It's worth it. Expensive but it just works perfectly. The precision you get out of it is spot on and you get it fast and easy. I've had many times where I was sure things weren't going to come together as nicely as I wanted them to only for them to line up perfectly because of the domino.
Your tips have saved me so much time and make batching out projects go smoother and more enjoyable. It doesn’t matter how many times I use the domino, it’s always my favorite tool to use in the shop!
Just bought my first Domino 500 and am extremely impressed with this tool. It was worth the cost and all the hype is real. Thank Sege for all the videos detailing this machine. Your instructions are by far the most useful and viewer friendly of all that I have seen. You speak in layman's terms so it's easy to understand and comprehend. Keep em coming. Thanks again for the instructional videos.
This video was really helpful. The more projects I build, the more I use an object any time I can over a ruler or tape measure. That’s where this tool really comes into its own. You posted a snarky reply to a comment of mine about using the loose setting on another video. However, now I understand why you prefer a single domino to index the side-to-side movement of the joint. It’s rare to have a joint where that side-to-side sheer strength has any importance, so alignment is the key. In fact, I can’t come up with an example making cabinets or drawers where the strength of the joint in that direction matters. And your approach will make assembly easier.
I find when I make both sides of the joint loose it works against me trying in the glue up. I have better luck when I make one side entirely tight setting while the mating piece has one tight and the rest loose to make the assembly come together better. Also it allows you to glue one side in place for a larger glue up for less stress. Thanks for sharing these tips!
How would you use the cross stop with one side tight and one side loose? I figure there's a +3mm drift on the loose side which eventually will shift the centers too far apart for the corresponding tights. Or am I wrong here?
@@teac117 That is a totally valid point! I haven't done this method with the cross stops, only when doing the 'to a line' method like when doing a table top glueup. I've used the cross stops as references from the edge of the board so I get one further in than the built in would allow but you are absolutely right it wouldn't work to use the mortises as references this way.
@@realpdmteac117 it’s possible, you have to double cut the loose ones. You cut them all tight working away from your original and then adjust to the loose setting and work your way back.
Glad I found this. Never knew the purpose of tight and loose mortise. You see all these guys using this machine and they are always hammering their pieces. Learned something new.
Very helpful thankyou. I mistakenly thought you might do one side tight and the other side loose, but during the video I realised that because you reference the previous hole, the loose hole side would have a different spacing to the tight hole side. My stops are in the post, looking forward to using them, and thank you for the instruction!
Hey Sedge; Great video and one that I needed. Just bought my D500 a few weeks ago and using it quite often when I can wrestle it away from my son. He's remodeling three rooms full of cabinets. I tried the cross stops a couple of days ago BEFORE I found this video. It did not go well. Tonight I pulled them off and fixed my errors. I did not know how to set the stops ergo misaligned holes. My bad, I should have sought help. Oh well live and learn. Is there a list of your videos that would lead us newbies a little by the hand? Two critical takeaways; set your distance using inside cursor and only make one end domino tight and all others both sides loose. Only one critique, please don't mix inches and meters in your discussion. Stay with meters and us old folks will figure is out.🙂
There is a Playlist on the Sedgetool channel with all the Domino videos listed there .... I would start with this one : ua-cam.com/video/mj0pHVYEEYI/v-deo.html Then This One : ua-cam.com/video/s6jyLkObBqg/v-deo.html
Thanks guys for yet another killer video. The best thing about Festool, besides their awesome products, are the video you produce Sedge, which makes it possible for me to use all aspects of the tool. Something I wouldn’t be able to if I had to read through a manual.
So, I've never been able to get the mortises from my cross arms to line up consistently. It finally occurred to me to measure the actual distance to both spring loaded pins. Turns out that my left and right have an error/ difference of 1/16th of an inch. So, on small pojects it didn't matter, but on big panel glue ups, they will never line up correctly. Looks like there was a manufacturing oops somewhere.
My Cross Stop box just arrived in the post, i opened it up then immediately looked for a Sedge video on how to use them! As always, all my questions answered ! Thanks Sedge. I wonder how many people you have taught to use this awsome tool correctly!
great video. Well, yeah, I have a 500 and a 700. LOVE them but yep, didn't know what that particular device was for. Now I know. Wow, very useful. I'm going to watch all your vids now.
These videos are very helpful. The Festool engineers put a lot of effort in to adding in lots of cool features. Your videos help spread the knowledge to customers… They should hire you as a spokesperson 😊.
