Festool Domino DF500 vs XL DF700 (Detailed Comparison)
Choosing the right Festool Domino Joiner can be a difficult choice, in this article I compared the DF 500 and DF 700 helping you make the best choice. The DF500 is the best Domino jointer for the everyday woodworker, while the DF700 is best for large structural projects, however, the DF500 and DF700 have some overlaps in capability. The DF500 is best for building furniture, cabinetry, tables, chairs and small to medium sized projects. The DF700 is designed for large structural components like entry doors, beds, slabs, and commercial sized furniture. I personally have the Festool DF500 and I have used it to build kitchen tables, tv stands, countless woodworking projects. I love my Domino Joiner and it was the best tool purchase I have ever made. I hope the following article will help you decide which Domino Joiner is right for you.
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Domino Functionality
The Festool Domino is a game changing tool in the woodworking and carpentry world. Festool has practically combined the functionality of a router with a biscuit joiner to create the best joinery tool for woodworkers. The Festool Domino is essentially an automated doweling jig on steroids and replacing dowel rods with floating domino tenons. The Domino joiner allows anyone to create perfect loose mortise and tenon joints with precision, speed and a simple process. Simply place a center mark on your workpieces and plunge the Domino jointer, and you are left with a precise mortise with minimal effort. The Domino Joiner also comes with different sized cutters and has adjustable depth, allowing the joinery to be tailored to your project. Festool eventually realized the need for a larger machine and increased the capabilities of the original domino DF 500 by introducing the XL DF 700. The functionality between the DF500 and DF700 is essentially the same, yet the key differences are in the mortise and floating domino sizes as well as the depth of cut.
Joinery Size Comparison
Mortise Sizes
The key difference between the Festool Domino DF 500 and the DF700 is the mortise sizes that the joiners are able to cut. The DF500 has cutters available from 4mm up to 10mm, while the DF700 has cutters available from 8mm to 14mm. Notice both domino joiners are able to cut 8mm and 10mm mortises which are what I primarily use making small to medium sized furniture. If you are typically using 3/4 inch thick material the ideal mortise size is 8mm, and if your are using 1 inch thick pieces the correct mortise size if 10mm. The differences between the DF500 and DF700 come into play when you are using material smaller than 3/4 of an inch or larger than 1 inch thick, however there are a few workarounds.
The Festool Domino XL DF 700 is not able to be used for material thinner than 3/4 of an inch thick which would require a cutter size smaller than 8mm. The DF500 domino joiner is able to cut smaller mortises in material between 5/16 and 5/8 inches thick using the smaller 4, 5, and 6mm cutters that is not possible with the larger domino joiner. The DF700 is capable of using 12 and 14mm cutters allowing the joiner to be used for thicker material and for more structural purposes. The rule of thumb is the domino should be 1/3rd the thickness of the material.
| Cutter Size | DF 500 | DF 700 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 mm | X | |
| 5 mm | X | |
| 6 mm | X | |
| 8 mm | X | X |
| 10 mm | X | X |
| 12 mm | X | |
| 14 mm | X |
Depth of Cut
The other key difference between the Festool Domino DF500 and DF700 is the depth of cut. Both the DF500 and DF700 have preset depth stops which make changing setups quick and easy. I have found the accuracy of the plunge depth gauge to be correct and it is easy to switch with a flip of a switch. The DF500 has depth stops of 12, 15, 20, 25, and 28mm which has the capability of using up to a 50mm domino tenon. The DF700 has variable routing depth setting of 15-70 mm with 5 mm increments letting you use up to a 140mm long domino tenon. The length of domino you should use will depend on a few factors. First, if you are joining pieces at 90 degrees you need to make sure it doesn't go through the backside of the wood. If you are creating a structural joint you will want to use the longest tenon possible. If you are using the domino for panel alignment and just mortising the edge of the work pieces the longer tenons are not needed.
