New "domino killer" dowel guide for drills

[smorgasbord]

Andrew Klein (maker of the very cool Turbo Vise) has designed a new tool:


It's got 3 drill bits rotating in a domino-style base/fence system. Unlike the Mafell and Triton duo-dowel thingies, this one doesn't have a built-in motor; you attach your drill.

It looks decent - the milling on the fence system seems perhaps better than on the Domino Base/Fence system. Instead of paddles, he's got flip stops with ⅛" increment detents, which gives you more choices and much less wiggle. Unfortunately, depth of drilling is set by how far you mount the drill bits into the device; and although he does have 3 flats machined to different lengths for 3 different depths, that seems a bit unweidly and lacks the fine depth adjustments of the Dominios. No dust collection hookups that I saw. Fence height and angle adjustments look good, although the whole thing seems narrower than the Domino.

But, overall, at $349 (intro price), it seems like a decent "don't want to spend that much on a Domino" dowel guide. How good it actually is, however, will have to wait until they start shipping this December.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Funnily enough I saw that video just a short while ago, at $349USD which for the build quality isn't bad at all I would think. Nice looking unit.

I do however wonder how well it will perform after a number of holes.

The thing that really surprised me with my DDF40 was how much pressure I needed to apply to the unit to drill the holes.

 

[ChuckS]

If you don't have the patience as I didn't (I fast-fowarded), start the vid at the 6:00 segment.

I certainly wish the inventor good luck because it may please the dowel users. But like other attempts before it, the killer label is there to attract views. That says a lot about how successful the Domino Joiner has been. Aren't the DF patents expiring soon and will clones be coming to the market to bring down prices?

 

[luvmytoolz]

Aren't the DF patents expiring soon and will clones be coming to the market to bring down prices?

If they do I have no doubt the case will be that they'll either be the same inferior quality as all of the other joinery clones for a not insignificant percentage of the originals price, or they'll be similar quality to the originals at around the same cost.

 

[Packard]

What is the size of the fence compared to a domino fence?

 

[mino]

No dust extraction. A hard pass.

For those thinking about this, you need a high-speed and strong drill for these. A TPC or no cigar for a good experience. Plus rig a dust extraction somehow.

 

[Packard]

I have a center finding dowel jig with replaceable bushings from Infinity Tools. It allows me to drill 4 same-size holes quickly and easily. Much faster than either of my other centering jigs, one with built-in bushings, and the other with only two replaceable bushings.

It does not have a fence, but for $70.00 it would work for many of the same jobs as this gadget. If everyone starts copying the design, I will know it is worth a look.

I have about 8 different dowel jigs. None of them are perfect for all jobs, but with all of them, I pretty much have most jobs covered.

I suspect this device will be excellent for some very specific applications, good for others and worthless for some others. I don’t think there is a single dowel jig that does all joints well.

 

[ChuckS]

If this video had been shared a couple of days later (on April 1st), I would've thought it to be....

 

[Michael Kellough]

Watched the video (with sound off so might have missed something) but noticed extremely slow drilling progress and loose fits in the two 90 degree joints.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Watched the video (with sound off so might have missed something) but noticed extremely slow drilling progress and loose fits in the two 90 degree joints.

It was a fairly sloppy fit when he assembled the timber. It'd be curious to see what the runout is.

 

[rmhinden]

I liked the Werner Herzog (not really him, I assume) narration

I don't think this will replace my Domino XL, or why this is better than all of the other dowel jigs.

Bob

 

[onocoffee]

Andrew Klein makes that geared twin screw vise which looks fantastic, so I don't doubt the machining on this piece will be superb and quality very high (otherwise he won't live up to his own reputation), but in the video's lead up to the issues Domino users face, they went with the DF700 as a demonstration. I think most Domino users won't prefer the 700 when the 500 is the more appropriate choice - which (I presume) does not have the potential balance issues that the 700 would in those instances. Then they're wobbling the 500 without a base plate, so a lot of it comes off as bait-y to me. As does the shtick with the height gauge - as though the wobble of the gauge when unlocked is anything to concern yourself about.

Then there's the section of his declaration on the December release date. All this work to make such a video, including the Herzog-esque narrative, dramatic interviews and background music - and they couldn't be bothered to sound edit the video into balanced stereo???? I find that lack of attention to detail incredibly irritating.

If Mino is right - that the Trinity will require a TPC or similar for optimum performance, then that's a cost that should be considered as well. Of course, you don't have to go with a TPC when a DeWalt 1007 will do - but that's also around $250 to add, without the battery.

But I don't think the Trinity is a device that's meant to lure the Domino user away from their Dominos. It's an attachment geared to those users who either think the Domino is "too expensive" or can't/won't afford the Domino. It could also be a lightning rod for those woodworkers who want to "stick it to Festoon[sic]".

And what is with this "groin push" with the Domino? I remember over a year ago, a number of these YouTubers were making videos about that. Has anyone here had the need for such a technique? I have yet to come across such a situation and to see it depicted here, again, seems just ridiculous.

 

[ChuckS]

Groin push. I can't remember exactly what a friend of mine told me about a health problem he suffered because he overused his groin. I've never used my DF500 (or a borrowed DF700) with any part of my body other than my hands.

Google doesn't think it's a good idea to push hard with your groin:

Google Search

 

[luvmytoolz]

Yeah I don't get the groin push at all. The DF700 is beautifully balanced and requires little effort to cut mortises. In fact I'm usually holding it back a bit so I don't plunge too aggressively.

The dissing on the DF700 I think was also unwarranted. Sure it could probably be made better, but for me it does what it advertised to do extremely well.

And as with 3rd party connectors for the Zeta, this talk of "proprietary" is a bit of a stretch, the most basic woodworker would be capable of machining tenons from scrap, or as I did, buy the tenon cutter set and make professional looking tenons.