JessEm makes a very nice and extremely precise&accurate dowel jig. UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.
I bought the Triton tool knowing its deficiencies, and I still find it useful. 
Benchtop hollow chisel mortiser and loose tenons will get it done. An Intro to the Domino Joining System (Festool Domino DF 500). This lovely piece of machinery comes with a number of features. Most failed dowel joints I encounter fail at the dowel and not at the material like you see in 'wood joint torture tests'. Use what you have or can afford. A Domino is a great system to make it easy to install/make floating M&T joints, that's it. You may decide it's worth your while to modify, even though the tool isn't perfect out of the box. The cross stop allows you to repeat full spacing easily and accurately. 
We still recommend the Triton experiment as well because you can get something similar to the Domino and yet all its own. However, in full disclosure- if you use the Amazon links to buy any of the items, I will receive an affiliate commission from Amazon. Create one-pot meals your family will love with the Cuisinart Cook Central 3-in-1 Multico Don't Buy Festool Domino Joiner Before You Read This, Here's the link if you area interested to compare the price (both new and refurbished), Don't buy Miele B990E Rotary Iron Before You Read This, Don't Buy Troy-Bilt Riding Lawn Mower Before You Read This, Don't Buy Browning Trail Camera Before You Read This, Recommended 10,000 Watt Hybrid Gas & Propane Generator - Duromax, Don't Buy Kohler Kitchen Sink Cast Iron Before You Read This, Don't Buy Warn Zeon Platinum Winch Before You Read This, Best Salt Pool Chlorinator Hayward AQR15 40000-Gallon Review, Recommended 2 Person Far Infra red Sauna by JNH Review. Such as: Sounds good, no? Joinery. Copyright Sawdust Etc 2019. However they are very good at what they do and they are very strong and not a "poor replacement" for a traditional M+T joint. Were including some of its more general specs here as well for better comparison to the DF500: If Joinery is your career then either of these units are going to let you work faster.. Is it OK to copy projects from the magazine? I would only use it very rarely. 
Doors, windows, frames, and stairs If you work in joinery you are probably already familiar with the Domino Joiner system. For instance, there is information on the web about converting a Triton Duo Dowel Jointer/TDJ 600. Takumi Woodwork Show How Japanese Style Woodworking Should Be Done, Have More Fun Woodworking Like Thibaut Malet, I Don't Think There is a Right or Wrong Way of Doing Things as Long as you Care.: Reuben Daniel Interview, Things Always Seem to Fall Into Place: Larry Reaves Interview, This Sublime Woodwork by Anna Gregory Brought Me Back to my Childhood, Have a Woodworking Career You Can Be Proud Of, It Was Tempting to Give Up, But I Never Did. You're on the verge of being a judgmental troll on this nice forum we have here. I think Whiteside makes a router bit sized specifically for dominoes. Looking to get a Rotary Iron? I actually find the saw/chisel option to be both cost effective and quite satisfying in the end. Well, yes and no. Any other similar joint with comparable strength and glue surface will serve the same purpose. Tenons to approximately 5 1/2 inch for larger projects, Mortise width adjustment is dial-adjustable as in the DF500. Woodworkers have used loose-tenon joinery for hundreds of years to make strong, accurate miters and other connections. That is the question. But instead of cutting mortises by hand, the Domino System uses a unique rotating and oscillating bit. 
The Festool Domino is a great tool. Were glad that you asked.
Hopefully I was one of the nicer respondents. Whether youre looking for a heavy-duty weed eater or just something to get basic jobs done, weve reviewed some of the best weed eaters on the market. Manufacturer custom solutions like the Rockler Beadlock. Does anyone other than Festool make a Domino joiner? It looks accurate out of the box, and has some extra features such as location stops on the face plate. That's my approach anyway.
