Festool574432 Domino Joiner DF 500 Q Set

It is expensive but well worth it if you need precision. Practice on a couple of scrap pieces before you do your project in order to get a good understanding of the mechanics and how to set it up before a cut. Amazing tool!

This is not as brainless as one might hope. Its important to pay attention to how you use it (push in the back at cord and hold straight/flush, check that its lined up before each plunge) but it is relatively fast and if marking the lines, very easy. I use auto spacer, but i sometimes run into issues. Lining up dash marks is faster with less double checking required.Do i regret small versus large? The smallest setting (4mm) is extremely problematic to be almost worthless. 5 and 6mm are my goto for most projects with counter tops and this goes up to 10mm which works on all my projects. Small was definitely the right size as I’m primarily working with 1/2”-3/4” material up to 2”.I needed the small adapter for my Festool dust extractor as Festool has two different hose sizes and I went large.I went oversize on my holes. I found that attempting to have too tight of a tolerance just lead to headaches. I always regretted too tight and never too loose. Of note, switching the hole width requires the machine to be on else to risk damage. This should be reflected in big flashing letters. Think about switching gears on a bike while not moving. When it moves, bad things can happen. I put painters tape on the switch to remind me and thankfully it didn’t bite me the one or two times I did it before reading.Unlike some other Festool products I have zero complaints. Drill bit switching is easy and I enjoy working with this tool. The big complaint is price, but it’s first to market and well thought out and well designed. When the patent expires, definitely check out other brands. Until then live with pocket screws, biscuits, or dowels unless you’re okay with this price.

Not only does it create a strong joint, which a biscuit does not do but it creates perfect alignment. It’s definitely pricey but after using it I find it hard to believe I’ve lived most of my life without it. It’s made well, easy to use and makes joining boards a whole lot faster. Like anything else I wish it cost less but I can also say I honestly feel like it is worth the money.

Muy buen equipo excelente para el trabajo

I started my woodworking journey about 2 years ago. I have found out that I am not the kind of woodworker that enjoys the process, but one who enjoys the final product. This thing gets me to the final product so much faster. Too expensive? Yeah. Is it worth it even though I am a hobby woodworker and not a professional? Absolutely.I can fuss around with cheaper alternatives but that costs research time, tool set up time and execution time. I have a limited amount of free time for hobbies and this thing cuts down on the biggest time waster of all, my own stupidity. Believe me, I still make plenty of mistakes, but this thing minimizes the opportunities for me to mess up my projects. It cut down on the amount of swearing in my shop by 63% and that is a scientific fact. And when I finally emerge from my hobby hole, after 40 hours of work on a project, for my wife to say, "I mean it looks ok," that sting hurts a lot less than if I spent 60 hours of work.I am a mediocre woodworker and I like this because it is so easy. Shut up with your hacks and other ways to do it cheaper, my coffee table looks great and I still have my sanity.

This is a game changer. I finally bought one after years of telling myself it was too expensive. Well, like all Festools, they are. But, I have to say, this one is worth the money. Now for the caveat, out of the box, it is not accurate. The scale which centers a marking line is not set perfectly, so before you do serious work, set it properly. The set screws don’t have washers so as you turn them, they move the scale-frustrating but worth fussing with it in the long run. In fact, so much so, you can make consecutive joints with just fine marking lines on either piece without the need for any “wide” setting for any mortises.The piece above was made exclusively with the DF 500, even the sticking with pieces only 1” wide, and I was able to accurately join everything on the smallest width setting. Also, when I joined the face frame and the carcass, I made mortises every 6” without any alignment problems.Last word, fantastic machine when adjusted properly. Very versatile with all the bits and tenons. However adjust it first and cut slowly, it will prolong its life and make for perfect slots. Get all the accessories, especially the right angle piece which screws on the bottom.

As the Brits might say, a bit “fiddly” until one gets fluent in the set up. At that point, it becomes WOW! Unless you’re doing through mortises for show, this is WAY easier than even using a dedicated mortise machine. (I have one and I’ve used it a LOT.). Far more precise than biscuits. I’ve never been a dowel guy, so I can’t comment there. FAR more elegant than a pocket hole jig and yet still easier to use. Pricey for sure, AND you probably want the Woodpecker Mortise Match accessory tool. As a hobbyist that’s not afraid to invest in the best tools, this is REALLY cool. It’s a joy to use and you’ll be blown away at how quickly a cabinet comes together.