| Depth Stops | DF 500 | DF 700 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 mm | X | |
| 15 mm | X | X |
| 20 mm | X | X |
| 25 mm | X | X |
| 28 mm | X | |
| 30 mm | X | |
| 35 mm | X | |
| 40 mm | X | |
| 45 mm | X | |
| 50 mm | X | |
| 55 mm | X | |
| 60 mm | X | |
| 65 mm | X | |
| 70 mm | X |
Width of Cut
Both the Festool DF 500 and XL DF 700 have adjustable mortise width settings. The DF 500 has 3 width settings with the smallest setting as the snug fit for the loose tenons which is 13mm. The middle width position is set to be 6mm wider than the Domino tenon, and the widest position will be 10mm wider than the domino tenons. The Domino DF 700 has only 2 width settings in comparison to the smaller DF 500. One setting is for a snug fit for the loose tenons and the second setting is 3mm wider than the domino tenon You would want to use the wider mortise settings for quick alignment of panels and to minimize a lot of setup and marking. The DF 500 Domino joiner is more flexible and has the ability to do larger width mortises in comparison to the Domino allowing easier alignment when gluing panels or table tops.
Domino Sizes
As part of the Domino Joinery System, Festool uses a variety of floating tenons they named Dominos which are essentially proprietary pieces of wood that are required to create the floating tenon joint. The dominos come in various sizes which coincide with the same mm cutters available for both the DF500 and XL DF 700. If you are using the small width setting the corresponding domino will have a perfect fit in the mortise. The DF 500 joiner is more capable with smaller pieces with it being able to cut smaller mortises and using the 4, 5, and 6mm dominos. A useful workaround to join thicker material with your DF500 is to use multiple dominos per joint. I have used this method to join 3x3 inch material building table legs with 4 dominos per joint and using the 10mm cutter. The DF 700 is designed to address the challenge of large-scale joinery by using much larger floating tenons. The DF 700 has an expanded range of available dominos with the ability to use 12 and 14mm thick dominoes as well as longer tenons. The DF 700 has the capability of using a maximum tenon size of 140mm in comparison to the DF 500 with a maximum tenon size of only 50mm. Festool also offers a few Dominos that are 750mm in overall length that can be cut down to make your own tenons.
| Domino Size | DF 500 | DF 700 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 20 mm | X | |
| 5 x 30 mm | X | |
| 6 x 40 mm | X | |
| 8 x 40 mm | X | X |
| 8 x 50 mm | X | X |
| 8 x 80 mm | X | |
| 8 x 100 mm | X | |
| 10 x 50 mm | X | X |
| 10 x 80 mm | X | |
| 10 x 100 mm | X | |
| 12 x 100 mm | X | |
| 12 x 140 mm | X | |
| 14 x 75 mm | X | |
| 14 x 100 mm | X | |
| 14 x 140 mm | X |
Mortise Positioning
Both the DF500 and DF700 have the same positioning attachments included but the machines do have differences. The main difference between the two is that the DF500 only has 2 integrated stops, whereas the DF700 has 6 integrate stops. Included with both Festool tools are a support bracket, trim stop, and cross stops. The support bracket is used to support the Domino Joiner below the face of the machine as well as having integrated stops for narrow workpieces. Festool also includes with both tools a trim stop bracket that holds narrow workpieces to quickly align the center of the mortise on a small workpiece. The cross stops can be attached to the sides of both joiners to quickly set stops up to around 8 inches or 205mm apart for quick slot mortises to glue table tops or large panels. The cross stops eliminate the need to mark the center of the mortises and quickly work down the edge of the work piece. Personally I don't see the additional indexing pins on the DF700 as a major factor since Festool includes the same attachments with both Domino Joiners.
Weight & Usability
When comparing the Festool Domino 500 vs 700, one of the main differences is the weight of the machine. As you would assume the Domino XL DF 700 weighs more than the DF 500 by almost 4 pounds or 2 kilograms. The difference in weight makes the DF 500 more comfortable to use on a daily basis and weighs similar to other power tools. The DF 700 would be best suited in a commercial workshop that requires larger tenons and deeper mortise depths than the DF 500. When comparing the Domino DF500 vs DF700 the ergonomics of the machine are slightly different with the DF700 having a built in handle while the DF 500 does not. I personally use the 500 Domino Joiner in my home workshop and find it very easy to use, where as I could see using the 700 could become tiresome if you are using it all day long. Since the DF 500 is much lighter, it would be easier to use for a long period of time and could be perfect for a commercial shop that doesn't work on larger projects.
