Tips for Using the Domino DF 500

Dry Assembly:
Domino tenons fit TIGHT. Even without glue, they can be difficult to remove. To allow you dry test fit your joints, set aside a few dominos of each size just for this use. Sand them to loosen the fit and color them with a marker for easy identification. Keep these for use with future projects.

Selecting Domino Tenon Size:
Mortise and tenon joints are designed to maximize side grain glue area. Choose a tenon that is 1/3 to 1/2 the thickness of material being used. Because this machine is so accurate, consider using multiple Domino tenons in a joint for added strength. The Domino Jointer ships with a 5mm cutter installed and without sample dominoes. We recommend purchasing the Domino Assortment with cutters. This is an excellent value considering it includes a healthy portion of each of the five sizes of Tenons and one of each of the four size cutters all in a handy compartmentalized Systainer 2. Your projects will dictate your individual needs, and this will allow you to have everything available on hand.

Dust Extraction
Some type of dust extraction is critical. The Domino Joiner, like most Festool tools, is design to effectively remove chips and dust from the work area. These chips are captive and failure to remove them will cause inaccuracies in mortise placement. We recommend the Festool Dust extractors. Packages of The Domino Joiner with one of the four Dust Extractors are available at a discount (compared to price when purchased separately).

For those still not convinced, and who insist on hooking up a Festool Tool to their own shopvac, I recommend purchasing a Festool hose. Since you won’t have the benefit of the antistatic feature, you can purchase the less expensive non-antistatic hose that will fit standard 2-1/4" shop vac inlets and will work with any future Festool you buy.

If you insist on using your hose, purchase an adapter and some duct tape and have at it. Call me back later and tell me that you wished you bought the hose!

Uses:
The Festool Domino Joiner took Europe by storm. New uses continue to surface and are only limited by your imagination. The Domino can be used virtually anywhere. Remember, the Domino is Fast, Accurate and Strong. Its accuracy is suited to small projects as well as light production. Some common uses we’ve seen are: Cabinet and carcass assembly, face frames, chair and table making, joining stair rail components, applying shelf edging, raised panel doors, and edge to edge joining. Consider using the Domino system in same applications where you would consider biscuits, mortise and tenon, pocket hole, and doweled joints.