The real domino killer?
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- čas přidán 18. 03. 2023
- For years there the Festool domino has been the gold standard for floating mortise and tenon joinery. Unfortunately, that comes with a high price tag. Is there finally new competition in town for home hobbyist?
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Click this link for 10% off and free shipping through the end of March. Enter promo code POCKETMILL at checkout jessem.com/products/pocket-mill-pro-loose-tenon-system?sca_ref=2740138.IiVKmBmtQ5
For people leaning towards the Domino - remember that the $800 you save could go towards a 4x4 panel of Baltic birch.
As a downpayment, right?
Sad but true
@@mr.e8432 I just bought a 5x5 18mm baltic sheet for $158, is that low? It was only BB/BB but I was happy.
yep a 4" x 4" piece!
On layaway? Lol
I have to say - it is refreshing to see all of these content creators supporting each other as opposed to it being some sort of big competition.
The phrase "community" is overused these days. But it's truly a community behind the scenes. We are all constantly talking, sharing info and will drop what we are doing to help when asked. I had no idea it was like this going in but its a pleasant surprise.
I was truly hoping for a classic Lincoln St. dry wit. Something like, “pshhh, community? I’m trying to blow all these suckers out of the algorithm”
@@Lincolnstww Did all the folks shown produce video segments just for your video?
@@farmcat3198 They were clips from posted videos. *LOVED* the hip-thrust one. That was such a funny video.
@@farmcat3198 yes they all created those for the video
I'm a cabinetmaker here in the UK and own both this Domino and its bigger brother the 700.
I was impressed with the pocketmill and can see it's appeal to the hobbyist/keen amateur woodworker as it looks very well made and offers a decent saving over the Festool machine. However, the Domino's most important feature in my opinion is the time it saves, which for the professional woodworker matters a lot, both my Domino's have paid back their addmitaly high purchase price several times over in time saved, but I do think the pocketmill is the best Domino alternative I've seen so far.
BTW, I'm new to this channel and was very impressed so you have a new subscriber....thanks for an informative and nicely presented video.
its*
I subscribe to quite a few tool review and maker channels. I really really really (3x!) like your videos. Seriously. Funny. Insightful. Honest. Non annoying voice. Relevant. I’m a huge fan. Thank you for taking the time to do it.
Thank you - much appreciated!
X2
Dude. Very informative, concise, organized, and helpful. Your level-headed opinion and mild humor makes for a very educational walkthrough of how to think about tool buying. Thanks!
I appreciate that!
I'm a pretty serious hobbyist woodworker and I want to compliment you that your videos are OUTSTANDING. Great thought & insight. I am subscribing NOW as what you do in your reviews is heads and shoulders above what most people do.
Thanks for this review! I struggle with spending so much on a single use tool given the volume of work I do. Really appreciate the no nonsense reviews!
I'm an old carpenter transitioning into more fancy woodworking projects, so I do this professionally. When it comes to buying tools, I've mostly regretted buying a cheaper work around tool. I don't own a domino, mostly because I haven't had the need for one...yet. But if a job came up that the domino would save me lots of hours and aggravation, I would buy one quicker than you can say "domino". Woodworkers did just fine without one for decades but the domino does change the playing field as most innovative tools do. To stay competitive, sometimes you just gotta buy the tool that'll get you there. There's definitely a domino in my future when the right job comes up for me to justify the purchase.
I have to agree. Buy once cry once is rarely wrong if you will use a tool more than three times. Time is money, for sure. But aggravation over wasted money on a subpar tool is also a factor. At least it is for me. 😂
What’s the use case that would make you stop and say, “okay, right now is when the domino is going to stand out and do something faster/better/cheaper than anything else?” I’m seriously mystified what that scenario is, and I’m a cabinet maker, also doors and furniture. I’ve used the domino but in my experience, it’s clunky, awkward, and doesn’t do anything that other tools do better. It doesn’t seem to do anything notable other than drill a weird sized hole. To be fair, the same looks to me to be true of the tool in this video.
My usual process is to grab one of the jigs that I’ve made for drilling pairs of dowels. Occasionally I make a new one to customize the dowel size or distance apart. The domino concept locks me into fewer options, for no time saving I can see and obviously the price is absurd.
