Domino & Biscuit Advantages

[Locks14]

...I've alway though of dowel joints as the IKEA of joining methods. I've wavered on a Lamello and do envisage a benefit in having more "wiggle" available in specific applications with a biscuit joint.

Have you ever had a chance to actually use a 'quality' dowel jig like the Jessem or Dowelmax?

FineWoodworking did a test using a frame type joint (think face frames, doors, etc) in issue #203

They measured how much force (in lbs) was required to cause the joint to fail.  The Biscuit failed at 545 lbs, the Domino failed at 597 lbs, but the dowel beat them both and failed at 759 lbs...

Which size domino failed at 597 lbs?

 

[Holmz]

[member=49749]Locks14[/member]  http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/video/joint-strength-test.aspx

 

[GarryMartin]

The actual article is quite interesting, and covers a lot of the comments people have made above about failure over time, seasonal variation in wood, ease and speed of assembly etc. It also makes the point that you might need these sort of failure levels when making chairs, but that they're hardly relevant when making picture frames or cupboards where much lower levels are acceptable due to less force being applied to the joints in use.

Holmz nailed it for me a few posts ago.

So "which tool is best" totally depends on which joints one is making, and that is largely determined by the materials one is using.

None of the tools mentioned are going to be best at everything. If you can find one of them that covers everything you need for the joints you use, the material you choose, and the items you build, then I think you're on to a winner regardless of which one it is.