Just recently got a Domino Df500,any reason to keep my biscuit cutter?

[Max Neu]

Now that I have the Domino Df500,I was thinking about selling my dewalt biscuit cutter.I wanted to hear from some domino users if they still use biscuits for anything.I don't mind keeping it if there may be a use for it down the road for something.

 

[upscale]

Depends on who you ask. After I got my Domino a little over three years ago, I never used my biscuit cutter again. Sold it a few months back for $50 with a box of 2000 biscuits included. I'd suggest you use your Domino as needed for about six months and see if you use/need the biscuit cutter in that time. If not, then decide to make the decision to sell it.

 

[Sparktrician]

I haven't touched the biscuit cutter since buying the Domino.  It's in the garage with a bunch of other tools to be given to my son. 

 

[stvrowe]

It would be presumptuous to tell you to sell it or keep it based on the way we use (or don't use) the plate joiner in our shops.  I would say 'It depends'. 

I have had the Domino since its release in the US.  I still have my plate joiner and I do still use it although not as much as before.  The Domino is my go to tool for M&T joints.  That doesn't mean it is always the best tool for the job.  I recently did some testing of various joints (8mm dowel, #20 biscuits, and 5x30 mm Domino)  for carcass construction of 3/4" plywood cabinets.  I posted the link to the video in another thread.  While all of these methods I deemed acceptable, the results were surprising to me and I discovered it was much harder to break the joints (in shear) for the biscuits than it was the domino.  For plywood carcass construction, these tests have caused me to rethink my joinery methods and I now use biscuits for this type of construction. 

I also use a variety of specialty fasteners (knockdown, RTA, and self clamping) for the plate joiner that are just not available for the Domino. 

I like the suggestion Upscale made on keeping it for 6 months and if you don't use it, then sell.  However, I would never give away the tool for what is essentially the cost of the biscuits.  The way I look at it as the plate joiner and fasteners are a sunk cost.  If I can't get at least what it is worth to me, I will keep it. 

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Max

I sold my Lamello within 3 weeks of getting the Domino 500. I have not missed the Lamello at all. The Domino does more than replace a biscuit jointer as I have also got rid of my stationary morticing machine as well. I just wish that I could afford to get the DF700 as it is superb.

Peter

 

[Michael Kellough]

I've been using the biscuit machine a good bit with specialty biscuits too but that has also led me back to using it normally as well.

Steve, I would be very interested if you expanded on your test, particularly the details of how the Domino joints broke. I've been wondering if the tight fitting Dominos might swell enough when glued to split some woods, particularly when installed in the edge of plywood. Recently I had to butt-join plywood and worried about that I just used a few dry Dominos and a few glued biscuits. Worked fine but no testing done.

 

[sancho57]

I quit using my biscuit jointer when I got my kreg jig.

In fact forgot I even had it.When I got the domino, I gave my biscuit jointer to a good friend w/ biscuits and kept my kreg jig and domino.

I use the domino and kreg jig on 90% of my projects

 

[stvrowe]

I've been using the biscuit machine a good bit with specialty biscuits too but that has also led me back to using it normally as well.

Steve, I would be very interested if you expanded on your test, particularly the details of how the Domino joints broke. I've been wondering if the tight fitting Dominos might swell enough when glued to split some woods, particularly when installed in the edge of plywood. Recently I had to butt-join plywood and worried about that I just used a few dry Dominos and a few glued biscuits. Worked fine but no testing done.

Michael,
I had done a followup video on the failed joints that may answer your question. 

Closeup of failed joints

What lead me to do these tests was literally "lead".  I was building some cabinets for my reloading bench and bullets get quite heavy.  Depending on the bullet and package size, a small box of bullets can easily weigh 25-30 lbs and you can stress test a cabinet very quickly doing this.  I ended up using the 5x30 mm Domino for these cabinets and so far they are holding up just fine. 

 

[Knight Woodworks]

I own a Domino and a Lamello Top 20.  I use the Lamello for mitered casing and attaching hardwood nosing to plywood.

As others have suggested, wait and see.

John

 

[peter halle]

I kept my old Porter Cable model.  I haven't used it much at all - even before I had the domino.  I will use it for re enforcing colonial style trim that is mitered.  It just isn't worth it to sell and get a pittance for it and all the biscuits.  The knockdown fittings that Steve has shown are just too interesting  [thumbs up].

Peter

 

[gsdvorak]

I would agree with the earlier post that it depends on what you are using it for; however, for me, I purchased the Domino when it was first released, sold my biscuit joiner a couple months later, and have not missed it since.

By the way, that's when I caught the Festool 'disease', which has now turned into a pandemic...

Happy Woodworking!
Gerry

 

[zapdafish]

Sometimes I use the biscuits for shims or spacers  [big grin]

 

[Birdhunter]

I use the Domino in most, but not all joinery applications. There are still some applications where biscuits work better than free tenons.

 

[unityroad]

you might want to try the fixo clamps from lamello. just check you tube. I think you should keep the biscut machine. [wink]

 

[Holzhacker]

Yes keep it for those low end jobs, jobs where security is risky, and when you are just doing a thing or two on a small gig and don't really need the domino but a few biscuits would be helpful

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

You can use the biscuit cutter to make the slot for table top fasteners.

 

[John Stevens]

I bought a Lamello in 2004 or '05 and the Domi when it first became available in the US.  Still in love with both.  Sometimes the Lamello does things the Domi can't, or can't do as quickly or easily.  Still waiting for someone to make hinges that fit into Domi mortises, like Lamello hinges fit into the Lamello's mortise.

--John

 

[dltflt]

I've had my 500 for several years now. I still have my biscuit joiner but never pull it out. I've been going through all my old tools that I don't use so I can sell them. I need space for more Festools.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I kept both for a long time and then sold my biscuit joiner earlier this year -- never used it and so it was not worth keeping around.

Scot

 

[Kevin D.]

I'll say I agree with the aforementioned comment that it all depends as well.  But unless you've got a super tight budget needing to generate funds towards other tools, I'd keep both.

I got my Domino 500 4 years ago.  Totally fell in love with it and went Domino ballistic doing everything I could with those cute little Domino's.  I felt I was in a mind warp as to where and anywhere I could use my Domino using it for tasks I never suspected.  You can get Domino on the brain so to speak where you start thinking like a Domino finding all sorts of uses for it with some even stretching in application on some occasions.

Regardless of my 'Domino Affliction',  I did have the odd situation where I chose to use biscuits simply to use up my stock of biscuits for part of the reason, but also for where the Domino was not necessary in applications where the biscuit did the job just as well.

I do have a task where I'm really glad I'm keeping my PC biscuiter though.  I'm to surface a deck I'm building with Ipe next spring.  I could get pre slotted grooved sides of 5/4 Ipe in order to use Ipe Clips, but I've read that grooved boards can have a greater issue of problems over time in my northern climate versus using a biscuit cutter instead for the necessary groove for the Ipe Clips.  So I will be grooving my slots for the clips with my biscuiter instead.  Glad I kept it, although I'm a tool hoarder anyway and would have trouble regardless having gotten rid of it in the first place.

Note....I am not a contractor, just an avid and sporaidic DIY wannabee.  FWIW.