If you liked this article, you may also like to getfree and practical tips on woodworking techniques, business growth, productivity, and more in your inbox each week (youll also get the How to Make a Living From Woodworking PDF guide). This is for the real woodworker. I had a Domino and while I like floating tenons, there were accuracy problems with the Domino. I don't generally do tool reviews or sponsorships, and I have no affiliation with Triton, Festool, or Mafell. This is probably more workmanship related than anything. With the joiner in a vertical position, cut the mortises on the adjacent work piece. This is a unit that costs a little under $200. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. It's a moot point, truth is, most all of the ones we use are stronger than ever needed. (within reason that is), I dont know when this test was done. Don't Buy Browning Trail Camera Before You Read This. Probably best if you turn it down a notch. By submitting your email, you agree to our. Its reviews are good. I had a project with angled aprons joined to splayed legs. I have it and used it to build my bed and my workbench--both of which have seen substantial use and no failures. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Rockwell Woodworking Tools Guide: Jawhorse, Sonicrafter & Blade Runner Equipment, Starrett Tools Guide: Punches, Combination Square, Catalog and Tools for Sale, Graco 17A466 TrueCoat 360 DS Paint Sprayer: A Review. For repeat hole spacing between 3-7/8 and 8-1/16 (100 mm and 205 mm). The question was asked and I think the answer was presented as a reasonable option. It does a slightly different job. And to be honest the Mafell looks like a far superior tool to the Triton. Tamar of 3x3Custom just released a YouTube video last week titled 7 ways to get around not having a domino. Her ingenuity is second to none. While there is not really an alternative, there are workarounds. It can cut mortise and tenon joints that fit with their proprietary tenons which are referred to as dominos. Mortise the remaining holes with clearance to allow for positioning and accuracy. Great fun and very satisfying. Im always surprised at the somewhat hostile attitude simple questions are often met with on this forum.
Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more. Some fantastic features of Outdoor camera which enforce you to install at your home. While the larger DX700 is going to give you access to work for larger projects, unless you have the kind of work volume to support that investment then the DF500 is probably going to be just fine for your needs. Best was to duplicate a Domino tool to join wood legs and carcass? Attach the cross stop to the domino joiner. The joint you choose should be appropriate to the use. There are a bunch of ways to do angled M & T joints. So what makes Festool so good? Removes the guesswork from your mortise work. The price can be a little prohibitive for the Hobbyist, however. Biscuits ,dowels, beadlock and as has already been mentioned, traditional floating M&T. Funny, maybe I'm just thick skinned (or lack some history with this user) but I didn't find that post particularly offensive especially by modern standards ;). HomeCorners - Don't Buy Festool Domino Joiner Before You Read This.
P.P.S. I agree with Ben here. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. and who do not need it yet? For instance, this is an example but at the mid-range of expense for these tools. Not a hint of weakness. If you have a medium sized landscape and are having trouble to cut th HomeCorners - Don't Buy Festool Domino Joiner Before You Read This. A simple answer to your question is dowels or Beadlock. Who really need the Domino Joiners? The Cross Stop enables precise and repeatable mortise placement across the surface or edge of a workpiece. A little more information about your project would help us help you. Press ESC to cancel. It can increase your work speed and ensure that you are producing quality Joinery with the minimum of fuss. Features include the following: As you can see, its a very scaled up version of the DF500 that can get your larger projects done. I've owned a dowelmax for years and used it on numerous projects from chairs to tables to case pieces. Re: angled joints. If you are looking for a stand-alone, handheld power tool that allows you to cut similar joinery into wood, I have only found one low-cost alternative. That is the Triton Duo Dowel Jointer TDJ 600. With the domino joiners flat design you can even mortise in the remain of the door frame. Thus, the beadlock tenon would fit straight regardless of the angle. Not so fast. If not, we are going to give you a little information in regards to this Festool Domino and potential alternatives that might be used if you are considering a similar system for your work. I cut the mortises while all joint surfaces were still square, then cut the angled ends on the aprons. While this might be a it steep of an investment for hobbyists if Joinery is your career then either of these units are going to let you work faster than you would normally be able to achieve. This winch is only for true off roader. Each persons workshop is going to be an amazement assortment of various means for the craftsman to shape their imagination into something practical. Take a look at the video review below. The DF700, however, it an immense upgrade which works for beds, large tables, entry doors, and more. You can even make one or two just to get you through the project. The only apparent problem with a Festool Domino is it's price. But if you are looking for a low cost alternative to a Domino and don't mind investing some time in modifying the tool to get it accurately set up the TDJ600 suddenly becomes a viable option. Who can say no to more cool tools? The same tiresome reply (or some variation of it) on multiple posts and subjects in a given day is trolling. While these tools are pretty amazing they are also very specific in what they do and very proprietary. With the cross stop attach, position the domino joiner at the edge of the work piece using a stop pen. If you don't consider yourself Best Salt Pool Chlorinator Hayward AQR15 40000-Gallon Review . I was just wondering what alternatives I have, and what systems are used. 5 Best Cordless Leaf Blowers (2022 Review), The 5 Best Double-Sided Tapes (2022 Review), The 5 Best Magnetic Screwdriver Sets (2022 Review), How to Choose a Finish Nailer | This Old House: Live, How to Maintain Small Engine Gas-Powered Yard Tools. Maybe youll have a Domino AND fiddle with the Triton.
