Replies

1. 
   Hastings | Jan 26, 2010 09:13am | #1

   TWG:

   The advantages of the Domino over a floor-standing mortiser are a function of what you want to do. Once you get used to your Domino, you will find all sorts of uses and applications it's very flexible, and being hand-held, you can use it in all sorts of places.

   I have had a Domino since it first arrived on the scene and it gets used in every project I do - exterior shutters presently, face frames, attaching decorative trim, attaching face frames to carcasses, in lieu of a traditional M&T etc., etc.

   That said a mortiser is also very useful if you want to stick to traditional M&T applications. But that Domino won't take up floor space!

   Hastings

2. 
   RickL | Jan 26, 2010 02:19pm | #2

   I disagree on a chisel mortiser as the alternative. The true alternative and original predecessor would be the horizontal slot mortiser. I have access to both and the horizontal slot mortiser wins hands down for overall versatility if you have the shop space. If not, the Domino would be a good option. I've been using the slot mortiser for 35 years and wondered why it tooks so long to catch on.

   I can dowel with it, horizontal bore with and do everything you can go with the Domino but can also do the larger mortises. The Domino is more portable.

   http://www.lagunatools.com/mortisers/mortiser-platinumhs

1. 
   Lataxe | Jan 26, 2010 03:07pm | #3

   As with the biscuit joiner, one may use the machine to make holes in the middle of panels. This is very useful for many applications such as attaching shelves or dividers. As far as I know, neither a hollow chisel mortiser nor a slot mortiser can do this.

   As has been mentioned, the Domino is also very portable. It also references off many surfaces to place the slots very accurately. For example, it can be used to make through mortises in quite thick wood by going at the piece from two opposite sides. The slots will meet perfectly in the middle if accurate reference marks are knifed around the workpiece; and it is square.

   Very small slots can be accurately placed in the ends of very narrow pieces, such as chair parts. It is easy to repeat such operations with each piece identically slotted, using the special fence.

   In short, it is portable, versatile, fast and accurate. It beats every other mortising method I know (and I've tried them all, to a greater or lesser extent) if one considers all those features. As Rick mentions, it's only significant limitation is that it does 10mm wide slots maximum - although I have wondered if it will do a double row of slots that overlap.

   Lataxe

1. 
   montec24 | Jan 26, 2010 04:31pm | #4

   I second everything Lataxe said. I was worried when I bought mine but it far and away exceeds my expectations. I always found the hollow mortiser slow and didnt always end up with neat mortises. It does have some limitations but all and all I am very happy with mine.

   Lataxe, you can double (or triple or more I guess) a row of slots that overlap. I don't know if your supposed to and havent looked at the directions about it but did try it when I was playing around with it after I bought it.

   Dana

2. 
   Greg_R | May 13, 2010 02:20pm | #12

   [quote]I can dowel with it, horizontal bore with and do everything you can go with the Domino

   I like that I can pick up my Domino and stick a mortise anywhere.  Supposedly there is a larger version in the works (may be available in europe?).  I agree that a horizontal mortiser would be ideal for the majority of in-shop work.

3. 
   JohnWW | Jan 26, 2010 07:12pm | #5

   I would have to agree with the post by RickL, the Domino is actually a miniature hand held horizontal mortising machine, and its full size equivalent would be a horizontal mortising machine, not a chisel mortiser.

   Why horizontal mortisers have never been popular in home shops is a mystery, they would cost about the same as a chisel mortiser if they were mass produced, and they are far easier to maintain and much more useful.

4. 
   TWG | Jan 26, 2010 10:24pm | #6

   Thanks everyone for the replies.

   RickL, that Laguna is a pretty cool horizontal mortiser. I've never seen one in that price range that looked as hefty and useful.

   I still like the versatility of the Domino system, but if I started making larger production runs I would certainly take a hard look at a horizontal mortiser now that I know they exist in that price range.

1. 
   bones | Jan 27, 2010 09:18am | #7

   I'm coming to the
   I'm coming to the conversation late, but I'll go with the domino. That exact combination (ct33/3 + domino) was my first festool purchase when it first came out. I have a grizzly horizontal boring machine that was doing my floating tenons till that purchase. It works great and properly sized, is very strong and is so easy and fast it's just no comparison to anyhting else. There was a very expensive downside to that purchase though. I have since purchased the ETS150,TS55,MFT3,OF1400, and T15+3. Have a good one!

2. 
   Napie | Feb 05, 2010 05:41pm | #9

   I had a slot mortiser on a Robland J/P combo machine, selling it was THE WORST tool decision i have ever made in 30 years of woodworking. The Domino is great I'm sure but you will not regret a slot mortiser, I miss mine on every project...

5. 
   jointerman | Feb 05, 2010 03:15pm | #8

   Coming to the discussion even later!

   I think that both tools have their place. I initially wanted one, but have decided against it for now. One has to consider what one wants out of wood working. Since my work is for myself, I want to know that I'm using traditional M&T and through M&T in my projects. It's not about strength of the joint or anything like that, it's about me personally knowing how it's built, kind of a pride of craftsmanship?

   I know that some of the projects can be made faster and more accurately with the FT Domino, but I'll hold off until I need that speed and ease of accuracy. For now, I'm learning how to create traditional joints. BTW: Don't get get the wrong idea of me, I believe that love power tools slightly more than wood working itself.

6. 
   jacko9 | Feb 24, 2010 04:58pm | #10

   Here's another late comment for you, I purchased a Domino Jointer last year along with the CT22 dust collection and have been very satisified with certain types of joints like sheet case construction.  I used an Inca combination table saw with a horizontal slot morticing attachment for over 30 years and I regret selling that machine every time I cut a mortice.  I replaced my Inca table saw with a Powermatic 66 complete with sliding table but, I should have kept the Inca just for the morticing attachment.  A horizontal slot morticer can't be replaced by the Domino for cutting large mortice joints in solid wood furniture construction (in my humble opinion). 

1. 
   godfather | Apr 21, 2010 09:31am | #11

   Great Tool

   I've had my Domino for about a year and just love it.  I ended up selling my JDS multi-router which is like a horizontal morticer and have not had any regrets at all.  It's one of the best tool purchases I have made.

2. 
   bones | May 13, 2010 05:21pm | #13

   I have a slot morticer also

   I have the grizzly HZ boring machine that I used for slot morticing and it did a good job.  The beauty of the domino is it's simple, fast, and if you can hit a pencil line your good to go.  My SM has not been used for much since I got the domino except a sliding table (I have casters on it)