The long awaited Domino 500 connector system has arrived and I am grateful to Festool UK for sending a set for me to use in this video. It is far easier to use than it appears at first glance and the joints are solid.
I've seen a lot of your videos (and I'm sorry not to have given a thumbs up often) and they are all great. Very good explications, well filmed and a sympathetic voice!
Three points Peter. 1/. As always an excellent product presentation. 2/ I can’t for the life of me work out why I would want to build something that I would later want to disassemble. 3/ The price is ridiculous even for Festool. Cheers
Hi David, First, thank you. Second, there are loads of things that people want to assemble and then take apart. Third, I think that a lot of research has gone into this and so Festool has to get a return on that. Given that the Lamello machines are more expensive than the DF500 a holistic approach gives it an advantage. Peter
logic should prevail there a mass market for this type of build and there are tonnes of reasons why you would want this which is why it exists and why it sells, it's accurate, only expensive if you build is not taking into account the costs of using the machines in the first place. you can buy cheaper options but you know what happens there.
I think using standard joinery is a far better option. Lets not go to bonkers on the the Festool corporate band wagon... Need to promote more joinery skills. However as ever Peter excellent video showing all the options clearly thank you.
But "standard" joinery doesn't typically take knock-down furniture into account. In almost all cases, knock-down furniture takes specialized hardware. This system is a bit more elegant than (and more expensive vs), say, the ikea version. If you have a Domino joiner already, this also helps avoid requiring another set of tools (dowel jig) and parts (dowels).
Excellent video again Peter, Thanks. But could you put a warning on that watching this video can seriously damage your bank account. Nearly every time I watch a video of yours I want to buy the tool. I also enjoyed your book by the way
Hi Ron, Yes, tool buying can dent the wallet somewhat but just remember the many happy hours that you will spend using them and, for some, the many happy hours their partners will have without the woodworker under their feet in the house ! Many thanks for the kind words about the book. Before MI5 took over that building (and a long time ago) I did a few shifts as a night watchman guarding that building ! Cheers. Peter
Thank you for a very informative video Peter. When working with an 18mm thick panel, it obviously doesn't matter that the domino thickness is set to 20mm (10mm to centre)? As long as you reference off the correct side of course. Is there any reason to not just set the DF500 to 9mm on the height scale?
Excellent demonstration. I was hesitant to purchase the set but I think I'll give it a try now. One really minor thing though: the music at the end is, um... "not optimal". ;)
Hi Muru, I think the set represents better value in the long term. I am sorry that you do not like my keyboard or composing skills - it is the only way to guarantee that there is no copyright infringement. Cheers. Peter
Well it is me who is terribly sorry now. My apologies. I had no idea you were the author. I do understand you would want to use your own music, however there are libraries of royalty free tunes available on various sites. Here's one: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/funky-groove It's free of charge to use on RU-vid as long as you give Bensound credit somewhere.
Hi Muru, I am aware of that but I just wanted to buy a keyboard and teach myself to play. There is a woodwork element to it as well - see my Keyboard Cabinet series of videos. Peter
Thank you very much for the demo Peter. Really helpful as usual. I loved the wooden stops you made to fit inside the parf dogs (I suppose 😊) . It seems really handy. Are you thinking of doing a video on that? Cheers!
Well done Peter. I just received my kit a few days ago. Can’t wait to dig-in and see how this system works out. I get that the joints are strong and a reasonably intuitive system to get and productive promptly. Does any one have data or experience of these joints surviving multiple set ups and breakdowns? Do the joints stay tight?
Hi Brian, I see no reason for the joint to weaken as it relies on the mechanism not the wood. Just how many times is any piece likely to be assembled and disassembled? Peter
New Brit Workshop Hi Peter, I’m thinking of both non-profit organizations that don’t have a lot of storage space and yet share assembly space with other groups. I just maybe over-thinking the ease of assembly/breakdown functionality .
Brian Russell Brian, a friend of mine used this system to make some furniture that he uses for camping. He lays it flat in his camper then puts it together at the campground then breaks it down flat in his camper for transport back home. I believe he has gone camping 5-6 times with the furniture so far with no issues.... Ron
Ron H That’s a great example Ron - Thank you! Being an old Scout Master, I appreciate the camping reference. 😊⛺️ Seriously to Peter’s point, most tables, bookcases, etc that are assembled with the Connector System will likely have a low assembly/re-assembly rate in its life span. That said and knowing FESTOOL like we do, I should assume they designed and engineered the connector system in a robust manner. Peter, thank you for another very informative video.
