With its DOMINO system, Festool has combined all of the benefits of conventional wood joints in a single system. Its success speaks for itself: The DOMINO system has become ever more successful in the carpentry and joinery trade over the last few years. Now Festool is expanding it with one more clever component: From April 2018, the new detachable basic structure connectors and furniture connectors, in combination with the DOMINO DF 500 joining machine, will make deconstructible furniture and components quick and easy to assemble in a stable and flexible way – work in your usual way without the need for more special tools.

Furniture assembly – quick, simple, stable and flexible
"With the new basic structure connectors and furniture connectors, we are expanding the DOMINO system perfectly and are extending the range of applications for the DOMINO DF 500 joining machine. From April onwards, they will help you assemble even deconstructible cupboards quickly, easily and in a stable and flexible way – with small, robust and detachable connectors." Designed for a system, no matter whether working with chipboard or solid wood: Four different versions ensure maximum flexibility. "DOMINO/DOMINO" represents a simple-to-create joint entirely within the DOMINO system. The fixture is recessed into both the base and the cupboard panel with the joining machine – this can easily be combined with your usually working methods and DOMINO wooden dowels. "DOMINO/LR 32" represents a detachable DOMINO connector in combination with an LR 32 series of holes in the cupboard panel:

• Corner connector – for DOMINO/DOMINO joints
• Corner connector – for DOMINO/LR 32 joints
• Centre panel connector – for DOMINO/DOMINO joints
• Centre panel connector – for DOMINO/LR 32 joints

Festool has developed its new DOMINO connectors for material thicknesses ranging from 18 to 28 mm. "Thanks to their design, our new connectors smooth out the axial irregularities that are created when milling with a handheld machine. We have also designed our connectors such that their large tightening distance and long bolts enable high stability. DOMINO connectors do not protrude after pre-assembly. This allows workpieces to be easily stacked and ensures that they remain undamaged during transport," Reines explains.

Not flat, not round – just DOMINO 
The Festool DOMINO wood joining system provides the ability to create stable wood joints with handheld power tools – with ease, speed and precision. The DOMINO system combines all the advantages of existing systems into one: The undisputed stability of mortise and tenon joints together with the flexibility of biscuit dowels used in furniture manufacture and the precision of round dowels used in frame and rack assembly. The key to the DOMINO wood joining system is the patented pendulum routing principle. Here, the joining machine moves the cutter in a simultaneously rotary and pendulum motion to manufacture an elongated hole perfect for inserting the specially shaped DOMINO dowels and connectors. Different routing widths enable the user to join and glue the dowels with ease. The routed holes can be created to either fit exactly or be slightly wider in order to provide play. The special cross cut and large gluing area of the DOMINO perfectly combine all of the benefits of round and biscuit dowels to create an extremely solid, twist-proof wooden joint. Only a single DOMINO dowel or connector is needed to provide stability and prevent the joint from twisting.

Tried-and-tested all-rounders: The DOMINO XL corner and surface connectors
Festool launched the DOMINO corner and surface connectors for the DOMINO XL DF 700 joining machine in 2016. These connectors enabled frames, racks or boards to be connected quickly and easily while ensuring that they were stable and detachable. They can also be processed in exactly the same way as the DOMINO dowels – with no time wasted on measurements or complicated markings – using only the stop system. All that needs to be done is to route an additional hole. The combination of dowel and tensioning element provides a powerful connection that can be flexibly detached if required. Festool is offering its corner connectors for frame and rack joints and surface connectors for board joints at material thicknesses of 30 mm or more. These can be produced using the DOMINO XL DF 700 joining machine – without using any templates or other devices.

DOMINO as part of a system
Festool is constantly continuing to develop the wide variety of accessories and consumables for the DOMINO system. All parts of the system are compatible with each other, which increases the range of applications and the processing reliability: For any workpieces, thick or thin. The new connectors are an ideal solution for producing deconstructible designs such as corner and centre panel joints, especially for joiners, interior finishers and exhibition stand fitters. "It is precisely its versatility and flexibility that make it so special: From corner joints and centre panel joints to joints between series of holes – either entirely within the DOMINO system or in combination with the LR 32 series of holes system – everything is possible with the new basic structure connectors and furniture connectors," Reines sums up. All of the benefits of the "Service all-inclusive" service package also apply to DOMINO joining machines. More information and a range of videos are available on the DOMINO microsite at www.festool.co.uk/domino.