Opinions needed on next tool purchase

Opinions needed on next tool purchase · 07-01-2009, 10:43 PM

Good evening fellow NC woodworkers, I'm trying to decide which of these tools to add to my shop next. I'm looking at either a Festool Domino or a Leigh FMT to enhance my joinery options. As both are major purchases, I'm looking for your experiences with either and opinions on both and if you had to chose which one would you purchase first or make your only purchase of the 2. I know there is a wealth of experience out there for me to draw upon, so thanks in advance for your posts.

Travis Porter · 07-01-2009, 10:56 PM

I have neither, but I want a Domino. The FMT is a very nice set up, but you are limited in that it is not really portable and if you are using long rails you have to have the FMT up kind of high.

I have several friends with Domino's and have heard nothing negative about them whatsoever.

I will have one soon, very very soon.

Glennbear · 07-01-2009, 11:40 PM

I own neither but I would choose the Domino because of the flexibility/portability. I believe Dino Drosas has a Domino and has been highly pleased with it.

tom hintz · 07-02-2009, 03:20 AM

I have the Leigh FMT and am glad I went with it over all of the options out there. I have a full review of it at the link below if that would help.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/leighfmtrvu.html

Splint Eastwood · 07-02-2009, 08:14 AM

I've got an idea on how you can fund your purchase faster!

Sell me your Leigh DT Jig for the $100 you bought (snaked) it for on CL!

.

That will teach me to be one minute slower to the email send button

Let us know, what you end up deciding on!

Matt

Joe Scharle · 07-02-2009, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by tom hintz

I have the Leigh FMT and am glad I went with it over all of the options out there. I have a full review of it at the link below if that would help.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/leighfmtrvu.html

Looks like a Woodrat!
BTW Tom, is this what you meant to say in the first para?

very trick router mounting

tom hintz · 07-02-2009, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Joe Scharle

Looks like a Woodrat!
BTW Tom, is this what you meant to say in the first para?

very trick router mounting

It's nothing like a WoodRat. the WoodRat is great for someone who enjoys tinkering around and making one-off joints, the FMT is far better than anything remotely like it that I have seen.

Tarhead · 07-02-2009, 10:49 AM

Brad,
I have a Domino. It has been used on every project I've made since it came ~2 years ago. Is it the "End All, Be All" of joining wood? No...close, but no. There are some situations where you need big tenons like workbenches, dining room tables, etc where you need lots of meat to join. You can use multiple 10mm X 24mm X 50mm dominos but it will lack strength because you're not deep enough. This results in slightly less than an inch of tenon for each side of the joint. It will cut up to a 28mm mortise on each side but you need to make your own 55mm tenon to fit. My primary use for it has been casegoods (sides, faceframes, drawers). You have to have a shop vac connected to it for it to work correctly. It's very fast, fairly idiot proof and cooler 'n heck to bring the tool to the wood. Aftermarket bits and tenons have dropped the long term cost.

I considered the FMT. Similar up-front cost after you buy a few templates. You need a router, a place to mount the jig and space to bring the wood to it. Long term cost will be lower because you make your own tenons. Nice equipment and very flexible. At the time I thought I could make a copy out of scrap plywood and meet my meager needs for big M&T's instead of spending >$750. It's still on my 'roundtuit list.

Ultimately you could use a hand drill, $5 doweling jig, chisel, and a handsaw and produce great joints or go the Multirouter route and spend >$2K. Lots of options. No one size fits all needs.

Vetteman9956 · 07-02-2009, 01:27 PM

Thanks for the posts guys,

I have been leaning towards the domino because I do mainly smaller furniture and case goods and I already have a CT-33 dust collector(aka expensive shop vac), "Yes the Festool Bug has bitten already". My main reason for getting your opinions is that I have never heard anything bad about either of them. I have been using a biscuit jointer and really haven't been able to get the precision that I wanted out of it. Not that it's that bad, just my aviation standards creeping in.

Tarhead · 07-02-2009, 02:09 PM

If you do get one, be careful how you hold the Domino when you plunge and take your time plunging. If you hold it near the switch (natural hand placement) and plunge hard, the fence can be easily rocked. This results in uneven registration and lots of hair pulling, gnashing of teeth and kicking yourself for spending so much money on something. (DAMHIKT). Holding and plunging from the far end near the plug-it adapter and relaxing a little gives me dead on results.

BillPappas · 07-02-2009, 02:41 PM

I have both tools and have used both of them quite a bit. If I had to pick just one I would buy the Domino just because it is clearly more versatile. With that said teh FMT is a great tool and does what it was designed to do very well.

Regards,

Bill

jrs · 07-02-2009, 09:06 PM

Now is a good time to get an FMT. you get a free accessory kit with it (via rebate):

http://www.leighjigs.com/specials.php