Thank you Peter. I am thinking of taking the financial plunge on the domino cutter and connector set. I understand the intended use for these is probably mostly cabinet based. Do you think these would be strong enough for a bed frame - leg to side rails? Or would that be pushing it a bit? Many thanks for your videos.
Hi Edward, I would not use the DF500 connectors for a bed frame but with some clever design work it may be possible to make it work. The DF700 connectors are as tough as anything and would be perfectly suitable. Peter
Hi Peter, planning to use this system for a standard wardrobe assembly. I assume a connector top and bottom plus (some) dominos in between-what pitch spacing would you recommend? Thx
Hi John, It is difficult to answer as it will depend on the length and width of pieces. Supposing you are jointing the top and bottom to the sides and the width is 600 mm then I would use 3 domino connectors with 2 normal dominoes in between so 5 pieces across each joint. For intermediate shelves it might be reasonable to use 3 normal dominoes and 2 connectors. Peter
great video. one question : is there any reason why the round hole, grub screw and (horrible) plastic cap has to go on the inside of the cabinet? why not on the outside where it would be less visible? tx
Morning Peter, i was wondering that if the domino connector system is good enough (stability wise) to make a bed? i have used the cross dowel nut/bolt and they are very stable. am saving now to buy df500 on your video suggestions. thanks for educating in advance.
Hi Mian, I would not use the DF500 version for a bed as it is really only suitable for cabinets even with a pair of normal dominos. Could you borrow a DF700 and use those connectors - they would be excellent. Peter
Thank you for this illuminating video! Have you tried to make the same connections with the Domino XL? I suppose this should be possible as the XL also has an 8 mm drill...
Hi Peter. I have watched that video. In theory I think this new 8 mm connectors should also work for the DF 700,maybe the depth of the cut has to be changed as the references are slightly different between the 500 and the 700. I'm waiting for my kit and as I only have the 700 I will give some feedback on it if it works
Hi Frank, The DF700 can be used with the DF500 connectors. The DF700 can do a cut at 10 mm height (to the centre) and at 15mm and 25 mm depths. So the only difference is the 25 mm depth of cut instead of the 28 mm depth with the DF500. Peter
Hi Tom, I have no measurements to give you so my answer will be difficult. The joint will never be as good as a glued domino joint but it is good enough for many woodworking applications. Peter
For me the DF700 makes a lot more sense then the smaller DF500 because the cost per joint is a little to expensive compared to the competition like Lamello
I think that the initial outlay of the Lamello is higher than the DF500. Also, the joints with a shelf on either side of an upright are not as strong with the Lamello. Peter
Hi Chris, If you start by comparing the cost of the Domino machine to the Lamello then the Festool system does not require such a sizeable investment at the start. When I sold my Lamello machine which was 12 years old I nearly had enough to buy a new DF500. Peter
New Brit Workshop I’m not really sure where this product fits. If I’m manufacturing cabinets commercially the cost of around £1/fixing would be uneconomic. If your making a kitchen say you’d be looking at say £10 worth of hardware per u it, average kitchen includes say 15 units that’s a lot of outlay for something which doesn’t really add value. The only situation I could think of where you wouldn’t rather assemble/glue in a workshop is if access were really tight. Conversely as a hobbyist apart from the novelty value when would you want or need to essentially make flat pack furniture?
Hi Chris, I take your point entirely. When I have made bespoke units I have assembled them dry in the workshop and glued (or screwed) up on site - in those days I had my old Lamello. So, I was not worried about taking it apart again. However, there are circumstances where a knock down approach is useful. Perhaps when the time on site was limited or when there was a real requirement to take things apart. The best way to view this and any other system is that it gives users a capability to do a particular type of joint and it is useful to have that in the arsenal of options when doing cabinet (and other) work. Cheers. Peter
@@chrisb4009 You can use just a few on a cabinet and then use the remaining as standard Dominos that are glued. So you make in the workshop. Take it to site make up the cabinet and then glue it with standard domino. Some cabinets are best done on site.
bighand69 lot of tooling/equipment, you’d need to be doing a lot of volume for it to be worth going down this route. I generally achieve something similar with pocket hole screws + Domino.
