Thanks: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 344
-
25th June 2008, 09:33 PM #1
DIY Furniture: Dowelmax or Festool Domino?
Hi guys,
I'm trying to decide between a Domino and a Dowelmax. The advantages of the Dowelmax are:- Low price compared to Domino
- Durability (the Dowelmax is a one-off lifetime buy, whereas the Domino will need new brushes and bearings in a few years)
- Noise (Dowelmax is wonderfully quiet)
- Non-proprietary consumables (Dowelmax works with ordinary dowels, Domino requires special Festool biscuits)
- Dowelmax makes stronger joints (see their stress tests at dowelmax.com )
What say you guys?
-
25th June 2008 09:33 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Age
- 2010
- Posts
- Many
-
25th June 2008, 09:54 PM #2
Ron Dunn has one and likes it a lot. I have a Domino and like it too, but your reasons seem to indicate the Dowelmax is a good choice for you.
-
25th June 2008, 10:12 PM #3Cro-Magnon
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Location
- Central Victoria, Australia
- Age
- 64
- Posts
- 764
Groggy is right, I do have a Dowelmax and I like it better than any other dowelling device I've ever used. It is my preferred method of joinery.
I don't think a Dowelmax can do everything of which a Domino is capable. I've seen a PDF somewhere, can't remember where, which showed a Domino being used to construct a fold-out dining table. It showed off some great capability, but I also suspect that table was made by an expert, beyond the skills of the average Domino user.
There is a lot of debate over joint strength. I think either device is capable here. Perhaps the Domino has the edge in joints which are under considerable stress-and-release, like someone rocking back in a chair. I don't make chairs, not important to me.
Dowelmax is silent without electricity. If you use an electric drill you will still make noise. A corded drill is better than cordless, particularly if you are drilling dense Australian hardwoods. I solved the noise problem by buying a second-hand brace with parallel jaws, so I can use round-shanked bits.
If you decide to buy a Dowelmax, I recommend you order the metric version. Order the 6mm and 8mm guides at the same time as you buy the main unit. They're not cheap, but I find that 6mm and 8mm are much more usable than 10mm in typical Australian timber dimensions. Most hardware stores in Australia sell 6mm, 8mm and 10mm dowels. You can buy in bulk from Elraco, Timbecon, and probably others.
Let me know if you have any questions.
-
25th June 2008, 10:20 PM #4
Very good points, Ron. Thanks for the tips and insights. I think I will go with the Dowelmax unless anyone can pipe up with a good reason why the Domino is better. I like the way that you can use a manual drill with the Dowelmax. So cool. I have visions of a far different world in the future, one where energy, electricity, cordless drills and oil are all much harder to come by (anyone here heard of Peak Oil?). I think this tool may be a treasure in those times to come.
-
25th June 2008, 10:31 PM #5
-
25th June 2008, 10:36 PM #6
Don't want to hijack my own thread, but this reminds me that my old Dad had a huge Millers Falls manual drill I can ask him for too. Looks a bit like this, big brute it is:
-
26th June 2008, 01:26 AM #7
looks as though you've already made up your mind, but
if you really anticipate putting new brushes and bearings in a Domino in a "few years" it sounds like you intend making 10,000s of joints. In this case the speed of the Domino (both in joint setout and joint cutting) would be a VERY distinct advantage.
the cost of the dowels or biscuits are IMO irrelevant
Lignum has a post which shows how to make your own biscuits and there's low tech tools for making your own dowels.
joint strength is, again IMO, just sales talk.
both systems will make a joint of with more than enough strength for everyday use
ian
-
26th June 2008, 01:44 AM #8
"whereas the Domino will need new brushes and bearings in a few years"
1. Not with noncommercial use... it would take several life times.
Plus the dowelmax also will wear, the bushes after much use will become sloppy like any dowel jig.
2. The domino is surprisingly quite for a power tool, it would be no louder than a quality power drill and you'll hardly hear it over the vacuum cleaner anyway... oh yeah thats right domino has a dust extraction connection!
3. To get the strength that dowelmax quote you need to use high quality dowels(they clearly state this), good quality dowels are not that cheap considering you need several for every joint.
Domino's can be made very easily... for free from offcuts!(and yes dowels be can to but not as easily)
4. Thats a very subjective subject, if the joint(M&T/Domino/Dowel) fails due to strength clearly its the designers/design fault nothing to do with the actual joint. I mean if you know a joint will near a shear strength of 2000kg and you've used a section of say 50x20mm... its gunna break no matter what joint method you use isnt it!
Im not saying the dowelmax is no good, on the contrary its a good quality product and very efficient in the right hands. You are correct the price difference between the two is significant... but if you were really worried about saving the dollars you would buy neither and make a jig to do the job....................................................................
-
26th June 2008, 02:58 AM #9
You have more confidence in these parts than I do. I've had to replace such parts on a Dewalt and a Bosch tool, but maybe Festool is the exception.
Plus the dowelmax also will wear, the bushes after much use will become sloppy like any dowel jig.
2. The domino is surprisingly quite for a power tool, it would be no louder than a quality power drill and you'll hardly hear it over the vacuum cleaner anyway... oh yeah thats right domino has a dust extraction connection!
3. To get the strength that dowelmax quote you need to use high quality dowels (they clearly state this), good quality dowels are not that cheap considering you need several for every joint. Domino's can be made very easily... for free from offcuts!(and yes dowels be can to but not as easily)
Im not saying the dowelmax is no good, on the contrary its a good quality product and very efficient in the right hands. You are correct the price difference between the two is significant... but if you were really worried about saving the dollars you would buy neither and make a jig to do the job
Thanks for the input.
-
26th June 2008, 07:58 AM #10Awaiting Email Confirmation
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
- Location
- Goulburn NSW
- Age
- 89
- Posts
- 913
I haven't used a Dowelmax but on youtube they certainly look the part. I have doweling jigs,
biscuit joiner and a Domino. I now only use the Domino it is so good I rarely use the other methods of joining
les
-
26th June 2008, 08:06 AM #11
-
26th June 2008, 08:58 AM #12
-
26th June 2008, 10:08 AM #13
I have the Domino and love it! The advantage with it is that you can cut a mortice in the middle of a panel (Shelves etc.) where the Dowelmax can't. Also the Domi can cut at nearly any angle.
The domi is very expensive but I consider mine to be a once in a lifetime purchase. It will be interesting to see which way you go.
Cheers StevenThe hurrier I go, the behinder I get.
-
26th June 2008, 11:35 AM #14
Steven, they have a page on making shelving at the Dowelmax site:
http://www.dowelmax.com/diy-shelving.html
To the other Domino fans, I'm pleased you are happy with your purchase. I wonder how you'd feel if you owned a Dowelmax too...
-
26th June 2008, 11:47 AM #15
Considering that the Dowelmax and Domino do comparable jobs at vastly different prices, the enthusiasm here for the Domino is a tribute to the Festool marketing department.
Similar Threads
-
Should I buy a dowelmax or a festool domino?
By Rob from Kew in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 17Last Post: 8th February 2012, 10:02 AM -
FESTOOL DOMINO Experience - by those who have used one.
By nt900 in forum FESTOOL FORUMReplies: 338Last Post: 5th May 2007, 06:03 AM -
REVIEW - Festool Domino
By Dean in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 2Last Post: 16th April 2007, 04:03 PM -
Festool Domino Model Update
By Dilly in forum FESTOOL FORUMReplies: 2Last Post: 8th January 2007, 11:20 AM -
Leigh D4R, FMT and Festool Domino etc
By Flowboy in forum ROUTING FORUMReplies: 1Last Post: 26th July 2006, 10:06 AM