Is there something these tools do that justifies having them?
Thanks for sharing the information about the jessem and the comparison and contrast to the domino. Always good to know the options.
@Thomas Westgard "Is there something these tools do that justifies having them?"
Yes, they save you time
@@G0F15H That has not been my experience. Can you be more specific how they save you time?
For a 25 year old trying to figure out the best way to spend my money on tools, I can’t thank you enough for this review. Was about to pull the trigger on a dowel jig when I saw JessEm released the pocket mill, and have been waiting for someone I “knew” (aka CZcamsr I watched) to review it. Great job.
Love the innovation! I have a domino but very happy to see quality options at very reasonable prices. Their saw guides are a work of art!
Your videos are so organized and I really enjoy watching them! You have grown so much in the time I’ve been watching! You have helped me grow as well. It’s really overwhelming as a beginner woodworker. So much to learn and I really appreciate your honest straight forward thoughts.
I really appreciate the very accessible way you walk through the comparison between these tools! Well done!
Excellent! . . . And I own a Domino XL, teach woodworking, and have over 40yrs experience as a pro cabinetmaker and finish carpenter. You covered all the bases quickly and succinctly. Thank you!
The full length cutting flutes are why the Jessem slots are wider at the top compared to the Festool’s cutter having a reduced diameter, non-cutting shank. As the Jessem’s tool is cutting the deepest passes, it’s also cutting the top. This will get worse as the tip wears and the higher edges remain fresh. Still a compelling budget option, of course; just thought I’d share some machinist perspective on why the tops of the slots were wider on one and not the other 🤘🏼
Generally speaking, drills and I expect these bits are ground with a slight taper (towards the blunt end). This is done to prevent rubbing or binding of the drill in the hole. Therefore it seems unlikely that the hole is wider for the reason you suggest.
@@ZenMinus that isn’t how endmills work. I’ll bet you money
@@1pcfred yep, and because the endmill has such long cutting edges, that “slop” has much more time to enlarge the top of the hole.
@@1pcfred it’s cool you own a milling machine. So do I. We’d probably have fun sharing stories if we weren’t here missing the point I originally made.
IMHO the question has never been which machine you need. If you are a professional the Festool is the machine for you while it is totally over the top for an amateur. The real question is if you can do all the things the Festool can with this jig and yes you can.
And I doubt that the router bit will cut the beginning wider while cutting the deeper parts because this would mean lot of vibrations in the router bit. More likely the it isn't as tightly guided when it starts cutting.
Glad to see you are continuing to make content and how upfront you are; please keep at it!
Thank you! Will do
Hey Jessem, if you read these comments WELL DONE. I admire a company that is willing to have a fair and unbiased review and it makes me more likely to consider the product. And thank you for making this video! I get pretty sick of seeing sponsored content cosplaying as just casual use *cough* *cough* rhymes with shmanto shmouter *cough* so this is awesome.
Pretty sure the base patent is what covers the base mechanism. When that expires people will be able to replicate the original machine. Any further patents only protect the incremental improvements not the base mechanism, I think we can expect to see competitors come out with something soon
I'm used to larger, corded routers czcams.com/users/postUgkxfQ5_mgwq6PcudJvAH25t-I4D-3cTPz4z so this was a different experience for me. Basically, this is an incredibly sweet machine, fits well in the hand, etc. It has slightly less power than I'm used to, but that's understandable. Maneuvering freehand takes some practice. These days, it's especially nice to be able to avoid power cords. This is above the level of a hobbyist but below a pro level.
I’d just like to make one comment. A looser slot is not bad because if the tenon is too tight you’re not getting a good amount of room for the glue. Good glue, good joint. Great video , well done young grasshopper
As a domino owner, I have to admit I'd probably have gone with the Pocketmill had it been available when I was looking for such a tool. It is the first tool I've seen that could realistically be called a substitute for the domino.
Would you have bought the workstation at the same time if you did purchase it?
@@a9ball1 I think so. Still under the cost of a domino and provides a good amount of flexibility and usefulness.