As a complete newbie to the Domino world, your videos have been my main source of learning and have learned so much, thanks! What's the relevance of the 37mm from the flap to centre of the bit? Why not 35 or 40? Does the 37 actually have any meaning behind it? Also, why come in off the first flap (37mm) and not say 20mm (with the flap on the removeable base)? Thanks
Holy smokes! I had no idea!! I have always considered purchasing the Woodpeckers accessory for this, but I never needed it for more than about 8 inches....and it turns out I already have them?!! Most I've learned on a Thursday morning in a long time :)
varmit72 I have three Dominoes in the shop. Two 500's and one 700. Each has its own Cross Stops. Two of the Cross Stop sets do not produce aligned mortises. Is there a simple method to adjust the Cross Stops pins so that both sides are equal and to make all three sets equal?
Yes .. on the side of the cross stop pin there is a small hex screw … after loosening… in the front of the pin take a slotted screwdriver and by pushing the pin in you can adjust the pin
Sedge, for some reason my right and left cross stops have been giving me mortices 2mm or so apart making it impossible to align. I called Festool about this and they said something about calibrating the pins but were very unhelpful with the issue. How do I resolve this?
the pin on the cross stops have an adjustment........there is a hex on the side ..loosen it then take a slotted screwdriver and look directect at the pin and you will see a slot . , depress the pin and use the screwdriver ..,it is cammed and by doing a few tests you can recalibrate...hope this makes sense.
What is the best way to figure out which setting to set the cross stop to? I get confused because going from tight to loose changes the spacing by 3mm. I've already accidentally hit a domino when trimming a panel. Is it best to avoid putting them within 150mm of the ends?
Hi Sedge You always make heavy pencil marks. How do you erase them afterwards (without sanding through sometimes extremely thin veneer)? Thanks very much and happy holiday season 🙂
I am wondering, could you not make one board with all tight mortises and the second board with one tight mortise and the rest loose mortises and accomplish the same alignment.
If you used the cross stops for the mortises, with one edge on tight and the other edge with one tight and the rest loose, after a few mortise cuts none of the dominoes would line up on the loose board.
Why does the distance from left-pin-to-center differ from right-pin-to-center? Is it possible to calibrate? The problem is NOT with the centric plastic transparent ruler! When I cut the reference hole and then cut right and left holes with the same distance set on the “wing” ruler the actual distance between the holes differs by 1 millimetre 😱 I appreciate any help.
you can adjust the cross stops by loosening the hex screw on the stop and using a slotted screwdriver on the face adjust to be even by some trial and error....
A BIG problem I have with these cross stops is that any tiny inaccuracy you have ends up multiplying and amplifying as you go down the board. For example if your left cross stop is miscalibrated from your right one, that measurement difference will drift and propagate down the line to larger and larger inaccuracies until no amount of wide mortise wiggle room will compensate and you end up destroying your work piece with misaligned mortises. Not worth it at all! Can you tell this is a lesson I learned the hard way?
@@sedgetool you have to calibrate them EXACTLY. Any error will lead to drift. Too risky for me. Did this plastic thing come out of calibration from last time I used it? Etc. Also the DF500 comes with no calibration instructions, admittedly the 700 does. (Maybe a video idea ?)
I have these items and was giving them a trial run on some sacrificial boards before I use the melamine. I was having some issues. I think they had to do with holding the machine flat. I wish I could explain what I was doing without typing for a lifetime but, I can't. There will be enough melamine for a few errors and then some on this small project. In the end if it works out then these items stay with the machine. If I end up with alignment issues (dominos to opposite piece which will be on top not end to end) I'm likely gonna file these things with the circle cutter and tape measure.🗑
The more I watch your videos the more I want a Domino!! This machine is a game changer. It would really up my woodworking skills! Thank you!
Right on!
It's worth it. Expensive but it just works perfectly. The precision you get out of it is spot on and you get it fast and easy. I've had many times where I was sure things weren't going to come together as nicely as I wanted them to only for them to line up perfectly because of the domino.
Very cool. The “T,L,L,L” fit for assembly is good advice! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 😎👍
Cool
Your tips have saved me so much time and make batching out projects go smoother and more enjoyable.
It doesn’t matter how many times I use the domino, it’s always my favorite tool to use in the shop!
Wicked cool !!!
