Thread: FESTOOL DOMINO Experience - by those who have used one.

Originally Posted by Groggy

I haven't seen the Kapex here yet and don't think we will for a while. It is a very high end tool and we may not have sufficient mass in the market to warrant importing it, though I dare say a few will import them.

She'll be here alright Groggy, second half of this year, no date as of yet. Thats from Festool Australia.

Thanks for the informative thread guys, I've been looking at this thing for a few days and I'm trying to decide whether its worth it to me. I do my mortise and tenons using the forstner bit/chisel method. I've been cutting the tenons on either my router table or the TS. But on a 48" piece it can be dicey.

I've always hated the loose tenon thing because of my experience with the Beadlock, but I took apart a dry fit Domino joint at my local WW store and there was no slop. I mean none. Very cool.

Whats interesting to me is the ability to handle angles. It would seem to be really sweet for picture frames. I hate doing picture frames with the biscuit joiner. Plus the width even with the small cutter is limiting.

Guess I could sell my PC biscuit joiner to offset the cost some. I had put away some cash for lumber... but what the heck. Perhaps I'll use less lumber by building everything with slats. LOL Go for the open weave look..

Frackin Festool just kills me. I only have their sander and the vac, but the quality is nothing short of incredible.

Jeff,

Welcome to the world's best WW forum! If you want to know how to use the Domino in creative ways, this is the place. I've only had mine a week or two, but already I am well ahead because of everything I learned here. The $$ pain will be forgotten quickly.

I also have the Rotex 150, the CT-22 and the OF1000 router. SWMBO likes the Rotex so much she volunteers to do all the sanding.

Watch these Ozzies, though. They love to give Seppos a tough go.

Jeff,

My advice would be to go for the Domino. It will enable you to accomplish far more in less time, and allow you to undertake projects that were previously too laborious, due to the number of mortice and tenon joints.

You will be very welcome here , so long as you avoid trying to maintain that America is the greatest country in the world (although I have to admit that it does have its merits), or that the Imperial measurement system is superior to metric I have to say that I think Dr Samuel Johnson went a little too far when he said "I can love any man, except an American".

Rocker

Originally Posted by Rocker

I have to say that I think Dr Samuel Johnson went a little too far when he said "I can love any man, except an American".

Yes, but just a "little."

Originally Posted by Rocker

You will be very welcome here , so long as you avoid trying to maintain that America is the greatest country in the world (although I have to admit that it does have its merits), or that the Imperial measurement system is superior to metric I

Nah... I married a Chinese woman... nothing like a tough Communist to keep my nationalism in check.

The metric thing does worry me a bit (regarding the Domino purchase). I have no problem with using metric, but its the switching back and forth that might prove difficult. If I cut in English, then switch over to using metric for my mortises, then switch back to English... you get my drift. Its funny, I was at the Woodcraft store checking the Domino out and a Czech and I were having the same discussion. He was trying to explain to me why I wouldn't have any trouble with metric. Problem was I couldn't understand but about every third word he was saying. Didn't seem to bother him though... he talked non-stop.. I couldn't get a word in edgewise.

I use dial calipers quite a bit and have a nice pair in English, I may have to break down and buy some in metric.

Here's the pisser... part of my urge to buy this thing came from an email I got from my brother this morning. He's building a place for my mom and dad to live (its a box inside a barn... but thats another thread). Anyway, I'm supposed to be building some furniture for my mom. He tells me this morning that the drywall is done and they are laying carpet this weekend, and wants to know how far along I am.

Crap... I haven't started yet. All the lumber is in my basement. So I run around for the last three hours checking my stock. Going up and down the stairs about 20 times. Moving boards around. Cleaning up the shop... really humping.

Then he sends me another email saying he was only joking.. they really aren't any farther along then they were 8 weeks ago.

The little !@#@#

Originally Posted by JeffG.

Then he sends me another email saying he was only joking.. they really aren't any farther along then they were 8 weeks ago.

Thanks for posting the anecdote, Jeff, read it out to the missus, we both loved it

I like your brother already

Welcome aboard, mate.............cheers..............Sean

Before rejecting the tool outright due to it's high upfront initial cost, remember these thoughts.

It is a new tool category and may obsolete other tools over its lifetime.
The original biscuit joiner was introduced by the Swiss company, Lamello. The Top 20 model still costs 700 dollars US and is much like the original model introduced over 15 years ago. Lamello is a very expensive limited production tool company, much like Festool. Competition will drive down the cost as new versions are introduced, if it catches on with the market.
Early adopters can reap the benefits of productivity, while running the risk of losing required supplies if the tool is discontinued due to poor sales. Biscuits are ubiquitous these days but only Festool supplies the tenons right now. Being first to market always commands a price premium until competitors strip away market share.

I would still like feedback on functionality of the tool in the shop before making the purchase. I have always had problems making accurate alignment of the slots with my biscuit jioner but the design of the biscuit usually allows for somw adjustment during assembly in only one direction (side to side inline with the biscuit). The tenon jiont is less forgiving in that the mortise must be completely aligned as there is very little post cutting alignment possible during glue up. This could be a problem with multiple tenon jointing to add strength along narrow pieces. Any thoughts about differences between biscuit joining and the Domino system?

sweedld,

Have you read this thread at all? I know its a long thread, but the answers to all of your questions about biscuits versus dominos have been covered here. I'd suggest reading the whole thread, its great reading. Entertaining at times too.

As to the product catching on and staying on the market, I don't think there's anything to worry about there. Festool isn't having a problem selling them one bit, especially in the US. Just about every review of the machine has been outstanding, which will eventually sway some of those people that are on the fence about it.

As to the cost becoming lower due to competition... We're talking about Festool here. They aren't going to lower the cost of anything. They make an awesome tool, but they don't cave in when it comes to cost. It won't matter what Dewalt, Makita, PC, etc do to compete with it, the cost of it will go up, never down. I already have mine, so let them raise the price all they want

Like Lou, I'm a bit speechless. There's already enough info on the Domino in this Forum to answer any question you can think up. Remember, we've (okay, they've) had it for nearly 2 years now in OZ. The American forums may still be debating, but we have moved far past that stage and are into creative applications, tips, and techniques.

You are very welcome here in the Forum, but . . . you are liable to get your tail slightly singed.

Actually only 1 year, 1 month, 3 weeks - get it right Bob!!

One thing I am not sure has been covered in this thread is correcting mistakes. If you do happen to put a mortise in the wrong place by a few mil, nothing stops you gluing in a domino into that mortise, trim flush, coming back later and plunge the new mortise in the correct location. Sometimes you won't even need the glue until gule-up.

Originally Posted by nt900

Actually only 1 year, 1 month, 3 weeks - get it right Bob!! .

Well, it "seemed" like 2 years until I could get one. Good tip, BTW. I've already got a few "candidates" for that.

Originally Posted by Rocker

Jeff,

My advice would be to go for the Domino. It will enable you to accomplish far more in less time, and allow you to undertake projects that were previously too laborious, due to the number of mortice and tenon joints.

You will be very welcome here , so long as you avoid trying to maintain that America is the greatest country in the world (although I have to admit that it does have its merits), or that the Imperial measurement system is superior to metric I have to say that I think Dr Samuel Johnson went a little too far when he said "I can love any man, except an American".

Rocker

Gee Mate....What country is the greatest?
Gary K. LOL