Festool 574332 Domino DF 500 Joining System

There are thousands of reviews and videos about this on YouTube et al, so there's not much sense in me explaining how it works. Rather, I'll comment about my experience with it. I'm pushing 60, and for as long as I can remember I've been woodworking, mostly as a hobbyist and occasionally commissioned to build for others. I've used it for a couple of weeks now and dog-gone I wish I picked one of these up a long time ago. It has a quick learning curve and you'll be productive with it in no time. If you value your time, this tool will pay you dividends.

The accuracy of this instrument is mind numbing. So it the price tag. I own both the DF 500 and DF 700 Domino machines. You can inspect the cut with a magnifying glass and be amazed. If you are pondering whether to buy the DF 500 or the XL, you probably will use the DF 500 95% of the time. the top tenon for the DF 700 is 14 mm, that means you will use that mortise in 5/4- 6/4 thick panels. I have walnut that thick sitting in my workshop for months because it is too thick to use for most of my projects. I do not regret buying the DF 700, I love being able to use it, though that may never occur. The peace of mind comes when you search for a used Domino mortiser online. The value is retained because it is such an amazing tool. If only half the things we buy kept their value as well, I would be happier and wealthier.

My God this tool is magic. What once took multiple hours now takes 5 seconds. I cried about the price until I used it. Worth every penny. I have forgotten about the thousands dollars I paid by now. But every time I use this machine I giggle at the time I saved. This tool is a game changer. If all my tools were stolen, this might just be the first tool I replace.

Easy to use and complement the vacuum that we had purchased.

Really takes woodworking to next level. Invisible and strong joints to hold custom furniture together.

I am starting out on lower star reviews for a reason. I have been using dowels and biscuits for years and I wanted to see if I could get better joints with the Domino. So far so good. If you want to own one of these I suggest that you watch Sedgetool on YouTube for tips and cautions. He has been using one of these for 14 years so he has learned a lot and is willing to pass this along. I will return to this review over time and provide additional info. These are pricy compared to biscuits and dowels. Easy to use once your watch Sedge. Instructions in the manual are wanting. So far, so good

This is my second Festool purchase and I must say the attention to detail and quality is superb. I have a lot of power tools but will slowly be replacing them all with Festool.

I have used several Festool products including both Domino joiners the large and the small one. I have built furniture cabinets for high-end a homes for years. Unfortunately the first few Cuts I tried with this I can hear loud bearings gears turning as if this was a defective item even though that's fine it is much louder gears grinding noise then it should be. Both depth gauges work very little or not at all. Festools a great product so I hope the seller will be a professional send me a good replacement.

When I opened the systainer, I thought I had been sent a beat up, refurbished unit. Part of the handle had popped off, the machine was scuffed, and the plastic divider inside the systainer was broken. But after I looked at it for closely, I figured it got damaged during shipping because unlike other festool products, this machine isn’t held securely in the systainer. The only reason I didn’t return it was because I needed to use it, and couldn’t wait the almost month it would take round trip to get a new one.BUT, I tried out the machine, and it worked no problem...somehow. I can only hope that this damage doesn’t void my warranty somehow. I got this domino 500 after selling my larger 700xl, and I far prefer its size, and ability to work on smaller stock. The XL is cumbersome on small stuff (yes, I had the Seneca adapter), and it doesn’t work on stock 3/4” or less. If you’re on the fence about which domino model to get, I highly suggest this smaller guy. I find it much easier to hold, hence more accurate, and unless you’re actually going to build a castle, you don’t need the XL.Festool, if you’re reading this review, SECURE THE MACHINE DOWN IN THE SYSTAINER. You’ll be getting a lot of returns if you don’t.As for me, I’ll make sure to be gentle with it whenever I move. Definitely don’t swing your systainer around!