Domino...worth it or nae?

[wizer]

Damian, remind me what course you're doing?

 

[Ironballs]

Well, it started out as an OCN Cabinet Making Class, one night a week. However last year there was a change, no longer OCN accredited, so any kind of syllabus goes out the window and we can now turn up each year and embark on any project we want (within reason) and gain the benefit of tuition from the 2 tutors present.

Most people come and build furniture of some sort though, you're encouraged to use the machines but hand tool work is equally well promoted.

 

[wizer]

bah that's just not fair.

 

[Ironballs]

Surely there must be something similar near you? All the ads for colleges and courses seem to be for places in the home (and surrounding) counties

 

[wizer]

The only thing I've seen that's remotely similar is this

http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/jcamd/course ... making.cfm

But it's one day a week and (normally) I'm a full time IT Consultant. Not sure my boss will be able to work that into our training budget. Other than that, all we have is a local adult education class which I attended for a year about 5yrs ago. It was good, I made something with hand cut M&T's but it's aimed at the very basic end of the scale and the facilities were next to nothing. The tutor was a sweet elderly guy who was very knowledgeable but clearly overworked for his age.

I've never seen any opportunity to study properly like you seem to be at night school. I'd give my right arm for it tbh.

 

[Ironballs]

The only other similar course I've seen in the whole of West Yorkshire is the one run by Chris Tribe, very similar set up to the one at the college. Unsurprisingly he's always booked up.

I think our college course will only run whilst their costs are being covered and we have 2 members of staff willing to give up time in the evenings.

Your best bet maybe finding a local maker who is willing to do something similar to Chris, go mob handed with fistfuls of cash and a desire to be taught

 

[Dibs-h]

Well, it started out as an OCN Cabinet Making Class, one night a week. However last year there was a change, no longer OCN accredited, so any kind of syllabus goes out the window and we can now turn up each year and embark on any project we want (within reason) and gain the benefit of tuition from the 2 tutors present.

Most people come and build furniture of some sort though, you're encouraged to use the machines but hand tool work is equally well promoted.

What college is this? (seems local) Mind you it's not like I've got huge amounts of spare time at the moment. :wink:

Cheers.

 

[Ironballs]

It's Leeds College of Art & Design, up near the uni. First year/beginner is on a Thursday night and everyone else is Wednesday night. You join/pay up a term at a time and there are 3 terms a year, this week will be week 3 of the first term.

Richard Jones (Sgian Dubh on here) is the course leader for the degree day course. If you're at the Harrogate show this year then they usually have a stand with work displayed by the students, I was lucky enough to be able to show my table last year

 

[Dibs-h]

It's Leeds College of Art & Design, up near the uni. First year/beginner is on a Thursday night and everyone else is Wednesday night. You join/pay up a term at a time and there are 3 terms a year, this week will be week 3 of the first term.

Richard Jones (Sgian Dubh on here) is the course leader for the degree day course. If you're at the Harrogate show this year then they usually have a stand with work displayed by the students, I was lucky enough to be able to show my table last year

Term at a time - that sounds cool!

I may well consider it as soon as my current (mis)adventures come to an end.

Thanks for the info - I'll probably be at Harrogate again so will have a chat with Richard (assuming he's there).

 

[chippy1970]

I assume yours is 110v ? the 240v version comes with braking.

Going to an open evening sometime at the end of the month, at my local tool supplier, I think I'll take the "PLUNGE" (Bad Pun)

Back to the Domino

Rob get it bought, you know it makes sense :lol:

Yeah mine is 110v I think the 1400 is a better all rounder but I just wanted a light router for small stuff like hinges etc.

 

[wizer]

Getting back on topic for a moment. Leigh have just brought out a new version of the FMT The Super FMT As far as I can see it does exactly the same as the original jig but is CHEAPER. I looks like they have used cheaper materials and manufacturing methods to drive down the cost.

I'm still not sure I'd buy one tho. It's limited by the length of rail you can tenon (i.e floor to bench height) and I just think it's easier to design things without tenons. Ideal world I'd have both :lol:

 

[FatFreddysCat]

It's limited by the length of rail you can tenon (i.e floor to bench height) and I just think it's easier to design things without tenons.

In that case I'd avoid frame and panel doors, gates and most joinery pieces......... :lol:

 

[Ross K]

As a pro user the Domino cutter is unbelieveably versatile and saves more than its purchase cost in just two or three jobs. It's a no-brainer.

It's also superior to dowel and biscuit joints in many respects in my opinion. We still use biscuits for fast edge to edge jointing. The inaccurate longitudinal tolerances of biscuits can be your friend when you are making to a time deadline.

More and more "traditional" cabinet makers are embracing the Domino as a modern means of joining. Not all will admit this though - I suspect many are hidden in locked cabinets!!

What it means to the pro is the opening up of huge opportunities to bring to customers interesting and previously unrealistically costly furniture designs that are as strongly made as using equivalent "traditional" joining methods. (note there are limits though - I would never use them to make a table or in anything where the stresses on the joint are extreme)

It changes the way you can design furniture. Given a budget by a customer of £x.00 the Domino can sometimes mean that you can offer them a far more exciting and/or better value piece of furniture than you otherwise would, because you spend less of your time making time-consuming and sometimes sophisticated joints.

It can also increase your profitability and/or secure jobs that you would have otherwise lost through necessarily high pricing.

