When I had my first look at the Domino DF 500, I wasn’t that impressed. The tool’s resemblance to a biscuit joiner left me wondering why Festool would try to compete with well-made tools from Porter-Cable, DeWalt and Lamello. I was in for a surprise. Instead of milling narrow, shallow biscuit slots, the Domino cuts precise mortises of different sizes with surprising speed and precision. This performance is possible because of a unique drivetrain that combines router-level RPMs with oscillating action. By using different spiral-fluted cutters and making adjustments on the machine, you can tailor your loose-tenon joinery to fit your project. To make the job even faster and easier, you can buy ready-made loose tenons that match your mortise sizes.
Building on the popularity of the first Domino joiner (the DF 500), Festool developed an XL model that can mill mortises that are larger and deeper. Like other Festool power tools, both Domino models connect with a tool-triggered vacuum to deliver close to dust-free performance. Every Domino owner I’ve spoken with agrees that these tools are expensive, but worth every penny. See if you agree.