@@CoreyShockey i think it is way to clumpy for what it does. Looks like just another domino copy that works fine, but isnt as versatile as the domino. I think the only way we get a cheaper domino is when this patent ends
I this is such a great and useful review. I feel like we are entering a golden age of woodworking CZcams where everyone is synergistically working together to make the entire community better. So cool to be along for the ride.
This "ride" will soon be over.
You make a valid point. It’s refreshing to realize this now that you mentioned it, with how messed up our society has become in every other way.
@@l.k.1011 what do u mean?
You rock. I bought my Domino about 15 years ago. Yes, I use it relatively rarely as a home hobbyist, but it makes me better at be the craft with very little skill on my part. I'm an Android guy, but this time I'll take the Apple-like Festool implementation. Except in rare cases, it just works.
Frankly speaking, I'd probably end up with both in the long run. The Domino is for anyone who produces furniture and built-ins. Every minute matters when that's your situation. However, for that situation to matter, you need to be a Pro or Semi-pro in the first place. If you kick round in the shop from time to time with barely a carcass or sanding cutting boards, you don't need to drop $1200 or more for a domino. Also, the best thing about Festool is keeping dust low within your workspace.
Loose Tenon Joinery has many ways to get the job done. Reading is fundamental. You have a few solid options depending on your skillset, how comfortable you are in the shop, and your need for time/access to resources. A router can do everything the domino can do with the help of jigs. However, that takes you being comfortable with using it and sacrificing time. The Pocket Mill needs setup time like Batman. However, it looks simple to use and costs like half the price of a domino. So, I can see how either can be your personal solution.
I still want a domino, personally. It's likely my next major purchase.
I already own a domino. And I absolutely love it. Wish i would have gotten it sooner. However… there were many years I couldn’t afford it. I had a “Festool Fund” that I was saving up for one for a long time. If I had the opportunity to buy something like this back then… I would have jumped on it. Considering I already have my Domino… this tool isn’t for me. But what a great option for those out there that can’t afford it.
And I just have to add I love your humor. I laughed out loud when you said “go watch another video”. Cracked me up.
The big advantage of the Domino for the hobbyist is its simplicity. I might go two months w/o needing it, but when I do I don't need a refresher on how it works. Additionally, there are so few accessories that I need to store and setup. I can't imagine being able to say that about the Pocketmill. That said, Jon's right about Domino's weaknesses. We all have to weigh the pros and cons. Even after this excellent review I would still buy a Domino.
This! I’m purely a hobbyist and whenever I can get shop time the most important thing to me is efficiency. Domino is expensive as hell but it’s so easy to use. I can go months without using it but when I come back there’s nothing to think about. You just do.
I sold my Domino because it was so inaccurate that I spent more time fixing my joints than it was worth. I own several Festool products and really the only one worth a crap is the track saw.
The pocketmill looks really well engineered, but for me based in Germany it is simply not cheap enough to be an alternative. In fact, it wouldn't even be cheaper after all, considering the Domino is a machine on its own. Street price for the DF 500 is less than 900€, and to pay 540 USD (which is about 500€ today) + international shipping + import duties and taxes means I would probably save less than 200€. Which would be the cost of a decent quality cordless drill, conincidentally.
Excellent, detailed review. No holds barred honesty.
Thank you.
As a guy who does metal working as well as woodworking I really appreciate the robust build of the jessum jig. That build will last longer than me. It'll be handed down to loved ones long after that plastic festool will be in the landfill. Thanks for the video!
95% is metal which you can recycle. Rest is plastics which you can recycle (at least here In Finland).
Thank you, I’m a hobbyist but do take a few commissions. I do mostly hand tool work but the power tools I use regularly are all top of the line . I was about to buy a domino basically to have one I use a router or beadlock for loose tenons and really don’t have a problem with either. I was ready to pull the trigger on a domino a couple months back when I saw Jess em advertising for presale . Since then I’ve been on the fence. Your no nonsense video plus I trust your opinion made the difference. Thank you and I’ll be ordering the Jess em soon.
