single mortise. This is a handy feature when you need a bit of wiggle room when joining pieces of wood. The Domino can cut multiple widths of the mortise, easily adjusted by rotating the green knob. A thumb-lock holds the shaft in place when tightening and loosening bits with the small wrench included with the Domino. The motor unlocks from two stanchions on the fence, providing excellent access to the bit. Once marked and clamped up, I cut these eight mortises in about a minute.Ĭhanging the bits is simple. As with any joinery, careful layout and preparation make for safe and accurate cuts. The proprietary bits cut a perfect slot, just like a slot mortise, without any dangerous jumping one might expect from a hand-held tool. The Domino has a unique mechanism, which both plunges and “wags” back and forth at the same time. The “Sipo” Domino is also available in Mahogany for outdoor applications. Festool also stamps the size of each Domino, so there is no guessing as to which size cutter is needed for each Domino. The stamping leaves pockets for glue, and the compressing allows the Domino to swell when exposed to the moisture in the glue. The Dominos are made out of solid Beech, which is both stamped and compressed. Of course, there are four more sizes in between. The smallest Domino is 4 mm thick (5/32″ thick) and 20 mm long (less than 3/4 inch). This is more than enough for chair joinery and plenty for joining aprons to table legs when stacked. ![]() The largest is 10 mm thick (over 3/8 inches) and 50 mm long (about 2 inches). The Domino Assortment is $395.00.Ĭentral to the tool’s success is the engineered loose tenons, also called Dominos. Also pictured is a Domino Systainer assortment of 1060 Dominos in six sizes and the five cutters needed for those loose tenons. The Domino DF 500 Q-Plus has a 4 mm cutter, Trim Stop, Cross Stop, Support Bracket, and a storage “Systainer” for $1069. Four years later, I am thrilled to have the Domino in my quiver of tools. The first time I used it, I was amazed at its capabilities. It borrows the portability and engineered fasteners from the biscuit jointer and the robust joints created by a slot mortiser to produce a super-efficient joint-making machine. ![]() In the 21st Century it is rare that a tool can revolutionize a wood joinery technique, yet the Festool Domino does just that.
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