Good post from
@Spectric let me clarify a couple of things:-
Hi
I have been looking at different jointing methods and have got some good advice and info regarding the Domino from people on these forums. I use a Dowelmax which produces good strong dowel joints but want something with less hassle for bigger jobs, for example my last cabinet used 132 dowels that required 264 holes. Looking at this peanut it is only suitable for sheet goods, it would not have helped me wheras a domino would have and can also handle the sheet goods. I am not a Festool fan and not loyal to any brand, best quality / suitable tool for the job attitude and my biggest issue with the domino is no competitive machines so no choice.
Domino's a great machine - I've had mine since they first became available, and it remains absolutely the most versatile of all the jointing systems I've used; if you can only have one, and you have the funds, and you can actually find one to buy, then absolutely, Domino, all day long. But as I say in the video, there's no one perfect tool for for every job. The Domino Connect knock-down fittings are pretty clunky, and if that's an area of interest, then there are absolutely better systems out there.
Peter says there is a void between biscuit joiners and Lamellos/dominos but I think they are aimed at different markets. This peanut system cannot be classed as being used to produce high end cabinetry, the end result is a flat pack product wheras the domino and others can deliver a pre assembled cabinet. When I think of flat pack units, the bit that fails is that screw in pin that engages with the cam lock, it breaks out very easily and a flat pack kitchen only gets its strength from good installation and neighbouring units. If you want something to assemble later then I think the domino connectors certainly look stronger and better quality, ok they are £1 each but compared to that plastic peanut pin at thirteen pence, there is no comparison.
What I actually said is that there is a void between eg a good quality biscuit jointer at ~£200-300, and eg the Domino or Mafell doweller at ~£800, and *for carcass construction* they are absolutely aimed at the same market. There are many reasons why you may want to pre-assemble, disassemble for transport/access, then reassemble; I don't know what system
@custard uses for his flat-packed yacht fit-outs, but I imagine that his finished cabinetry can certainly be classed as high-end. Take a look at (peanut system inventor) Luke Thomson's commercial website (thomsonbrothers.co.uk) and tell me that isn't high-end cabinetry. Yes, it's flat-packed to get into tricky London locations (Barbican) but flat-packed doesn't mean cheap or inferior. Oh, and if you think the pin on those cam and dowel fittings you've seen on MFI and Ikea flat-pack is a weak point, you're going to love the Domino Connect! Repeat failures of the Domino Connect fittings (at ~£1.80/fitting, btw) are why I bought my Lamello Zeta.
The best thing about the peanut system in my opinion is the actual jig, that looks top quality and probably warrants it's £400 cost and that drill stop collar looks substantial. To conclude, from my perspective at the moment the Domino is the front runner, just line up and push, no clamping work down, no MFT workbench, no collection of parts to swap and change and a wider range of joints can be made.
The jig is very nice quality (as it should be for the price) - and without being too pedantic, it's the starter set that's £400 - the jig alone is a fair bit less, but yes, still a decent chunk of change. But just FYI you won't be without clamps with the Domino - it's just that those clamps come at the end, during the glue-up, unless you're using eg screws to keep it all together while the glue sets. And yes, this jig is aimed at workshop-based fitted furniture makers working mostly in sheet goods, or sheet-goods-thickness natural timbers - not an actual crime - and there's a mini jig coming very soon that I expect to address the cost concerns and possibly, portability.
But I'll say again, there's no one perfect too for all situations and applications; I have no skin in this game, no interest in the success or failure of the Peanut System. I earned my living making fitted furniture though, and I've made thousands of carcasses with the Domino, a fair few with the Lamello Zeta, and with biscuits and dowels, and glued 'n screwed, and knock-down fittings of all kinds, and whilst I've only had the peanut jig and fittings for a couple of weeks, I'd put these 15p plastic connectors ahead of the Domino Connect fittings all day long. No comparison.
Cheers, Peter