The DowelMax (A Great Device)

[Ron Pegram]

I'm proud to offer this as it's made and assembled in North America AND it's a tool anyone would be proud to have in their shops.

Before now, if you bought one you had to deal with an international transaction as they were all shipped from Canada (yes, even the ones from Amazon) but we've negotiated with the owners of OMS Tool to actually stock the item here in WI. Yes, we're the exclusive US distributors (well, besides the manufacturers). Even if you own a Domino, this is worth a look. And if you don't own a Domino (and why don't you?), it's definitely worth a look.

Click Here for DowelMax

The word from my group here is that the Domino is faster, which makes sense, but that the joints made by each are comparable. Rather than look at it as a competitor, I like to think of it as cut from the same fine cloth - quality hardware that will last a lifetime and with a point of origin about which you can feel good. That's a mouthful but it's also sincere. My guess is that a lot of shops might do well to have both.

In any case, I wanted you all to know it was now available in the US from McFeely's.

 

[Ned]

Can you put a bit of the video online?

Ned

 

[Ron Pegram]

I plan to do it on tomorrow, Ned. In fact, I have a video package being air-mailed to me. I'm chomping at the bit to get some footage up.

At the manufacturers' site, you can view some information -> Click for manufacturers site

I'll update this tomorrow when I'm able to post more.

 

[Dan Lyke]

mot's video comparing the DowelMax and the Domino is part of why I have a Domino, but also a good look at the DowelMax that makes it look like a very attractive tool to have in your arsenal.

 

[Frank Pellow]

I have the Dowelmax and I realy like it.  Anyone who appreciates the quality and ustility of Festool products will also appreciate the quality and utility of the Dowelmax.

I like both McFeelys and OMS (the manuafactureers of the Dowelmax), so I am happy to see this happen and I hope that it leads to higher Dowelmax sales.

 

[Frank Pellow]

mot's video comparing the DowelMax and the Domino is part of why I have a Domino, but also a good look at the DowelMax that makes it look like a very attractive tool to have in your arsenal.

Interesting.  That video is part of the reason why I have a Dowelmax.

 

[joraft]

My guess is that a lot of shops might do well to have both.

I agree. I have both the Domino and the DowelMax and they each have their strong points.

And yes, the DowelMax is a beautifully made tool.

John

 

[Dan Lyke]

Interesting.  That video is part of the reason why I have a Dowelmax.

Okay,  the other part of why I have a Domino is that I have a partner/wife who's very big on results and not going cheap on tools. Ours is never going to be a hand-tool shop...

 

[Ron Pegram]

Interesting.  That video is part of the reason why I have a Dowelmax.

Okay,  the other part of why I have a Domino is that I have a partner/wife who's very big on results and not going cheap on tools. Ours is never going to be a hand-tool shop...

Dan,

Your quote brought a smile to my face. My significant other just told me "Men care about features - women, we like results! You can go on and on about that saw but all I want to know is what are you making with it?"

 

[Doug Anders]

I got the DowelMax too and love it. I got it before the domino came out and don't regret the purchase at all. I have Domino too.

 

[Ron Pegram]

As someone who recently bought a Dowelmax and then decided he should have bought a Domino, paying international shipping 2 ways, and waiting all that time, I think its great that its available in the US.  But....Do you realize you charge $2.75 more to ship it from Wisconsin than they do from Canada?  I see why according to your shipping cost chart, but it seems illogical to me.  Just a minor criticism.  If it were 6 weeks ago, I'd have ordered from you anyway, but I'd probably have called and asked "what the..."

Now on to place that screw order...

I believe the difference is that they ship via USPS and we only use UPS, which means your package is insured and traceable throughout the entire trip. If you upgrade to UPS with them, their S&H goes up by $10.

Still, it's a great point. S&H is tough on us all. The real advantages with this relationship are:

• Quicker, traceable delivery
• Easier returns (if even needed and that's no discredit to Mike or Jim because OMS is a fantastic company when it comes to Customer Service) because you don't have to deal with returning a package to Canada
• The abillity to consolidate your DowelMax with other McFeely's items, thereby saving on S&H

In other words, I'm hypnotizing you to buy a DowelMax AND a McFeely's screws/Festool systainer combination. Is there no emoticon with a watch moving quickly from side to side?

 

[colotimber]

I bought a DowelMax about 8 months ago and now own a Domino, after owning the Domino I will sell my DowelMax.  The production rate with the Domino is much higher, precision the same and also the ability to change to different sizes of Dominos depending on what I am building at the time.  Don't get me wrong, it is a finely made tool, but as a tradesman the name of the game is accuracy with production, for me the Domino fills both of those requirements very very well.

 

[Frank Pellow]

I bought a DowelMax about 8 months ago and now own a Domino, after owning the Domino I will sell my DowelMax.  The production rate with the Domino is much higher, precision the same and also the ability to change to different sizes of Dominos depending on what I am building at the time.  Don't get me wrong, it is a finely made tool, but as a tradesman the name of the game is accuracy with production, for me the Domino fills both of those requirements very very well.

I'm curious.  Why is the ability to change to any size of dominos any better than the ability to change to any size and spacing of dowels?

 

[colotimber]

I think that the big difference as to different sizes is with dowels, at least with the DowelMax you are limited to two sizes.  For me it was more the putting the jig on the side of the board and then tightening the thumb screws tightly (with my arthritis is a chore) pick up the drill drill the holes, put the drill down of course it is still spinning across the bench, put the indexing pin and shaft in the last hole and so on and so on.  I won't go into the detail of the Domino but as you all know all of those steps are missed or at least a lot of them.  The other advantage of the Domino is the extended size which is not an option of the dowels.  Once again for me it is production along with accuracy that is the reason that I made the significant investment in the "system".

 

[joraft]

... after owning the Domino I will sell my DowelMax. 

I love tools, I love buying them, I love owning them. And I tend to treat my tools like I treat my children, even when they disappoint me I rarely sell them. 

John

 

[Ron Pegram]

... after owning the Domino I will sell my DowelMax. 

I love tools, I love buying them, I love owning them. And I tend to treat my tools like I treat my children, even when they disappoint me I rarely sell them. 

John

And when tools do leave the home, they don't come back with a pierced nose and laundry!

 

[barnowl]

I've got both the Dowelmax, and the Domino.

Having repaired allot of old furniture, I feel that both tools have their place, and are both quality tools.

Just had an instance where I had to reset 1/2" dowels, on an old table.

Re glued the 1/2" dowels, that were maybe 100 years old, cut them flush, and set 3/8" dowels inside the old ones.

Solid as a rock...

Actually, more solid than it ever was originally....

 

[colinw]

I also have both Dowelmax and Domino, don't regret the purchase of either.

To futher add ....... After using the Dowelmax a lot you can really whiz along and it is very accurate I have had no alignment problems with it at all.