Dust Extraction
If you are looking to buy a Festool Domino either the DF500 or DF700, they both require the use of a dust extractor. In order for the Domino Joiner to operate properly it requires wood chips to be removed from the unique patented pendulum motion of the cutters. One of the main benefits to both Domino Joiners are that with a dust extractor hooked up almost no dust or wood chips are produced. I personally was hesitant in purchasing a Festool Domino due to them requiring a dust extractor but then dove in and also purchased a sander and dust extractor as well which drastically improved my time in the shop. If your interested in the benefits of a sander and dust extractor combo you can check out this article here. If you don't already have a dust extractor to use with your Domino don't be detracted due to cost because Festool does offer affordable dust extractors and varying sizes. Also, adding a dust extractor to your shop will improve your working environment, prevent health issues and reduce time cleaning your shop.
Price Comparison
The initial investment of a Festool Domino is costly, but you will save an incredible amount of time and make your life as a woodworker much easier. When comparing the DF500 vs XL DF700 the price difference is around $500 dollars. Both Festool products come with a power cord, systainer, support bracket, trim stop, and cross stops. The only difference between the two products is the Domino XL joiner is capable of cutting larger mortises, while the original DF 500 is capable of using smaller cutters and producing smaller mortises. If you are deciding between the two Festool Dominos the price difference should not be a major factor, if you need the additional functionality of the 700 XL the machine is worth the extra cost.
Pros & Cons
DF 700 Pros:
Use of 12 & 14mm Cutters
Increased Mortise Depth Up To 70mm
Built In Handle
6 Built In Indexing Pins
DF 700 Cons:
More Expensive
Cannot Use 4, 5 & 6mm Cutters or Dominos
5lbs or 2kg Heavier
DF 500 Pros:
Less Expensive
Use of 4, 5 & 6mm Cutters
5lbs or 2kg Lighter
2 Built In Indexing Pins
DF 500 Cons:
Limited Mortise Depth Up To 28mm
Cannot Use 12 & 14mm Cutters or Dominos
No Built In Handle
Which to Buy DF 500 or DF 700?
Festool DF 500
Yes If...
The DF 500 is the perfect choice if you are looking for quick and easy mortise and tenon joinery without using stationary tools and long setup times. The DF 500 will save you an insane amount of time and effort while replacing a doweling jig, biscuit cutter, pocket hole jig, and the skills needed to product traditional mortise and tenon joinery on stationary machines.
No If...
If you are just starting out woodworking you don't necessarily need a Festool domino to produce high quality projects, if your interested in the alternatives I have outlined them in this article. Also, if you are looking to build large projects with massive wood slabs, commercial sized furniture, or large structural joinery the DF 500 is limited in the thickness and depth of mortise needed for those projects.
Festool XL DF 700
Yes If...
If you plan to build very large projects that require large mortise and tenon joinery for structural components or joining two pieces of wood that are larger than 1.5 inches in thickness. The Festool Domino XL DF700 expands upon the capabilities of the original Domino DF 500 and is perfectly suited to meet the challenge of large-scale joinery.
No If...
If you are just a hobby woodworker or small commercial workshop that only is planning to build small to medium sized projects the DF 500 is the better option.
Conclusion
No matter which Festool Domino Jointer you purchase, you will not be disappointed. If your looking to primarily use the domino to join massive slabs, build doors, or large commercial sized furniture the DF700 is going to be the best choice using the 12 and 14mm cutters. If you plan to use the Festool Domino as a hobby woodworker or in a commercial shop building small to medium sized furniture the DF 500 is the perfect joiner. I purchased the DF500 and it has been the best tool purchase I have ever made. It has opened up so many possibilities and allowed me to build professional level furniture with ease. If your still unsure about the Festool Domino you can check out one of my other articles outlining the various alternatives to the Festool Domino.
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