Great video. Your work is always so thorough, well written, great pace, and to the point with a dash of humor. I am not in the market for either tool at this time, so I wasn't looking to support any pre bias I had. It seemed, price aside, you made it look like it was actually better in some situations. No mention of Jessem choice on the supporting work station to go with the microjig clamp system. I wondered what the relationship they had with microjig. I see future creators making videos on "make your own workstation for the Jessem system" coming soon to a youtube near you because buying the whole kit and caboodle is ? 700 ? which is half the cost of the domino.
I appreciate your content and your format of video styles. No fluff, no word vomit. Just pure content.
Thank you for noticing that. I try to get to the point
I'm a hobbyist, I can still remember when I first bought a Kregg pocket jig about twelve years ago and how it changed my look at woodworking. My interest increased immensely. Flash forward five years and I discover the Domino, I saw what it could do but it was way out of my price range. I then saw and bought a Dowelmax jig. I built several cabinets using it and they turned out great. The only drawback was/is that cleanup and setup can take up a lot of time when you have a lot of different joints. Once I finally got into position to buy a Domino and I did. I have no regrets. But I probably would have bought the Pocket mill instead of the Do well max back in the day, had it been available back then.
If you're inclined to use something like the Jess-Em, I'd advise building a jig similar to the one they're selling and and use it with a plunge router topside. I built such a jig years ago and it works great for more cuts than you can anticipate. But I don't happen to hate using a router, especially in a totally controlled setup.
That being said, I also have a Domino which is necessary for large, heavy members, or, of course, on site.
These tools are cool and it was a great review. I am a little old school and if you have a vice and a router with a fence, then loose mortise and tenon is entirely possible without limits.
EVERYONE PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. This is how you comment on a video while having a different idea/belief. Its objective, it's to the point and doesn't try to gatekeep for new woodworkers. Well done, Roby, well done!
@@Lincolnstww Except he used the wrong spelling of Vise. Although it did make his comment more humorous.
@@jeremycoyle2782 maybe he meant to write "vice"... :) could be the secret to good mortises... drinking, smoking, too much fried food... worth a try :)
Your anecdote about pocket holes was very similar to my experience. I mostly stick to rough woodwork (stands, decks, shed bases) and never really get into the really fine stuff, but you bet I have a pocket hole jig, and the STL files to print open source ones lol
Famtastic, honest, straightforward review. I appreciate your candor!
Always enjoy your videos and recommendations considering pro vs. amateur needs. Thanks for honest thoughts, insights, and review.
Glad you like them!
First, I am not "anti-Domino". I have used one to create several pieces of furniture. I also know how to create saw/chisel mortise/tenons. I understand the perceived strength advantage of Dominos, but in the real world, I have never had a Beadlock or dowel joint fail. Also, cost-to-build vs. price is built into my pieces, so saving 10, 20 or 30 minutes per piece is negligible. My experience is that I needed to clamp the Domino in place because it is hard to accurately hold onto everytime, which virtually negates any time savings. So, I will continue to build perfectly fine furniture without a Domino and avoid the frenzy all together. I will wait for further reviews of the Jessem jig before considering one. Thanks for a first rate video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
As I research and do cost/benefit analysis, I've looked at the Beadlock system and like it. Do you own? How would you rate it?
@@m.d.d.3051 It can make really strong joints due to the area of the Beadlock tenons (bigger than Dominos). I only use the larger size, since I use dowels for smaller joints. It was confusing at first, but once I sat down for 30 minutes (or so) with the jig and a cup of coffee, it all made sense. You can also use it as a guide for chisels for traditional mortises. I like it. Maybe I'm dense, but I've never understood the furor over Dominos.
@@richpeggyfranks490 You aren't dense, because I never understood it, either. The Domino strikes me as being as finicky as a biscuit joiner would be - and I don't like biscuit joiners either. I've been looking for a loose tenon set-up that won't break the bank, and appreciate Rockler's innovation. I appreciate your input on the Beadlock system. It's the one I've been leaning towards.
