Replies

1. 
   stevieray | Dec 18, 2022 01:21pm | #1

   I'm the same age, also employed, also a hobbyist woodworker. It's great exercise, especially if you use hand tools.

   On the pantarouter, a Festool Domino can give you great mortise and tenon joints and is extremely easy to use. The pantarouter involves templates and whatnot and alignment of pieces is a challenge, from what I can tell from photos.

1. 
   rog956 | Dec 18, 2022 01:53pm | #2

   Thanks for imput keep moving and we can get to 90

2. 
   Go_Bills | Dec 18, 2022 06:58pm | #3

   Have you considered making mortising jigs for your router.

   The Morley Mortiser in the February 2023 FWW Magazine looks interesting. You may need a couple different tops or router base bushings for different diameter mortising bits.

3. 
   esch5995 | Dec 18, 2022 08:53pm | #4

   As an owner of both a Pantarouter and a Domino I would suggest the Domino if all you want to do is create basic mortise and tenon joints. The Pantarouter is complex and requires precise setup that you may find challenging. Once that is accomplished I still found it difficult to get consistent results and it mostly sits gathering dust in my shop. The Domino's main drawback is you really need two machines, but even buying both a 500 and a 700 will probably be less than than a Pantarouter.

1. 
   eddo234 | Dec 18, 2022 09:05pm | #5

   Why do you need 2 machines? I have the 700 with the adapter for all the bits the 500 uses. https://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/rts-500-cutter-adapter-for-festool-df700

1. 
   john_c2 | Dec 19, 2022 02:41am | #6

   Since getting the 700 my 500 has been pretty much unused. The 700 is just far more useful for furniture projects.

4. 
   stevieray | Dec 19, 2022 06:01am | #7

   I have the 500 and find it adequate for most furniture. I even built a dining table using it. I use multiple dominos at high-stress joints, which is easy to do. The 500 will put a 10 mm tenon one inch into each piece. The 700 will do longer and thicker tenons, but they really aren't necessary for chairs, coffee tables, end tables, bookcases, plant stands, wall cabinets. etc., where a tenon larger than the 500 can handle isn't necessary or even desirable. That said, I'm probably going to get a 700.

5. 
   jfsksa | Dec 19, 2022 07:48am | #8

   I can't see using a Pantarouter. I've seen it demonstrated and can imagine the complex setup process. Setup...test cut...adjust setup...test cut...rinse and repeat. It's probably very helpful with production work, but I never do that. I've got the small Domino, and still cut M&T joints by hand sometimes.

6. 
   [email protected] | Dec 19, 2022 10:57am | #9

   I have a mortising machine, (floor model), and I'm happy with that. If I were to go a different route, I would go with the Domino. The Pantorouter is not for me.
   There is also the predecessor to the PR, which is the Multi router, which moved the wood to create the joint instead of the router.

7. 
   CharlesElkins | Dec 19, 2022 03:16pm | #10

   The PantoRouter looks like a very appealing tool, except it just always looks overly complex to set up and use. Every time I think I want one I watch a demo and have second thoughts. Just like using a CNC router, the front-end investment in time and money to get to even basic proficiency is just hard for me to swallow.