How useful is the MGS with the Domino 500?
- Thread starter DrD
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DrD,
Tell me the type of woodworking you do, and I'll tell you whether the MGS guide would be beneficial for you or not. And believe it or not, I'll be honest about it. I've never had anyone ask to return their guide because they weren't satisfied, and I don't want to start now. So I would rather tell you the truth than risk having a dissatisfied buyer.
There are 2 models: The MGS-20 (or 30) that you mentioned, and the SCG-10. Even though they have similar function, they are slightly different for where they work best. The SCG-10 is for when you need to be able to quickly change stop locations, but you only need one location at a time. The MGS-20/MGS-30 are for when you need multiple stop locations that get used frequently, but don't need to change the locations as often.
The SCG-10 is slightly more popular for general woodworking, but I am also surprised how many customers own both models. So tell me the type of work you do, and I'll guide you as best I can.
Tell me the type of woodworking you do, and I'll tell you whether the MGS guide would be beneficial for you or not. And believe it or not, I'll be honest about it. I've never had anyone ask to return their guide because they weren't satisfied, and I don't want to start now. So I would rather tell you the truth than risk having a dissatisfied buyer.
There are 2 models: The MGS-20 (or 30) that you mentioned, and the SCG-10. Even though they have similar function, they are slightly different for where they work best. The SCG-10 is for when you need to be able to quickly change stop locations, but you only need one location at a time. The MGS-20/MGS-30 are for when you need multiple stop locations that get used frequently, but don't need to change the locations as often.
The SCG-10 is slightly more popular for general woodworking, but I am also surprised how many customers own both models. So tell me the type of work you do, and I'll guide you as best I can.
DrD
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Rick, I'm honored to be talking directly to you! I am a hobbist(sp?) who does wood work for the sheer enjoyment and relaxation. I make chairs (Arts & Crafts) & rockers (Maloof as well as Arts & Crafts), and just got tired of mortising and cutting tendons (have had a couple of interesting mishaps with my table saw, but still have all digits). So, I got me a Domino 500. Additionally, I will be making a bunch of storage cabinets for my new shop, with and without doors. My wife has also requested and Arts and Crafts bookcase.
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DrD,
I'm not sure that either of the guides would help you with chairs. I can't think of any task, at least. Those types of mortises typically need special positions for each mortise.
They can help you for doing the cabinetry, but it also depends on how much of that type of work you do. For example, for your Arts & Crafts doors, you can use either model of guide and blindly machine all of the mortises without having to layout each door separately and mark them with pencil lines. So for example, if you have all of your stiles and rails cut and stacked in a pile, you can machine all of the parts without having to pre-match which stiles belong to which rails, etc. But if you're only making a couple doors at a time, then you lay out all 4 pieces for each door, mark which stiles and rails get joined, and machine them up separately. In that case, the parts for each door have to stay separate from other doors and can't be mixed and matched.
For the same reason, they are also handy for machining drawer boxes. You don't have to pre-identify which pieces belong to any specific drawer box. Additionally, where the MGS guide is best, is when you need an offset between sides and the front/rear pieces (like when the sides are taller than the front/rear). This is where the multiple positions are needed, so you can offset one location 1/4" away from another location.
The guides do have other uses, but these are the only ones that you mentioned. So I can't speculate on other tasks you may have.
I'm not sure that either of the guides would help you with chairs. I can't think of any task, at least. Those types of mortises typically need special positions for each mortise.
They can help you for doing the cabinetry, but it also depends on how much of that type of work you do. For example, for your Arts & Crafts doors, you can use either model of guide and blindly machine all of the mortises without having to layout each door separately and mark them with pencil lines. So for example, if you have all of your stiles and rails cut and stacked in a pile, you can machine all of the parts without having to pre-match which stiles belong to which rails, etc. But if you're only making a couple doors at a time, then you lay out all 4 pieces for each door, mark which stiles and rails get joined, and machine them up separately. In that case, the parts for each door have to stay separate from other doors and can't be mixed and matched.
For the same reason, they are also handy for machining drawer boxes. You don't have to pre-identify which pieces belong to any specific drawer box. Additionally, where the MGS guide is best, is when you need an offset between sides and the front/rear pieces (like when the sides are taller than the front/rear). This is where the multiple positions are needed, so you can offset one location 1/4" away from another location.
The guides do have other uses, but these are the only ones that you mentioned. So I can't speculate on other tasks you may have.
The MGS, I've had for years from when I first bought my Domino, and have used it once. But like Rick said, it depends on what you do. I've used mine primarily for cabinet construction 90+% of the time.
The SCG, I just got last fall, and it has been used multiple times. Real handy and quick for centering my holes on end stock or narrow pieces. Just love it.
The SCG, I just got last fall, and it has been used multiple times. Real handy and quick for centering my holes on end stock or narrow pieces. Just love it.
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Yes, based on what you've described for the type of work you do, I would agree with your decision. You probably don't need one right now. Wait until you have a project where you need one. If and when that project does come around, you will be glad to have it.
DrD,
Welcome to the FOG! [smile]
Hard to get better answers than this , eh?
Seth
Welcome to the FOG! [smile]
Hard to get better answers than this , eh?
Seth