Just bought my first Domino 500 and am extremely impressed with this tool. It was worth the cost and all the hype is real. Thank Sege for all the videos detailing this machine. Your instructions are by far the most useful and viewer friendly of all that I have seen. You speak in layman's terms so it's easy to understand and comprehend. Keep em coming. Thanks again for the instructional videos.
Thank you soooooooooooo much Steve !!!!
This video was really helpful. The more projects I build, the more I use an object any time I can over a ruler or tape measure. That’s where this tool really comes into its own.
You posted a snarky reply to a comment of mine about using the loose setting on another video. However, now I understand why you prefer a single domino to index the side-to-side movement of the joint. It’s rare to have a joint where that side-to-side sheer strength has any importance, so alignment is the key. In fact, I can’t come up with an example making cabinets or drawers where the strength of the joint in that direction matters. And your approach will make assembly easier.
cool Thanks !!!
I find when I make both sides of the joint loose it works against me trying in the glue up. I have better luck when I make one side entirely tight setting while the mating piece has one tight and the rest loose to make the assembly come together better. Also it allows you to glue one side in place for a larger glue up for less stress. Thanks for sharing these tips!
Thanks
How would you use the cross stop with one side tight and one side loose? I figure there's a +3mm drift on the loose side which eventually will shift the centers too far apart for the corresponding tights. Or am I wrong here?
@@teac117 That is a totally valid point! I haven't done this method with the cross stops, only when doing the 'to a line' method like when doing a table top glueup. I've used the cross stops as references from the edge of the board so I get one further in than the built in would allow but you are absolutely right it wouldn't work to use the mortises as references this way.
@@realpdmteac117 it’s possible, you have to double cut the loose ones. You cut them all tight working away from your original and then adjust to the loose setting and work your way back.
@@brandonblatchleyinteresting approach. I had thought about doing one side tight and the other loose but hadn’t come up with your solution.
Glad I found this. Never knew the purpose of tight and loose mortise. You see all these guys using this machine and they are always hammering their pieces. Learned something new.
Wicked cool !!! Thanks for watching
Every time I watch one of your videos, I always find/learn something I did not know before. Thanks a bunch, and keep up the good work!
Thanks, will do!
Very helpful thankyou. I mistakenly thought you might do one side tight and the other side loose, but during the video I realised that because you reference the previous hole, the loose hole side would have a different spacing to the tight hole side. My stops are in the post, looking forward to using them, and thank you for the instruction!
Glad it was helpful!
Hey Sedge; Great video and one that I needed. Just bought my D500 a few weeks ago and using it quite often when I can wrestle it away from my son. He's remodeling three rooms full of cabinets. I tried the cross stops a couple of days ago BEFORE I found this video. It did not go well. Tonight I pulled them off and fixed my errors. I did not know how to set the stops ergo misaligned holes. My bad, I should have sought help. Oh well live and learn. Is there a list of your videos that would lead us newbies a little by the hand? Two critical takeaways; set your distance using inside cursor and only make one end domino tight and all others both sides loose. Only one critique, please don't mix inches and meters in your discussion. Stay with meters and us old folks will figure is out.🙂
There is a Playlist on the Sedgetool channel with all the Domino videos listed there ....
I would start with this one :
ua-cam.com/video/mj0pHVYEEYI/v-deo.html
Then This One :
ua-cam.com/video/s6jyLkObBqg/v-deo.html
thanks guys! I never used those cross stops before but now I definitely will!
You bet Eric !!!!!!
Thanks guys for yet another killer video. The best thing about Festool, besides their awesome products, are the video you produce Sedge, which makes it possible for me to use all aspects of the tool. Something I wouldn’t be able to if I had to read through a manual.
Thank you so much Klaus !!!
Thanks Sedge and Big D, a very useful reminder. Superb explanation and clear instructions. Appreciated!
Our pleasure!
So, I've never been able to get the mortises from my cross arms to line up consistently. It finally occurred to me to measure the actual distance to both spring loaded pins. Turns out that my left and right have an error/ difference of 1/16th of an inch. So, on small pojects it didn't matter, but on big panel glue ups, they will never line up correctly. Looks like there was a manufacturing oops somewhere.
The cross stops are adjustable...look at the front ...there is a slotted recess..on the side is a hex to unlock the pin which is on a cam...
@@sedgetool thank you so much! I'll check it out tonight!