@@m.d.d.3051 I bought the Beadlock system and the thing I learned using it is that 1) loose tenons are very handy 2) A Domino is in my future. The main issue I had with it is that it's a very precise tenon using a jig that's not precise. Any issues with drilling the holes perfectly makes the tenon not fit in the mortise. I had a lot of issues with the drill bit walking in to the 'A' holes while trying to drill the 'B' holes and pulling the very tightly clamped jig sideways and sometimes out of perpendicular. Replacing the bit that comes with it with a brad bit might help. The alignment viewer would also be better with two lines to put your mark between rather than a single line that covers your mark on the wood. Alignment of the tenons is precise enough, that being off the thickness of the view finding line can leave you with uneven joints. Also, having used it a few times now, the guide bushings are starting to get sloppy from wear. Again, creating precision issues.
Even as a hobby woodworker, I also found the time required to use the Beadlock jig to be too much. My time working on projects is limited, so while it's not 'time is money' as would be for a professional, it's still the difference between finishing a batch of tenons on one Saturday or two.
Good work. Appreciate all of the time you put into these no-nonsense videos.
I had already pre ordered this on Christmas and had been dying to get my hands on this and get my next week.. the big point for me was the angled attachment.. this opens open possiblity for me without lots of headaches on certain projects (hello Kodak three chair build) I have used workarounds with my router and traditional mortise and tenon joints but never felt confident doing certain joinery.. this review made me feel better about my purchase and I'm glad to hear it's as good as it seemed
You know what I really enjoy about your videos? Honesty!
I appreciate that!
Yeah, but it is honesty heavily sprinkled with humor and sarcasm…the best kind! I always have to laugh when people get so tightly wrapped around the axle and think their opinion is the only one that counts. If you’re a professional, it will be super easy to justify the expense of any top end tool. For the hobbyist it’s another story…unless they have a bunch of money burning a hole in their pocket. In the end…to each their own, and with emphasis…leave them alone!
@@bartwensink6445 Agreed!
@@bartwensink6445 🤣 "tightly wound around the axle" ...great line, love it!
Great video! I like your unbiased and honest approach to tool reviews. I do think that any tool that requires a lot of setting up is inevitably more prone to mistakes. Especially where you need to change the setup within the same project.
I'm still amazed that so many people are so binary at the mere mention of festool. I'm lucky enough to have both dominos but I didn't start with them nor are they the only joinery system I use. Kreg pocket holes and the dowelmax are just two of the different systems I have. The dowelmax I think is a better option at this price point but I'd love to see a real head to head between dowelmax and JessEm to know if that is actually true.
The inventor of the dowelmax has some great videos online and even claims his system is the strongest. JessEm are a great company too and they do make quality tools. The great thing, maybe the best thing about woodworking is there's almost always another way to achieve the same end goal.
Happy making all.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention! I have stayed away from the Festool due to its cost, but have several other Festool products. I just ordered mine, and with the discount, I was able to have it expedited. Should receive mine in the next few days!
God bless your blatant and unabashed honesty... and thanks for the review. The PocketMill is something I'm considering.
I bought the Jessem dowel jig many years ago and can’t speak highly enough of it’s quality. While it doesn’t do miters, it’s another great option for making accurate strong joints. I’m sure the quality of this tool is no different.
I own the domino and don’t regret it. If this Jessem jig was out at the time I would have had to consider it. Great review.
I bought a Domino 700 (only a hobby woodworker) only because I have noticed I get a very large amount of enjoyment just from working with quality tools.
So now that's all I spring for. All that's been the case for about 3 years now.
If I enjoy doing something more--than I do said thing more often. So I feel like it's a win win all around.
I obviously still am trying to do old fashion mortise and tenon joints and hand cut dovetails just for fun. I'm still bad at them, but I AM still trying to get better because I DO find trying to improve my own skills fulfilling.
Love your channel, you are genuine, sincere, honest but above all its thought -through 👌👏
Great channel and great video! I love how you get ahead of vindictive comments, swiftly explain why they're wrong, and tack on an extra "I don't care" for good measure! Keep up the great videos!
thanks for noticing! ;)
people think your job is making videos but they still don't know your skill is how well you can write, incredible my man, just incred
I always enjoy your unbiased review. It's refreshing to see people give the goods and bads by setting there brand association aside. I LOVE my milwaukee setup. But that doesn't make it the best. I feel the same with festtool.
