Replies

1. 
   agerner | Jun 06, 2006 01:37pm | #1

   Yes, I have had one for almost 3 months. It is fantastic! You can use it for all kinds of stuff.

   I have a review of it in the current issue of Australian Wood Review. http://www.woodreview.com.au

   The machine is super accurate and has replaced the biscuit jointer in my workshop.

   I can only fault the machine in 2 ways.
   1. it is quite heavy.
   2. You have to watch to make sure you really push it against the work, as the two rubber pads on the front and hold the machine off your work at an angle.

   Please feel free to ask me any questions.

1. 
   Lataxe | Jun 07, 2006 01:54am | #2

   Ag,

   I too am fascinated with the thing.

   Could you tell us about the "dowels".  Are they expesive; and what is your impression of their strength, for instance?

   Can the machine slot pieces narrower than can a biscuit joiner, without the ends of the slots showing after the pieces are glued up?

   Lataxe

1. 
   agerner | Jun 07, 2006 02:45am | #3

   The Domino's themselves are priced similar to biscuits at about 7 cents (AUD), depending on the size. Yes they are strong and are made from Beech. They seem much stronger than biscuits, as they are thicker and also go into the work further.The width of the slot is determined by the size of the Domino you are using, however you can also set the machine to cut a wider slot to allow for some adjustment.Anton Gerner

2. 
   mufti | Jun 17, 2006 01:06am | #7

               Lataxe, I saw this thing domonstrated at the Great Northern show last November. It does one thing only and you need a separate cutter for each size, you also buy the special inserts. It vibrates when new so wear must occur.

   A router is more efficient and loose tenons are easy to make from many materials. Not that I am biased but it seems a tool invented to create a need rather than the reverse and Im always baccards roads on.

1. 
   agerner | Jun 17, 2006 01:29am | #8

   Yes you can make your own loose tenons, but why would you when you can buy them in a box, all the same size for almost nothing! It's just not worth the time to make them.Yes you do have to change cutters for the different sizes, but this takes under a minute.I would suggest you try out the machine for yourself, as I believe there is nothing else on the market that can be used as fast and as easily as this machine.
   Visit my web site at:

   http://www.antongerner.com.au

1. 
   Lataxe | Jun 17, 2006 10:40pm | #9

   Mufti and Ag

   I agree with M that it's easy to make loose tenons.  I've made many metres of them like this:

   * TS a small plank as the blank, about 1mm oversize in thickness.

   * Thickness to exact thickness for the mortises to be used, in a drum sander.

   * Round the shoulders with a roundover bit of the correct radius on the router table

   * Cut off loose tenons to the required length.

   As you can see, this method needs one or two machines.  Mufti possibly has a special plane that makes them.   :-)

   I don't dismiss the Domino, for although M is right about it only doing one job, it's a very useful and ubiquitous job - like my biscuit joiner only more versatile.

   However, £500 + another £200 for all the cutters and such is too much, even for me.  And their tenons, at up to 8 pence each, are not nearly as cheap as biscuits.

   ******

   I did write to FWW and suggest they do a comparison between a top end biscuit joiner, the Mafell doweller and the Domino machine.  They could include a woodrat and a mortiser, if they liked.  Objective of the test:

   * Which machine/method creates mortise and tenon-style joints the that are the strongest over time. 

   * Which is most cost effective. 

   * Which is easiest/quickest.

   * And is a hand-chopped/sawn mortise and tenon of equal quality to the machined versions attainable by anyone other than those who have served a long WW apprenticeship?

   Such a test might be better than another article on how to cut dovetails or buy an RO sander.   :-)

   Lataxe, saving for a Marcou smoother

2. 
   DougF | Jun 08, 2006 07:14pm | #4

   According to the Festool representative I spoke to, this model will not be available in the U.S. market for a least another 6 months.  How would you rate the machine in a light production environment to spline mitered frames for frame and panel doors? 

   Doug

   Edited 6/8/2006 12:18 pm by DougF

1. 
   agerner | Jun 08, 2006 11:38pm | #5

   I would say the Domino system is much easier. You just use it like a biscuit jointer.
   And it is much stronger.
   I'm telling you this machine is fast to use!You can see it on the Festool Australia web site:http://www.festool.com.au

1. 
   DougF | Jun 09, 2006 04:05pm | #6

   Thank you.  I did review the product literature on the Australian web site but they are are rather abstract until you can actually use one or at least speak to someone with real-world expereince. 

   Doug