Hey everyone! I'm a hobbyist trying to find out if there are any good alternatives to the Domino for quick and strong mortise and tenon joinery. I currently have a Jessem doweling jig, but I find that setting up each dowel takes quite a while, and I'd rather not spend too much of my time on tedious tasks. I'm considering options like Woodpeckers router mortise jigs or a benchtop hollow chisel mortise machine. Would these be effective alternatives, or do they end up taking just as long as the doweling jig? Also, I've heard about using biscuit connectors with a simple biscuit machine. While I know these probably wouldn't work for all projects, I'm curious if combining a biscuit machine with a hollow chisel mortiser would still be a more cost-effective solution than a Domino joiner. Thanks for any insights!
5 Answers
You know the saying, 'cry once, buy once'? If you're eyeing a Woodpecker’s version, it might not be worth the money when you can just grab a Domino. I used to avoid it thinking I was okay with traditional joinery, but once I tried the Domino, I realized how much it speeds up the process. Now, I still enjoy making dovetails for pieces that need them, but for standard M&T, the Domino is just unbeatable in terms of speed and precision.
So, just to clarify, I’m semi-pro and have worked with a range of tools. I swear by the Domino for efficiency. While you might replicate its work, the time it saves is huge. Don’t bother with those other alternatives; it’s either go for the Domino or save your cash for a good system. Consider looking into a bench edge end-mill setup if you don’t want to buy the Domino. That way, you can still achieve great results without breaking the bank.
Honestly, if you're serious about speeding up your joinery process, just get the Domino. I've procrastinated a lot on projects because the lengthy setup for dowels drove me mad. After finally purchasing a Domino, I found I could complete complex pieces way faster. Plus, if you’re spending around $500 for another tool, just make sure it genuinely adds efficiency and isn't just a 'budget' version of the Domino. You’ll be so much happier in the long run!
I've got both a hollow chisel mortiser and a Domino, and I gotta say—the mortiser is just as tedious as the dowel jig, maybe even worse. I put off getting a Domino for ages and really regretted it once I finally tried one. It makes the whole process of joining pieces quick and precise, saving me lots of time to focus on design rather than just joinery. Save up for the Domino, you won't regret it.
Got it! What didn’t you like about the mortising machine?
Just so you know—those biscuit and dowel setups don’t really add much strength to the joints; they’re more for alignment. A proper mortise and tenon joint will be much stronger, trust me. For practicality in projects, though, biscuits are handy for quick assembling, just not the best for structural integrity.
Right, biscuits are about alignment, and dowels do help with strength, so it’s best to choose wisely depending on your project.
I'm on the same page—would love to find a good middle ground between quick joinery and structural strength.
Thanks for the honest feedback! I'm really keen on understanding what specific shortcomings a benchtop mortiser has compared to the Domino.