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80K views 86 replies 35 participants last post by  MyronW 
#1 ·
Festool Domino and Dowelmax Comparison on Simple Joints - VIDEO

Hi Folks,

There is alot of Domino support and bashing, as well as Dowelmax support and bashing on various woodworking forums. Typically the owners of the tools talk about them like they are just about the second coming. The detractors talk about their excessive (relative) price. The Domino "won't pay for itself." The Dowelmax is no better at 250 bucks than a beadlock is at 50 bucks. Usually stuff like that. If you read close enough or care, many of the supporters and detractors don't have either tool. They usually have some other way that you should spend your money and I'm sure kick their dogs and roll through stop signs!

Anyway, I love tools. I love to buy them. I love to compare them. It's my hobby. I thought I'd toss together a crappy little video demonstrating the Domino and Dowelmax with making a butt joint, and in edge joining stock.

Please note that I don't script these, I don't rehearse them, I don't really even plan them very well. They are off the cuff and I may confuse myself with terminology and have some jittery camera work. I hope you get the point that I am neither a professional woodworker, nor am I a professional videographer.

I do make the assertion that I'm better at woodworking that I am at video production.

So, here is the video. If you have any comments or critisim's, fire away. If you want to bash either tool, please send your comments to either Festool or Dowelmax. I didn't design either of them, I purchased both of them just because I wanted to. I don't support either company over the other and I have no intention of defending my opinions to anyone, though I will happily join in poking fun at my haphazzard methods of video production.

Thanks!

http://www.jumpcut.com/media/flash/jump.swf?id=B5AE195C049E11DC9F9F000423CEF5B0&asset_type=movie&asset_id=B5AE195C049E11DC9F9F000423CEF5B0&eb=1
 
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#27 ·
I'm looking through the current issue of "Canadian Woodworking" and thought I'd share this:

Furniture Project: Harvest Table … one of the tools used? DowelMax
Easy Project: Toy Box …. main tool used? DowelMax
Home Project: Step Stool… yup.. DowelMax
 
#29 ·
LOL…Dowelmax is a popular little tool. I'm going to do a video review of the 1/4" setup when I can get to it. The boys at Dowelmax were kind enough to send me one out so they deserve some recognition for it.
 
#30 ·
haha Wayne. I don't need to buy one-I can just use the CTS and slip on over to Mot's shop :D

I had to use the 1/4 in the other day because I ran out of the larger dowels (used the very last one in the very last hole on my daughter's table that I made).
I didn't use the little plate that goes with it.. whatever it is for. Probably something important :)
 
#31 ·
Excuse me Wayne but I have a quick question. When I the computer first loads the page, I can see the pictuire of the DowelMax but for some reason, after I click play, the screen turns black and the arrow keeps on moving. Any idea why? This is happening on so many of your great videos!
 
#33 ·
This was posted long ago … but I just watched it with interest. I'm thinking of buying the DowelMax (can't justify the cost of Festools). I was interested to know if the joints made with the DowelMax resulted in perfectly aligned 'faces' and edges. Apparently, you are as impressed with the DowelMax results as you were with the Domino results.

lynxsg
 
#36 ·
Nothing wrong. The hosting site for my videos went offline. I'm working to redo the videos an put them back on the blog. Sorry for the delay. I'm just involved in other things that are taking my hobby time. I'll post them soon.
 
#39 ·
#55 ·
Incra Mitre Express / Incra 1000SE Mitre Gauge - VIDEO

I wanted to add to the mitre gauge posts. Wayne posted a photo tour of the Jessem System, and David posted initial impressions of the Kreg System.

The incra 1000SE is seen here in the Incra Miter Express sled. Both are available at Woodpeck.com You can see the kerf where the mitre sled straddles the blade in the tablesaw allowing for the cutoff piece to be coplanar with the workpiece. This decreases the chance of the saw flinging the cutoff piece back.



The Incra guage is adjutable in half degree incriments with detents every 5 degrees from +90 to -90 degrees.