As someone who bought the $200 jessem doweling jig, I don't think it would save time or money with the price of the Domino's themselves. At least with the joints I do. Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE a domino. But $1200 is a hard price to swallow vs 5 - 10 more minutes of my time.
I use dowels with a Task dowel alignment tool and those little pointy things make an impression on the opposing board. If I spent 100 bucks for that set-up I would be surprised.
Great video. I’m literally brand new to woodworking. Im a ways off from implementing floating tenons in my work as I don’t even have a table saw or planer 😂. This is definitely on my list though as I’ll never be able to justify spending festool levels of money on tools
Ha definitely get the planer and table saw first
Get a good table saw, like a DeWalt for $600.
Since I recognized and view the content of pretty much every other youtuber that made a cameo in this video, I can't imagine how it is that I've not been exposed to you until now, but this is the 1st time I've ever seen anything from you.
I must say with the utmost sincerity, this is one of, if not the absolute best real world, no nonsense product reviews that I've ever seen... Now to watch some of your other offerings and see if this specific video is more the exception, or the rule, for what to expect from you.
Thanks much, and keep up the good work!
Thank you Jason! Much appreciated. Hopefully it’s more of the same
second comment---nothing to do with festool/jessem equipment----your videos are right near (at) the top of quality/information/delivery/personal appeal. you stay positive while telling it like it really is----thanx rick
Sure, cheaper than a Domino but still a lot of money for something that *somewhat* replicates the same functionality, while being slower. You also can't ignore the additional cost of a drill, even if you likely already have one, or several.) To me, it really can't do anything I can't already achieve with a router using appropriate jigs. I've been wanting a Domino for a long time and have been waiting for a "domino killer" just as long ... still haven't seen one. But thanks for sharing the info and all that you do!
ha I'm not sure its fair to add the cost of a drill into this equation. I dont think anyone buying a machine for floating mortise and tenon is a non drill owner.
@@Lincolnstww Sure, I'd even go so far as saying anyone who owns a house probably owns a drill. But the cost of that drill isn't zero because it's already been purchased. My point was it's still a requirement with an associated cost and you're comparing a non-powered tool that needs power to function versus one that has the power built in. (Certainly, that built-in motor included with the Domino is responsible for part of the cost difference.) Something else to note is the Domino turns the cutter at router speeds (20k+ rpm) vs the 1500 ish of a drill, which is likely why you needed to start slow when making the cut.
Don't misunderstand, I'm not a Festool fanboy ... I have zero dollars invested in their products. I'm just saying for me, I'd rather pay more for a quality tool that does the job, then save some money for a tool that does a poor imitation. But since I can hardly afford wood these days, guess I'll continue with the mortise and tenons that don't float. lol
I got into woodworking a couple years ago. Started watching some youtube vids on how to do everything. Thought the "traditional" joint stuff was really, really, cool, but never for the life of me could I figure out why somebody would go through all that trouble. Hours on a single joint or a few minutes for something that will still be strong enough to do its job? I'll take the few minutes any day. And as far as the argument goes for it "looking better", in over 30 years I never noticed the joints in woodworking until I started learning to do it myself. The only people that care about woodworking joints are other woodworkers.
I think it depends on what you're looking to get from your craft. A friend of mine hand cuts traditional joinery because he finds it relaxing and fulfilling. My interest is in the finished piece, so I don't mind using modern techniques to speed up that process.
It doesn't take hours. Yes every time I bring out the domino, I make money. But cutting "live" M+T for things like period reproductions isn't hours of extra time.
If it takes you hours to do a proper mortise and tenon then maybe the problem is you.
@@whitec21 I can definitely see that. And like I said, some of those crazy joints are really, really cool looking. But sadly I just never noticed them on anything until I got into the craft myself, which really made me question their actual importance.
I'd probably enjoy it if I could do it lol. I'll stick with the easier ones for now.
Again, you delivered it (and in less than a week, impressive, but not surprising). Nicely done!
Good stuff man. The well timed snark is excellent and entertaining. Always enjoy your content.