Dude, I saw your festool wall!!! what a great job you have. Videos are very educational.
Thank you sooooo much Christopher .
My Cross Stop box just arrived in the post, i opened it up then immediately looked for a Sedge video on how to use them! As always, all my questions answered ! Thanks Sedge. I wonder how many people you have taught to use this awsome tool correctly!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you, Sedge and Big D!
You bet Peter !!!
Very helpful - as always.
Looking good, Medium D!
Glad to hear it!
Amazing Sedge & big D: Tomorrow on a client project I will use this exact technique!
Sounds great!
Best vid on domino I've watched Bri.
Thanks Bri !!!!
@@sedgetool Ha, ha, ha!
Thanks Sedge, just learned more Festool Domino info
Thanks Patrick !!
great video. Well, yeah, I have a 500 and a 700. LOVE them but yep, didn't know what that particular device was for. Now I know. Wow, very useful. I'm going to watch all your vids now.
Glad I could help!
Thanks guys!
Thank you too!
Great info. Thank you.
You bet!
Awesome istruction. Thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
Yes Sedge this Video was Helpful . Thanks Guys
Glad to hear Milan !!!
Super helpful. Thanks for taking the time to enlighten us!
You bet!
These videos are very helpful. The Festool engineers put a lot of effort in to adding in lots of cool features. Your videos help spread the knowledge to customers… They should hire you as a spokesperson 😊.
Thank you very much!
As a complete newbie to the Domino world, your videos have been my main source of learning and have learned so much, thanks!
What's the relevance of the 37mm from the flap to centre of the bit? Why not 35 or 40? Does the 37 actually have any meaning behind it?
Also, why come in off the first flap (37mm) and not say 20mm (with the flap on the removeable base)?
Thanks
37mm relevance is the same distance in 32mm cabinetry from the front of the cabinet to the center of the 1st system holes....
Love my DF500. I had a Mafell DuoDoweler and I sold it to get this. The Mafell was great but it didn't have the flexibility of the Domino.
cool
Big D just noticed the weight loss you’re looking great!
Big D is looooooooking gooooood !!!!!!
Great technique reminder, cheers guys! 👏👍😀
Our pleasure!
Is there a video about the sequence and the amount of glue that should be used?😊
Great Idea ...
Holy smokes! I had no idea!! I have always considered purchasing the Woodpeckers accessory for this, but I never needed it for more than about 8 inches....and it turns out I already have them?!! Most I've learned on a Thursday morning in a long time :)
Glad I could help!
Thanks again for this info.
You bet!
Thanks Guys. It is starting to set in and the light bulb is getting brighter
Wicked cool David !!!
@@sedgetool I just ordered the DF500 and the Domino set. really looking forward to it and catching up on the HOW TO videos.
Use mine this weekend! I always forget to use the mortis I just made as a reference for the next one.
cool
Great video, I like your series on the Domino, ps I'm from the South, it took a while to get used to your Yankee Accents. LOL
LOL...I have an accent ???
Never let the bit chaddah
🤙
This video should come within the case. lol. I've been making mark lines before picking up the machine.
glad we could help !!!
varmit72
I have three Dominoes in the shop. Two 500's and one 700. Each has its own Cross Stops. Two of the Cross Stop sets do not produce aligned mortises.
Is there a simple method to adjust the Cross Stops pins so that both sides are equal and to make all three sets equal?
Yes .. on the side of the cross stop pin there is a small hex screw … after loosening… in the front of the pin take a slotted screwdriver and by pushing the pin in you can adjust the pin
Sedge, for some reason my right and left cross stops have been giving me mortices 2mm or so apart making it impossible to align. I called Festool about this and they said something about calibrating the pins but were very unhelpful with the issue. How do I resolve this?
the pin on the cross stops have an adjustment........there is a hex on the side ..loosen it then take a slotted screwdriver and look directect at the pin and you will see a slot . , depress the pin and use the screwdriver ..,it is cammed and by doing a few tests you can recalibrate...hope this makes sense.
Shout out to “Tooth and Nail” records.
👍
All this work going on... It's time for a beer
I concur
Can you explain the adjustments on the pins of the CROSS STOPS?
great idea for a video..thanks !!!
@@sedgetool Yes, please! I was just last night looking at Festool's instructions that come with the cross stops, and I cannot figure it out. Ha, ha!
