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p111dom

Established Member
Joined
21 Jul 2007
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Well that's it I've finally had it with the Domino. While cutting slots for buttons in a table rail the fence has been gradually moving up unoticed until I got all the way around and ruined the lot. Worst tool ever! I've never got on with it. I just can't get it to cut straight, find it awkward, ergonomically flawed and fiddly. I sent it away to Festool who sent it back saying it was all within tolerance and no fault found. There idea of tolerance and mine clearly differ. Embarrasingly they sent out a sheet on how to use it properly altering the plunging speed depending on the size of biscuit you are using. :oops: I have just been making a nest of tables and would have used the Domino to make the whole thing but I've just lost confidence with it. Everytime I pick it up I set the depth and it cuts in a different place to where I was expecting. It's very easy to make a mistake with it as in cut at the wrong height or wrong depth. I realise that thats not the tools fault, it mine but all the settings that look obvious to me, don't do what you'd think they'd do. I've gone back to how I used to do project like this and cut everything with the mortiser and tennoning jig. It's taken a long time but I'm not a pro and time isn't money for me. Anyway I've felt much better knowing that it's all going to work. I got to the point where I though "hang on, you spent £500 on this tool and it's just sitting in the drawer, you have to use it for something." Well I did and it went wrong....again.

How's that for a sales pitch then. So one Domino for sale with a letter from Festool saying it's fine but the user's an *****. It's obviously in its sustainer with the trim stop, short piece fence thingy, bolty on bit underneath, all four cutters and the seperate sustainer for the biscuits which is pretty much full. I'll post pictures today at some point. Postage would be alot. When I bought it it was £28 via Fedex. To be honest the post office might be cheaper but either way I'd ship it at cost. Offers to the PM button below please otherwise it's going on fleabay. :roll:
 
I'm sold, I just have to wait for the 15 million to clear from my nigerian ambassador friend :)

Being serious for a bit though, I'm sorry you are having so much bother with it, I would however see if you can check it against another machine. Although festool sent it back saying it's fine, I'd always want to see how it compares to another. It's got good reviews since coming out, and I'm sure you aren't an *****, so maybe there is something wrong with it that Festool hadn't picked up on.

Either way, good luck with the sale, I found whenever I sold high-ticket prices on ebay, they usually went close to the real value.
 
I'm sorry your not getting on with the machine. I think youve slightly undersold the machine in your post in the interest of balance I would like to add that it is the best power tool I own accurate and a great timesaver. I'm sure you will have no problems selling it.

jon
 
ByronBlack":2dvyzanc said:
I'm sold, I just have to wait for the 15 million to clear from my nigerian ambassador friend :)

Being serious for a bit though, I'm sorry you are having so much bother with it, I would however see if you can check it against another machine. Although festool sent it back saying it's fine, I'd always want to see how it compares to another. It's got good reviews since coming out, and I'm sure you aren't an *****, so maybe there is something wrong with it that Festool hadn't picked up on.

Either way, good luck with the sale, I found whenever I sold high-ticket prices on ebay, they usually went close to the real value.

I've been over all that with Festool and they have a "tolerance" which to me is pretty wide. My tool apparently falls within tolerance but for me that's just not good enough. I'm not alone. On the US Festool forum they recon that 4 out of 5 are out slightly. I've posted on their before and the response was that my results are pretty average of the tool. Some Domino's will be better but many will be worse. To be fair following Festools speed cutting advice, the results are better but still not perfect. It's really the ergonomics I don't like. In fact I'd go as far as to say there's a design flaw in every aspect of it to a certain degree. Mainly though I'm just fed up with Festool from their uncompetative business practices, rediculously high pricing and their general attitude in that 'their tools are the best bar none'. It's just not true. Since they are putting their prices up by 10% in three days time, that just takes the biscuit.

As for the sales pitch ultimately I'm just being honest. Maybe I'll do a detailed review with everything I think is wrong with it before I let it go.
 
i'm going to end up buying one of those things, I just love the idea and concept. Despite Dom's troubles. I'm jut not sure if now is the right time, we'll see ;)
 
Sorry to hear of your problems, but to give an alternative viewpoint I've been using a Domino for a few months now and IMO it's the most useful woodworking machine since the router.

The accuracy and consistency are amazing, so good in fact that I"ll often go straight to gluing up without a trial assembly first. I know, I'll regret that one day, but that's the level of confidence it inspires! I recently made a bench with over fifty Domino M&T joints, and every one went together with that satisfying "airtight" fit between stiles and rails.

I've also used it to "pin" a jointed table top that was eight feet long and comprised of five individual planks, I used about forty Domino loose tenons and it went together like it was on rails. It took less than twenty minutes to bore out the mortices with the Domino, but it probably saved an hour or two of clean-up time as it prevented the planks "creeping" slightly while being glued up.

I got mine second hand, it's the first model, the one with the round pins rather than the later versionl Festool had to introduce because the round pins infringed someone else's patent. Don't know if that makes a difference.
 
Well I own one and its right on,at first I was having trouble with it,just pushinhg in along the table to cut but if you use the fence ...its right on.To much wiggle room on the table to be perfect...and pushing from the tail end helps bunches.Its not a grab and go tool and does not have good clear instructions with it.Pictures do not always help,in this case instructions would be better....thats why the Festool U.S.site can help a new guy.
 
Hi, p111dom0

Did I bid the most? is it mine :lol: :wink:

Seriously are you keeping it?


Pete
 
I've watched the woodwhisperer use one whilst he built a gadget station, he whizzed through his work with it and swears by it, I don't think I'd like one myself though.

Rich.

Happy new year to all members and guests in case I don't post again tonight. :D
 
Dom's gone away for a few days so he's not ignoring you Pete.

Mike: It's not even giving you and excuse is it mate?
 
p111dom,
Had the same problem with a cheap biscuit jointer, I persevered and partially ruined a few peices, bought myself a decent one and 'Hey Presto' it all works fine.
Kept the other dodgy one in case I ever need to cut away skirtings for something like laminate, not that I expect that to happen but handy in case.
Derek.
 
I'll second that recommendation for parcel2go. Only thing I don't like is the e-mails I keep getting, reminding me of their prize draws...! :roll: I bought a 12" disc sander off eBay and had it delivered through them, next day, for only £11! :wink: There is a size and weight restriction but, that should allow for most power tools.
 
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