I would vote for the Dowelmax over that Jessem tool but the Festool over either.
We had a domino in our cabinet shop and we never used it. Two dowels was always sufficient and easier. I never understood the point of having one, and definitely not at $1200
I inherited various Stanley jigs and tools made during the 1940s from an uncle. They are not fancy, they are not Festool, they just work every time when I need them for the job I need done. That is the definition of the best tool there is. There are no plastic or nylon parts on any of them. The instructions Stanley provided are clear and concise. The same goes for the old Dewalt, Rockwell, and Delta tools and machinery.
That said, I am not getting rid of my Makita, Ryobi, Hitachi, Milwaukee, various other off brand tools, or those I made on the fly just so I can buy Festool.
Good video as always from this man.
I appreciate you looking out for us weekend warriors with small budgets.
you got it!
The pocket jig seems very fiddly.
I think anything compared to a domino will seem fiddly. Compared to a dowelling jig - its easier to use in my opinion.
You are doing great work, keep it going. Love that you review products honestly. Thank you for that.
I’m one of your students in The Creator Course and now I see why you’re one of the instructors. Your channel is…well…no bullshit, kind of funny, woodworking. Enough said. Touché…
The layout alone would be reason enough to spend the money on the domino. Also, I like taking the took to the work more than the other way around. Nice tool and Jessem is awesome, but I'll stick with my festool.
Festool Dominos are meant for 2 types of woodworkers, those that batch out lots of identical pieces where their time saved is money, and YT woodworking content creators, where their time saved is used to edit their YT videos. "Think about what you mostly build"...if more novice woodworkers followed this motto....we would all have more money to leave the house and enjoy other stuff....if only.
My wife and my daughters bought me the df500 for my 50th birthday and even I'm no pro I love it. But I think the pocketmill is an interessting alternative. At least we woodworker gain much from competition and alternative product.
BTW: Like these cross channel support of various woodworking channels. Great work.
SUPER helpful. I'm looking for an option to a domino because of the price... thanks for the thoroughness and honest feedback!
Another great video sir. Much respect for your professional, unbiased review. I have never used a domino style fastener but would give it a try if I had the proper equipment. For the time being, I use the Jessem Master doweling jig. As you mentioned, I have found Jessem products to be well thought out and certainly well made.
I always enjoy your no-no sense reviews, and this is no exception. I just got done watching David's review of this tool and I think you compliment each other's content nicely here. I think my main takeaway is that the Festool is the clear winner in terms of usability and efficiency. However, if you're willing to put up with the idiosyncrasies of the alternatives, there are some good options out there, and I like having choices. Thanks for sharing!
I think you summed it up perfectly! People expecting festool ease and performance at less than half the price are setting themselves up for disappointment
Interesting, and thank you for a fine comparison. Two things to point out, though: 1. Smaller pieces with the Domino is no problem - just clamp them down as you do with the Jessem, and, if applicable, use an equally thick piece to secure balance. Piece of cake and I have never felt this was a problem with my Domino over all the years I have had it. 2. Yes, the Domino is more expensive. Me, I save up for delicious tools by waiting another year to buy a car, and then also never buy a new car. A matter of taste, but I love working with good tools that do not frustrate me. I would obiously have to try the JessEm personally, but from what I saw in this video, I feel I would actually rather use a drill and a fine chisel than buying the JessEm in the first place, with all the hassle of creating just one hole. I think JessEm have made smarter things. But that's me.
What a really thorough and well produced video, well done. And that little tool is cute AF!
I'm getting back into woodworking (just bought a SawStop) and have been debating on getting one of these two tools. This was a very useful review and has me still going in the direction of getting the Festool. Good work, I'm subscribing.
Festool Domino is a dream acquisition of mine. But I am not at that level of woodworking yet. Love the video! Thanks for the comparison! ❤
This actually looks like something id want to try. First time ever thought this way about a domino alternative
Thanks for sharing this. Good review. I love Jessem stuff and already have a domino, but very cool to see there are more options out there if I ever need to sell off my festool gear.
