I need some advice.
I am about to start on a set of kichen cabinets for our old bungalow renovation. This will be the second set of kitchen cabinets I’ve tackled as an amatuer woodworker, the first set being for my parents. Anyone here have an opinion on using the Festool Domino for joinery on kitchen caninets?
The shop I previously used, that of a good friend, is no longer available to me since he’s moved. I’m short on space while our basement undergoes major renovation; it won’t be available to me until fall. So I need to tackle this project outdoors, at least as much as possible.
Here’s what I am thinking.
I already own a Festool plunge saw and guide rails, so I figure I can rip my plywood for the carcasses using that set up. I’ve no room (yet) for the joiner, planer, and tablesaw I bought a few months ago at a local auction. So I thought I’d just buy S4S stock for the face frames and door frames, cross cutting them on a miter saw and ripping using the plunge saw. Someone suggested the Domino for the carcass and door joinery.
Any recommendations or thoughts on the Domino?
Replies
Although I've little experience with my own Domino, I believe it is a fine tool for doing face frame like joinery. But, a biscuit cutting machine will also work well, though not deliver as stout a joint. Strength is only an issue for doors on a cabinet job. If money isn't the predominant factor, I'd get the Domino over a biscuit machine.
The plywood carcasses can simply be glued & nailed together where those nails won't show. (I use a finish nailgun.) This will save loads of assembly time and be perfectly adequate in terms of strength.
The Domino is a lovely tool but you don't need it to make kitchen cabinets. Attach your face frames to their boxes either using biscuits (you need a biscuit joiner) or pocket screws (you need a jig). There is no reason to M+T the face frame members to each other, just butt glueing them is enough. As far as your doors are concerned you can make fine doors using a router with rail and stile bit sets. Even if you used the Domino for the door frames you'd still need the router to dado for the door panels anyway. With the right set of bits you can do it all in one pass. With the money for the Domino you can buy all of what you need and stock the kitchen's freezer as well.
yes you can but you may want to look elswhere
The domino can definately do this, but I might suggest that you go to the Festool Owners Group (FOG) at http://www.festoolownersgroup.com and look there. Not that the information or suggestions here is bad, but the folks there do this kind of thing all the time and you can do a search there and the topic is well covered. Another location is Joh Luca's site http://www.woodshopdemos.com sadly John passed away last month but his site is a wealth of informaiont Here is a link directly to his section on the festool shop. http://www.woodshopdemos.com/men-fes.htm. I have the domino and love it. Great tool and simple to use. Take care.
I'll take a look at those sites
Thanks for the links and thanks to the others for their comments.
this is a simple decision
If you have the $$ to buy a Domino, I would go ahead and do it, if only for your cabinet doors. You'll be able to use it for years to come, wherever you might want a mortise/tenon joint.
But, I would also buy a Kreg jig for the face frames, since that is a slick, easy, and sturdy way to construct them.
As far as the boxes are concerned, I would buy a biscuit joiner, if after your research, you think that is a simpler way to join pieces for a carcase (vs. the Domino).
Add the cost of all three tools together, and you are still ahead vs. buying cabinets ready made.
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