At around $1000 this is more of a purchase that you might prefer as a business expense unless you are very serious about your hobbies. All rights reserved. Measure carefully or set up a jig, rout the hole, pound in the domino.
This is why I got a beadlock kit. Get instant access to over 100 digital plans available only to UNLIMITED members. The problem with a highly specialized piece of equipment can sometimes simply be that they are proprietary.
Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Also be warned, it is not really a comparable tool to a Domino. Infrared Best Slow Cooker Cuisinart MSC-600 . Why? You might find that what it CAN do with a little ingenuity and elbow grease is very worth the end-results. Maybe TMI, but I think that gives you an idea of dowel strength when they're very tight-fitting. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive into a range of topics that matter. Festool is a good collection tools just like Dewalt, Bosch, Ryobi, Makita. HomeCorners - Don't buy Miele B990E Rotary Iron Before You Read This . Festool DOMINO Alternatives: Other Types of Joints. I just cut the tenon at an angle and devised a method to do this with hand or power tools (Shudder, shudder, no offence intended to anyone.) If you are on a budget and cannot justify the expense of a Festool Domino, then the Triton Duo Dowel Jointer may be an option for you. Rabbeting a shelf; Strength vs. appearance, Editor's Letter: A new tool with every project. Everyone is always talking about what's the strongest joint!!! High tool cost comparative to other joinery methods.
While the Domino from Festool really has no direct alternative, as we have mentioned before with a little modification you can do some very interesting things with the Triton, so this might also be a project of some merit for you. But be warned, it may take some modification on your part before you use it. If it is more than strong enough it is fine IMHO. https://www.finewoodworking.com/2020/12/28/james-krenovs-dowel-joint, Also, orientation of the dowels matters https://www.finewoodworking.com/membership/pdf/37114/011021068.pdf. The Festool Domino is a great tool. Recommended 2 Person Far Infrared Sauna by JNH Review. But it is a similar price point to a Festool Domino in the $1,200 - $1,300 range. Agreed. Light enough to take with you so you can take the machine to the workspace and not the other way around. This is a subject that always rambles on. Domino jointers are far from necessary in a shop.
Enter now for your chance to win more than $2,000 worth of woodworking equipment from Woodpeckers. However the investment do will pay you back quickly considering the better quality, faster and less stress. The beauty of the domino is taking the mortiser to the work instead of the work to the machine, like a bisquit joiner does. Me too Don't Buy Kohler Kitchen Sink Cast Iron Before You Read This. I thought I'd share my experience to allow you make your own decision. Creating flush panel join can now be done quickly and easily. You can put down the machine and pick up a tenon saw and some mortise chisels and actually apply or develop some skill. If you require twist resistance a single dowel is not your best choice. I didn't feel like buying another tool and decided it was about time to learn mortise and tenon joinery. As you might be aware Kohl Don't Buy Warn Zeon Platinum Winc h Before You Read This. Click for full details. I don't have the need for a Festool Domino.
Well, no, but be sure to review the modifications video. (Check the current price on Amazon here). We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This tool is not recommended for newbie or those whose woodworking project rarely uses wood joints. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, https://www.finewoodworking.com/2020/12/28/james-krenovs-dowel-joint, https://www.finewoodworking.com/membership/pdf/37114/011021068.pdf, https://www.canadianwoodworking.com/get-more/how-strong-dowel-joint, Pocket holes with dowels instead of screws, To Domino or Not to Domino? How far apart should Festool dominos be? I've been doweling everything for over 45 yrs now and have never seen In-depth articles, up-close photography, and detailed illustrations. Will it rate the same as a $1000 Domino? I Think Grit and Perseverance Are Two Important Keys to Being Successful You Cant Give Up.: Greg Klassen Interview, Here's Why You Need To Be Following The Work Of Ariele Alasko, "Doing Woodwork to Make a Living Can't be Split Into Two PartsLife/Work. So, here are the specs on the Triton TDJ600: Depending on the size of your projects you are going to be dealing with one of two Domino models being the best fit for you. That said, the modifications would need to be made by you and at best you are only emulating the Domino by a small percentage.