How Quick to Make Knock Off Festool Domino!

[Leon]

[woodchucker]

Yep this was floating around 3 weeks ago. We were all watching it while you were building your hutch :-)

It's actually pretty cool design. Although I wonder how accurate it will stay. Seems well thought out.

[Gramp's shop]

I bought the plans from this guy a couple of days before I got my steal on the real deal. Plans suffer a bit in translation, but the construction is well documented and the drawings are pretty complete.

Larry

[nailshooter41]

Leon... it has to have some credibility. After all, the designer says it was designed on SketchUp!

Seriously, it looks like it could be a fun tool for occasional use. Certainly wouldn't last under your work load. I have told many how much you use your Domino and they are shocked.

There is a woodworking club here that is sponsored by WoodCraft. They are mainly Festool collectors, and honestly Leon, I would bet a bucket of cash that between all the Domino owners they haven't cut and placed as many Dominoes as you have.

Most are delighted to use theirs to install a few per project.

Robert

[Leon]

There is another video of the tool, I'll see if I can post it. It is basically a point at the feature and demonstrate type video. It gets a bit monotonous but IIRC there was a reference to the drawing IIRC. It looked exactly like Sketchup at first glance.

I was intrigued by the Russian build it your self version. It certainly has its limitations with size being the biggest draw back.

Then again it looks like it could give the newer larger Domino a run for its money with its greater depth capacity.

I went "Whew" a couple of days ago when I needed to fit the front handle/depth gauge portion of the fence into an opening 2`5/8" high to cut some mortises. I suppose I could have removed the actual knob and gotten into an even tighter spot. I was attaching the face frame to the cubby/in/out box on the desk top cabinet.

I suspect many of the Domino owners would use the tool more if they were selling their work. Your home can only hold so much of your stuff. :~)

I will say that the Domino has all but replaced the Kreg pocket holes that I used to use with reckless abandon.

[woodchucker]

So what are you saying Robert, that Leon should win the Festool Domino user of the year award, and receive even more Dominos? But wouldn't Festool go under if they gave them to him for free?

[Leon]

Domino's are cheap. Actually the 5mm Domino's are about one penny each more expensive than a #20 biscuit.

[nailshooter41]

Actually, I haven't ever seen anyone, anywhere put the Domino to more practical use. His drawers (no, not the ones his sits on...) are still very unique and quite sturdy when assembled from Dominoes. I don't know anyone that has even copied that method yet. So my comment was made as a compliment as well.

But on the other hand, I am not sure Festool could actually affordt to give him the Dominoes he uses for free. I have heard now that he uses the machines for gardening, auto repair, and even made Sunday dinner with it someway a few weeks ago.... ;^)

Robert

[Daveboy777]

Hi Leon, This is my first post! I was considering a Kreg pocket hole jig, mainly because, as I understand it, the assembly method does not require cramping! Whereas, using a 'domino' you would need to glue & cramp-up!

Is this the case? TIA, Dave

[Leon]

Heck just last week I use the machine alone to unclog the ter'lit!

[Leon]

Dave that is correct! The Kreg pocket hole jig is a very inexpensive way to join pieces of wood and provides a strong joint.

But it does leave a rather large hole. But given that the Kreg brand screws are excellent screws and not badly priced especially in large quantities. FWIW I use the pocket hole screws for many other applications other than in pocket holes.

[nailshooter41]

I guess that's OK as long as you realize that the dark brown chips floating around in there may not have actually been Dominoes....

I am down building about 2 - 3 cabinets or fixtures a year now as almost all of my business is upgrades or repairs. Try as I might, I can't justify that machine. I still build my cabs the old way of carcass, rail and stile frame, attachment with a minimum amount of brads, glue on screen moldings (held with painter's tape until dry), half lap drawer joints with backs and bottoms mortised in, and screw on drawer faces on to finish after drawer installation.

I make either simple lap joints on the doors (never had a full lap fail) at my router table for panel doors, or if I need a raised panel I go see Ruiz cabinets and he will make me paint grade doors and paint grade door faces for about what I would have in materials. Not to mention time...

Since most of these are either display shelving for kitchens or dens, or odd shaped bath vanities, that's all the cabinet work I get. And being what they are and where they are going, they are almost always painted these days. So any of my brad holes disappear with a tiny bit of filler when primed and painted.

I keep trying to squeeze that Domino machine in there, but no luck.

At one time I was a huge fan of dowels. I had my eye on a "dual doweling" machine that was out for a long time. The machine was no more than a biscuit machine that drilled two holes at the same time instead of inletting for a biscuit. You set it up like a biscuit machine and it looked like one with the same arrangements and adjustments. The machines were quite solid, made somewhere in Europe. I saw it at one of those traveling woodworking shows that used to come around from time to time to demo and sell tools. The catch to this machine was that it only drilled 1/4" or 3/8" holes, from two to three inches apart. Of course, you could put as many dowels in a project as you liked, though. The accuracy and ability to mate holes on different pieces was really spot on, though.

I saw them on closeout somewhere for about 200 bucks and didn't buy one. Wish I had now. Never seen one since.

Robert

[Leon]

Yeah, the Domino's are better suited for the discriminating custom furniture buyers.

I think Freud made that machine you mentioned. IIRC I first saw it shortly after the Domino was introduced.

[Daveboy777]

Thanks for your reply Leon. I may have some Domino questions in the future!! Dave

[nailshooter41]

Wow, I did not know those were made anymore. I don't think I would buy one now, though. I know they quit making them as they were going to give the machine an overhaul, but I can't find any valid reviews on the new model machine.

What I did find was some YouTube vids of guys using the machine. Repeatability or not, the machine looks like a PITA to use as the guys using it in the videos look like they are wrestling an alligator. I don't know if that is them or the machine. If it is the machine, there is no way that thing would be practical for more than a few dowels here and there. No heavy duty all day work like the Domino.

I never know what to think about the videos posted on different machines. Since everyone with a credit card can temporarily purchase a machine that owns a video camera is now an expert. Sadly, they review tools without learning how to use them in many instances.

Robert

[Leon]

There are a bunch of clowns out there doing the youtube video thing. I was searching for SawStop videos and the young guy appears to not know what the heck he should buy. He has a barn with a several new machines including an Industrial SawStop and his video was probably done with an iPhone. Well he was blowing his whistle about his new SawStop which he chose over a Powermatic. He liked the Powermatic because he had use one before but bought the SawStop. A few weeks later he has a video which he is now trying to sell the SawStop because her really needs a panel cutting saw. Seems to me if you are going to drop money like that you would do more research to start with to determine what you really need.

He is probably going in to the bird house business. ;~)

BTW, Know any one that might want to buy my Jet Cabinet saw?

[Bill]

Me, but unless you know of someone already planning to drive to Indiana, the cost of shipping would probably be prohibitive. : ( Location, location, location!

[Swingman]

How far are you willing/able to drive? I will be starting a remodel in Little Rock AR in the second week of April, almost 1/2 of the way to Indianapolis from Houston. Indianapolis to LR is about 9 hour drive, IIRC.

[Bill]

Thank you for offering to help. However, Mapquest says it is 600 miles to Little Rock and I lack a truck. I am investigating possibilities.

Bill

[Lew Hodgett]

===================================== So rent a freaking truck.

1,500 miles round trip isn't the end of the world.

Lew