Back when Festool came out with its Domino loose tenon joining system, several people predicted that other companies would soon come out with their versions of the device. So far, as far as I can tell, not one had made it to market.
Any word on when (and whether) a Domino clone might make an appearance?
Zolton
If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It’s not a pet. – Jackie Moon
Replies
Are planning on waiting for the clone before you use loose tenons? I've been using loose tenons and slot mortisers, the stationary machine type, for 25 years. You can do bigger slots. In the shop I prefer the stationary type. For field work the Domino is nice. I wouldn't wait for the clone to take advantage of the technology. Still pretty new and I'd bet Festool would slap a law suit on a clone pretty fast.
Plenty of options such as the Grizzly G0540, Laguna sells a nice slot mortiser for $1,000. Both will double as a slot mortiser or doweling machine.
Triton came out with a $200 clone of the Double drill which was previously priced like a Domino originally made by Mafell
Edited 7/31/2008 11:26 am ET by RickL
Rick,
I've used loose tenons on a few occasions, cutting the mortises with a router. It's difficult though - I found anyway - to set things up so the router doesn't cut a slightly tapered hole (wider at the top, narrower at the bottom). That would probably speak to the sturdiness of my setup.
But from that experience, and also largely from your discussions and enthusiasm for the technology on the forum, I can see the advantages of slot mortisers.
So it's time to invest in a better, faster, more accurate way to create the holes. Right after I posted my original message I went to the Laguna website and looked at their video demonstration of the Platinum Series (the $1000 model you referenced) mortiser, and liked what I saw. It's kind of a lot of dough for me to bite off, but maybe if I can share the cost with a buddy it might be more do-able.
I kind of like the stationary unit idea, as it would seem to be more versatile than the Festool Domino. Uh oh. I'd better put on the flak jacket after that statement, eh? A stationary tool can cut larger and longer mortises though, and I don't do any onsite work of that type anymore anyway, so portability is not an issue.
What's your spin on the Grizzly horizontal borer as opposed to the Laguna? Quite a bit less expensive, but maybe not ideal given that it's not designed for that exact purpose? Or maybe it's good enough for a one-person shop.
Thanks for your advice on this matter - as well as your valuable contributions on other items. I always learn something from your posts..
Zolton
If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
I posted a link with a review on the Grizzly G0540. It's doable.
I own both the the griz and the domino so I can compare. The griz will do what you state, but the domino is slick. It takes the ease of a biscuit jointer and puts the beef of the solid lose tenon in it. If you can hit a pencil mark your golden. The spead of making the cuts and assemble is so much faster. The griz will make the much wider tenons. The domio while you have fixed tenons you can properly space to make up for that. I have to say that I absolutely love the domino. Griz is still functional but she is sitting in the corner collecting dust now. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
I have access to the Domino and a full size slot mortiser. For small stuff the Domino is nice but the full size mortiser still is the preferred. It's quite a difference from the G-0540 but not that far in my opinion.
Zolton, it takes at least 24 months to bring new tools onto the market (from idea to the store shelves). There's a new tool that the company I work for has in the works that is still a year away from being released that we have been developing for the past year and a half. Even after the tool is released, there will be a six month testing time to work out the kinks before the general public can buy it.
Edited 7/31/2008 2:39 pm ET by mvflaim
I don't know when there might be a clone. If you are looking for advice, mine is to suck it up and buy the domino. I know its expensive. It is worth every cent. I waited perhaps 6 months after it came out agonizing over the expense. Then I finally pulled the trigger. Best money I ever spent. I use it more than you can imagine. One example (and there are a bunch): when edge joining boards for a table top I use the 5 mm dominos, perhaps every 12 inches or so. Because there is no play in the matching mortises (as with a bisuit joiner) the boards are perfectly aligned when clamping- no futzing around tapping a board up or down. pmm
Pmm,
Yeah, that's what I've heard from everyone who owns a Domino - best money they'd every spent, and on and on. I suspect I'd also feel that way too. But I'm so broke right now I can't even pay attention...
Plus, it seems to me it would be valuable to be able to work with larger tenon stock. A stationary machine would grant that capability, and would do everything the Domino does. Again, portability is not an issue with me.
For essentially the same price as a Domino and the initial tenon assortment, one could obtain the Laguna stationary slot mortiser. And for about a third of that, the Grizzly horizontal boring machine that apparently also can be used for slot mortising.
So, still deciding. Thank you for writing with your experience with the Domino..
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
I have access to the Domino and a slot mortiser and the stationary machine is my first choice. Larger tenons are more useful to me.
Prefer the lower rpm of a slot mortiser as well. Quieter and allows it to be used as a doweling machine so it's a double duty machine. You can make your own tenons or use the Domino ones for the little projects.
I don't need to use it for edge jointing as the curved cauls assure perfect alignment and prefer not to have stuff inside my edge joints as I often glue up panels oversize and cut them down for raised panels and whatever. Kind of a pain to have a biscuit or Domino show up on the raised panel.
http://www.hoffmann-usa.com/htm/pds32/pds32.htm
http://www.tritonwoodworking.com
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97427
Triton has a double doweler to compete with the Hoffman or Harbor Freight?
Dowelmax! Whatever works is fair game.
"Kind of a pain to have a biscuit or Domino show up on the raised panel."LOLBeen there and done that. I keep the panel to remind me to locate the dominoes where they wont show up!Hastings
You can't fit a Grizzly in a "systainer".But seriously, I've been wondering about the small tenon
issue also. It would be interesting to see how large a piece
the domino could handle.
But looking from the other side, you then cannot assemble a rubbed joint, which can be very successful in some applications since the joint line virtually disappears.
How old is it? Wouldn't it still be under patent?
In the meantime, there's the BeakLOCK system if one has the patience.
Edited 8/1/2008 6:47 pm ET by Disputantum
I use horizontal router and spiral upcut bit made from plans by Woodsmith. 95% of chips are gone, smooth mortises, accuracy is incredible, cost to build comes from the scrap barrel. It's only a little slower than domino. Free vs BIG bucks. Duh?
By the way, the Woodsmith horizontal is portable. It's portability is analogize to a miter saw only lighter in weight. I usually consider my mortiser a stationary tool since it's mounted on a proper elbow height stand.
Don
Don,
Got an issue number for the horizontal router table you built from Woodsmith?
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Zolton,
Type router mortiser into the Search box from the FWW Home Page - there are several of them. One of which is in #174 by Greg Paolini.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Issue Number 67. It looks kinda like this link.
http://www.oldrebelworkshop.com/tenon%20jig.htm
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