I would say that not only is my time precious as a pro, but so might be the time of a hobbyist. It's hourses for courses though. If you love the act of hand-making joints and have all the time in the world, then that's fine but don't knock the guy who uses a domino so that he can create more output and more exciting designs with the same amount of limited time he has.

As was said before in this thread, ask what the Domino can do for you. If you really think about it, you may just convince yourself to buy one!

 

[Mattty]

As a pro user the Domino cutter is unbelieveably versatile and saves more than its purchase cost in just two or three jobs. It's a no-brainer.

It's also superior to dowel and biscuit joints in many respects in my opinion. We still use biscuits for fast edge to edge jointing. The inaccurate longitudinal tolerances of biscuits can be your friend when you are making to a time deadline.

More and more "traditional" cabinet makers are embracing the Domino as a modern means of joining. Not all will admit this though - I suspect many are hidden in locked cabinets!!

What it means to the pro is the opening up of huge opportunities to bring to customers interesting and previously unrealistically costly furniture designs that are as strongly made as using equivalent "traditional" joining methods. (note there are limits though - I would never use them to make a table or in anything where the stresses on the joint are extreme)

It changes the way you can design furniture. Given a budget by a customer of £x.00 the Domino can sometimes mean that you can offer them a far more exciting and/or better value piece of furniture than you otherwise would, because you spend less of your time making time-consuming and sometimes sophisticated joints.

It can also increase your profitability and/or secure jobs that you would have otherwise lost through necessarily high pricing.

I would say that not only is my time precious as a pro, but so might be the time of a hobbyist. It's hourses for courses though. If you love the act of hand-making joints and have all the time in the world, then that's fine but don't knock the guy who uses a domino so that he can create more output and more exciting designs with the same amount of limited time he has.

As was said before in this thread, ask what the Domino can do for you. If you really think about it, you may just convince yourself to buy one!

What he said!
100% my thoughts too.

 

[JonnyD]

As a pro user the Domino cutter is unbelieveably versatile and saves more than its purchase cost in just two or three jobs. It's a no-brainer.

It's also superior to dowel and biscuit joints in many respects in my opinion. We still use biscuits for fast edge to edge jointing. The inaccurate longitudinal tolerances of biscuits can be your friend when you are making to a time deadline.

More and more "traditional" cabinet makers are embracing the Domino as a modern means of joining. Not all will admit this though - I suspect many are hidden in locked cabinets!!

What it means to the pro is the opening up of huge opportunities to bring to customers interesting and previously unrealistically costly furniture designs that are as strongly made as using equivalent "traditional" joining methods. (note there are limits though - I would never use them to make a table or in anything where the stresses on the joint are extreme)

It changes the way you can design furniture. Given a budget by a customer of £x.00 the Domino can sometimes mean that you can offer them a far more exciting and/or better value piece of furniture than you otherwise would, because you spend less of your time making time-consuming and sometimes sophisticated joints.

It can also increase your profitability and/or secure jobs that you would have otherwise lost through necessarily high pricing.

I would say that not only is my time precious as a pro, but so might be the time of a hobbyist. It's hourses for courses though. If you love the act of hand-making joints and have all the time in the world, then that's fine but don't knock the guy who uses a domino so that he can create more output and more exciting designs with the same amount of limited time he has.

As was said before in this thread, ask what the Domino can do for you. If you really think about it, you may just convince yourself to buy one!

What he said!
100% my thoughts too.

well summed it 100% from me too.

cheers

jon

 

[jhwbigley]

It's Leeds College of Art & Design, up near the uni. First year/beginner is on a Thursday night and everyone else is Wednesday night. You join/pay up a term at a time and there are 3 terms a year, this week will be week 3 of the first term.

Richard Jones (Sgian Dubh on here) is the course leader for the degree day course. If you're at the Harrogate show this year then they usually have a stand with work displayed by the students, I was lucky enough to be able to show my table last year

We've been warned about you evening school lot :lol:

John-Henry

 

[jedmc571]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BNIB-FESTOOL-Domi ... 911.c0.m14

Let's see what it goes for?

 

[ivan]

I can see how the pros justify the price. If not pro, apart from biscuits, a doweller could be more affordable for quick jobs (Freud at D&M Tools) although it may not be as versatile as the Mafell. Otherwise you can do a lot and quickly with a Woodrat, including cutting mortices for dominoes!

According to the US press, modern PVA style glues are flexible enough to handle environmental dowel dimension changes (probably not exterior tho' )

 

[Dibs-h]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BNIB-FESTOOL-Domi ... 911.c0.m14

Let's see what it goes for?

Relatively small feedback, no activity in the last 6 months, collection not possible, so would you part with somewhere near £500? When I read your post 1st and saw the current price - thought I'll have a bid, but having looked at the feedback, etc. no chance.

Rather pay more but get it with warranty, as opposed to ripped off. People who won't allow collection of something relatively small but high value are always suspect in my book.

 

[Karl]

Relatively small feedback, no activity in the last 6 months, collection not possible, so would you part with somewhere near £500? When I read your post 1st and saw the current price - thought I'll have a bid, but having looked at the feedback, etc. no chance.

Rather pay more but get it with warranty, as opposed to ripped off. People who won't allow collection of something relatively small but high value are always suspect in my book.

Pay with Paypal - if it doesn't turn up you get a refund.