Thread: Domino or new mortiser ?

Originally Posted by robbie330

The costs are pretty much comparable - $1400 for a decent professional mortiser or $1800 for the Festool setup.

Arrrgggggg, it drives me nuts when people keep insisting the Domino is $1800.

Its just under $1400, the extra is for the accessories that arnt needed straight away.

Curious, the $1400 for the mortiser, does that include one standard start up chisel, or an entire box of up to a 25mm chisels?


That said, Robbie go the Domino, heaps better and more versatile than the mortiser

Sorry Lignum - didn't want to raise your blood pressure - just going by various previous posts re the $1800 and buying every thing up front.

The $1400 for the mortiser is for now taken from various web sites and as far as I am aware is just for the machine - I have a full set of good quality bits anyway.

Thanks for your advice

Rob

Hi Rob,

I'm with Lignum on this. There's no need to buy the extras with the Domino first up. I bought the lot when I started and haven't used the narrow timber guide at all. If you work out what size mortises you make on a routine basis, then you will know what size cutters you will most often use with the Domino, then you need only buy those cutters and dominoes to suit. Also, you can make your own dominoes quite easily to any size you want.
Remember that, like a mortiser, the Domino digs holes and doesn't care how long or wide they are. Its only limit is depth of cut. This means you can use it to easily make rebates and grooves such as you would put on the back of a cabinet or as a slot for the base of a drawer or box. And that's just the start. Also, the cutters stay sharp for years. (I've had mine for 4 years now and give the 6mm cutter a lot of use and its still the original cutter.)
So for comparable dollars, you get a faster, more versatile tool.

Regards,

Rob

Getting the basics like Rob said is the way to go. After you have been using it for a while then you can work out what you need. Ideal Tools has a great start up kit and is perfect to get started with. They give you the basic machine (with 5mm cutter and 5mm Domis) plus you get an 8mm cutter and bag of 8mm Domis and the additional stop (ZA-DF 500 My favorite accessory by a mile ).. Its all you need to get started. I used the 10mm cutter all the time when I first got mine over 4 years ago, but now use only the 5 and 8mm cutter and Domis.

Buy a second hand unit if you can, you may get one $900-$1000 with accessories if you keep an eye out. Buy a few cutters (if needed) and off you go.

Rob, Lignum and Groggy -
Thanks for your words of wisdom it's always reassuring to have a helping hand when forking out such big amounts.
Groggy - I've never seen a second hand one for sale and Festool stuff seems to fetch such high amounts better off going for new anyway.
I bought my TS55 and MFT from Ideal Tools and found then very good to deal with so will see what they can do on the BASIC package minus all the bells and whistles. It's a pity I'm not in Melbourne to do that Domino course but will probabley muddle through on my own - I normally get to where I'm going - albeit via a circuitous route .
Thanks again
Rob

Hi Robbie330,

There isn't an answer to your question I think because it isn't really a fair question. I don't believe that it's a case of mortiser or Domino competition. They are completely different machines with different functions. I can see that if one has a Domino then one could possibly apply it to tasks that it is not ideally suited for such as joining large door and bed components. I have both machines plus a very good home made tenoning jig for the table saw and I hardly ever use the Domino for anything else except edge joining or the occasional bookcase shelf if it's a light duty job. The Domino is just superlative for fast and precise edge joining. I've put about 7000 of those 8mm loose tenons into edge joins so far and I'm still on the original cutter.

Old Pete

Rob i think you couldnt go wrong with the domino.

It has so many uses and the longer you have one the more you`ll be using it on different things.

I cant imagine not having a domino now, as Lignum said the most usefull accessory is the ZA-DF 500. If you grab that and some 5mm & 8mm Domino`s you`ll be good to go.

cheers
Brad

Originally Posted by robbie330

Rob, Lignum and Groggy -
Thanks for your words of wisdom it's always reassuring to have a helping hand when forking out such big amounts.
Groggy - I've never seen a second hand one for sale and Festool stuff seems to fetch such high amounts better off going for new anyway.
I bought my TS55 and MFT from Ideal Tools and found then very good to deal with so will see what they can do on the BASIC package minus all the bells and whistles. It's a pity I'm not in Melbourne to do that Domino course but will probabley muddle through on my own - I normally get to where I'm going - albeit via a circuitous route .
Thanks again
Rob

G'day Robbie, check your inbox for my PM.
Cheers
Sheddie in the Shed

Hi Rob,

I would vote for the Domino. It is very versatile & you can use it for many heavy duty tasks with the right joint design & I think you will find it is much faster than you previous system. With large pieces, it is much better, faster & safer to bring the tool to the work, rather than struggling with manouvering large pieces on & off machines.

Garden furniture will require some water mould & insect resistant Sipo dominos. (or make your own)

The only issue you might have is if the bulk of your designs make a feature out of through tenons - in this case stick with the morticing machine

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You're a man of few words Sheddie

Originally Posted by Groggy

You're a man of few words Sheddie

..a picture paints a 1000 words. so i guess i just posted 3000 words.

the joys of unwrapping a new tool!

Enjoy.