The mitre bar is extendable for longer cross cutting applications by loosening a set screw and extending the bar.





The stop block is microajustable with both gross movement, and ultra fine movement for repeated cuts.



The mitre gauge easily moves to +/- 90 degrees and is stabilized in the sled with two set screws. These are not necessary but they are a nice addition. The mitre gauge moves forward or back in the sled in order to always be able to support the workpiece.





The sled has a hold down that slides along it's entire width for stock of varying widths and thicknesses.



Here is a video of the operation of the sled:

http://www.jumpcut.com/media/flash/jump.swf?id=1BF329F210AA11DCA428000423CF4092&asset_type=movie&asset_id=1BF329F210AA11DCA428000423CF4092&eb=1
 
#68 ·
Nova DVR-XP Standing Coin Test - VIDEO

Just for giggles, I did a standing coin test with the Nova DVR-XP. Many of you know, this is a new toy…er tool to my shop. I haven't gotten a lot of time to enjoy it, but I have done a few things. The lathe is fantastic, smooth, lots of power and is a significant upgrade to the lathe I had before. In this series, I'm going to demonstrate some hollowing tools including the famous Termite and the Proforme Hollowers. In this little video, I just do the coin test. The LCD screen isn't as clear as I had hoped on video, but I tried to add some titles so you can get the idea. You will be able to hear the lathe picking up speed.

Here's the video!

http://www.jumpcut.com/media/flash/jump.swf?id=E8F332241F5211DCA051000423CEF5F6&asset_type=movie&asset_id=E8F332241F5211DCA051000423CEF5F6&eb=1
 
#78 ·
Overhead Blade Guard

I've been meaning to blog this for awhile. I've gotten a few messages asking about my blade guard so I wanted to give the story.

As many of us know, the blade guards that come with standard table saws are awkward to use and often get taken off and never replaced. My original motivation for the blade gaurd, however, was not safety. It was dust control. When I set up my shop in my basement, I got overhead dust filters and dust collectors with piping. After cutting with my tablesaw, I always had a big poof of dust all over the place. I realized that a significant amount of fine particles come off the top of the saw.

I started hunting for plans for a blade guard and looked at some commercial offerings. Anyone that's been through my shop tour or my shop cam have learned that I worked in a crammed space. It's small and it's bordering on over-tooled. I know that's blasphemy, however, it's a fact of life. Most of the overhead blade guards either mount to the extension tables or to the floor. With my setup, I just couldn't do that and started looking to ceiling mounted solutions.

Excalibur, a Canadian company that makes scroll saws and blade guards was offering a new item. It was a ceiling mount blade guard, but without the mount. I thought, Canadian, blade guard, ceiling mount? It's all good and ordered one. Excalibur has since been bought out by General, another Canadian company.

That left me having to design and build a mount for my shop. I'm a hobby woodworker and a hobby metal worker, so no problem. As I have rack of steel in my garage, I headed out to the shop to build the prototype.

Starting with some angle iron, I cut a recess in one end to accept another piece welded at a right angle. This is going to be my stop for the blade guard so it doesn't swing too and fro.



I used 1" square tubing to weld an H shaped rack that would mount to the dimensions of the Excalibur unit.



I ground all the welds flush and got ready to take it down to the shop for the test fit.



After a bit of fiddling and realizing the floor joists are at 14" centres in my house, I got it attached to the ceiling of the shop.



The Excalibur unit attached to the new blade guard. It all fits and swings correctly.



Waiting for the paint to dry after the test fit.



And finally, with dust collection hooked up and ready to work.



For ripping smaller stock and for using mitre guages and cross cut sleds, the blade guard goes up to the ceiling out of the way. Well mostly. I'm 6'1" and it hangs at 6' 3/4". I do hit it from time to time. Also, as my outfeed table and tablesaw double as an assembly bench, it's nice to get it out of the way as well.

Please note: This as of writing this, Excalibur no longer offers this variation to their popular blade guard.

Thanks for reading!

Tom
 
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