Thanks for putting this video out, super helpful info and entertaining as always. Cheers mate
Really interesting and good review! I love your videos! I recently bought the Festool Domino and still don't regret it. II think it's fantastic both when it comes to quality and ease of use.
Thank you!
loves these reviews - content and cadence, not to mention the cross maker support. Great stuff
i really look forward to any new content from you. thank you for the practical and candid advice
Thanks, Jon. Another great video from your honest perspective, in a way only you can present it.
Another great video I’m just getting started in woodworking and there is no way I’ll ever be able to afford a Festool domino . This would be something with time I could save for.thanks for sharing
I have a porter cable biscuit jointer ($250) Love it. A biscuit jointer is a quick, easy and efficient tool that costs 2/3 what this thing cost (check the link - $349) Put a mark on both pieces to be joined, line up your tool, pull the trigger and push. Hell, you don’t even need to clamp your work piece. Biscuits are very forgiving when it comes to lining up your work, loose at first, glue makes them expand in the slot for a great bond. not to mention the biscuits are readily available and inexpensive. This looks like a tool for people with too much money and need to unload some.
I don't have a domino, but he seems to be having the same problems many of us had with biscuit joiners when they were introduced. The problem of getting square cuts when using the shelf/90 deg feature. What we figured out was to never use the shelf it if there was any way to avoid it. Put the part and the base of the machine on a reference surface and shoot the slot. If one needs to offset, or center, in situations where a common surface is not going to work, just shim with spacers.
Damn I wish you had the time to make more videos. Your content is top notch and I absolutely love your dry sense of humour.
Just thanks for being so honest and to the point!
thanks for watching
@03:55 Dat 3m sandpaper. Man, that stuff is amazing. I was doing some 120, 180, 240, 320 grit progression and man that disc just flies right through. For a large table tap (97" long, 46" wide, Walnut) i used 2 discs per grit and really didn't need to. I do what you did here, I put them in a stack or whatever and when I need to do a corner or something or I use the old, but still good discs. All about hand me downs and once they get used up then they are trashed.
Also, cool jig. I can see this being handy, but not sure yet! I think once you get north of 500$, I just go for the Domino, if I needed one.
Thanks for the video. I love new tools and Jessem does make some incredible stuff. I don't think this is something I'd buy but it is very cool!
Thank you for making the review unbiased!!! i just dont want biased reviews as its the same as watching targeted ads basically
I have, for years, used a biscuit jointer and epoxied in metal splines. SUPER strong. I cut up old bed rails to make the splines.
I’m not at the point where I can buy either of these, but I really appreciate the way you broke it down.
GREAT video. I really like your grounded perspective on these things.
Glad you enjoyed it
Excellent, informative and comprehensive video again - keep 'em coming! 👍
Great video! Thanks for the honesty in your review… still saving up for the domino! You answered all my questions.
I bought my Domino in the Spring of 1997. I seriously wondered if I could justify that cost, $694.00 plus the $200 domino tennon assortment and bits and the $400 dust extractor. Since then I have purchased and used 4 boxes of 1,800 replacement tenons and I am ready to buy my 5th box. That equates to "well over" 10,000 mortises. With the Jessem jig I would not have wanted to do that back-and-forth action that many times. Some of my large pieces of furniture required over 200 tenons. And FWIW even cutting that many mortises, 400, with the Domino, gets old pretty quick. Truthfully I never saw myself using the Domino that much however it has been such a productive tool that my build time shortened dramatically and production increased. Something you left out on the cost of the Jessem is the cost of a drill, you can't cut mortises without a drill. Yes, I know most woodworkers have a drill. Food for thought. If you really build better quality using mortise and floating tenon joinery you will likely toss the pocket hole jig. Seldom do I build anything without mortise and tenon joinery. The Jessem jig is a nice tool but I think if you change over to using mortise and tenon joinery on more or most of your projects you may wonder why you did not buy the Domino to begin with.
Thanks for the honest review. I can see the Jesem being a viable option, but I think I'll go with the Domino when I'm ready to drop some cash. I have a couple of tools from Festool and I really like the time savings it offers in setup along with the acuracy. Glad to see that someone is out there making a chaeper options though.
Love your budget friendly outlook. Keep up.