What is the best way to figure out which setting to set the cross stop to? I get confused because going from tight to loose changes the spacing by 3mm. I've already accidentally hit a domino when trimming a panel. Is it best to avoid putting them within 150mm of the ends?
it all depends on how much you have to waste off the panel.....
What size domino's were you using in this video
5x30
5x28
If you have one tight, then what is the use of the loose ones, they cannot move anyways because of the tight one. What am I missing here?
Ease of assembly ....
how come the one i purchased in AU didn't have accessories?
you might have purchased the basic
@@sedgetool there is no kit options around the land of kangaroos
I’m still waiting for a Domino only in person class lol
Thanks Matt !!!!
the light bulb in my head went off. how many stationary machine in the shop, will this system replace
GREAT point Tony !!!
Hi Sedge
You always make heavy pencil marks. How do you erase them afterwards (without sanding through sometimes extremely thin veneer)?
Thanks very much and happy holiday season 🙂
Use an eraser before you pick up the sander. Worth the effort!
@@mikevyvyan7060 Isopropl Alcohol removes them easily
@@ronthomas3029 Another good 'solution'. I frequently write on pieces of blue tape and stick on them the board or timber. That works for me.
I use lighter grit on a Festool sander
@@mikevyvyan7060 A white eraser works really well.
Sad you didn't go over calibration and the elliptical adjustment mechanism on the plungers.
never needed to adjust them......
I am wondering, could you not make one board with all tight mortises and the second board with one tight mortise and the rest loose mortises and accomplish the same alignment.
If you used the cross stops for the mortises, with one edge on tight and the other edge with one tight and the rest loose, after a few mortise cuts none of the dominoes would line up on the loose board.
@@Mike--K thanks
line up !!!
@@Mike--K is right. Whatever you do to one side needs to be done the same way on the other side.
I had thought about cutting one tight on each end and then loose in the middle on both sides, but that defeats the ease of assembly objective.
What does it do … besides make Domino holes? (And put drainage holes in my wife’s wood planters?)
hmmmmmmmmm
Why does the distance from left-pin-to-center differ from right-pin-to-center? Is it possible to calibrate? The problem is NOT with the centric plastic transparent ruler! When I cut the reference hole and then cut right and left holes with the same distance set on the “wing” ruler the actual distance between the holes differs by 1 millimetre 😱 I appreciate any help.
you can adjust the cross stops by loosening the hex screw on the stop and using a slotted screwdriver on the face adjust to be even by some trial and error....
@@sedgetool i’ve read that but I cannot turn it clock-wise nor counter. it’s very stiff and I don't want to strip the thread
@@sedgetool I finally made it. The magic is that the pin is eccentric and moves slightly off-center by turning it, right?
why doesn't those 2 spacers come in metal. I'm not a user but I can see other makers. what can we do to capture part of the market back
????? do not know
A BIG problem I have with these cross stops is that any tiny inaccuracy you have ends up multiplying and amplifying as you go down the board. For example if your left cross stop is miscalibrated from your right one, that measurement difference will drift and propagate down the line to larger and larger inaccuracies until no amount of wide mortise wiggle room will compensate and you end up destroying your work piece with misaligned mortises. Not worth it at all! Can you tell this is a lesson I learned the hard way?
you should calibrate your cross stops...
@@sedgetool you have to calibrate them EXACTLY. Any error will lead to drift. Too risky for me. Did this plastic thing come out of calibration from last time I used it? Etc. Also the DF500 comes with no calibration instructions, admittedly the 700 does. (Maybe a video idea ?)
@@sedgetooldo you mean check to make sure left X setting matches right X setting precisely? If so, what reference mark on the Domini do you use?
Black shirt guy is a toolbox
Im pretty sure my Domino didnt come with these. How do I aquire after the fact😮!?
amzn.to/48iblS6
@@sedgetool thanks👍
I have these items and was giving them a trial run on some sacrificial boards before I use the melamine. I was having some issues. I think they had to do with holding the machine flat. I wish I could explain what I was doing without typing for a lifetime but, I can't.
There will be enough melamine for a few errors and then some on this small project. In the end if it works out then these items stay with the machine. If I end up with alignment issues (dominos to opposite piece which will be on top not end to end) I'm likely gonna file these things with the circle cutter and tape measure.🗑
sorry you are having frustration with this William....
Honestly they could have done a lot better job on the cross stop design... They are kind of cheap, flimsy, etc...
ok