DLB wrote: ↑Fri Dec 16, 2022 9:55 pm
Did you happen to notice how the jig controls length of the slot mortise? With all of the sizes of cutters 'available' this seems like a challenge. And may require relocating the jig to complete the mortise.(?) I didn't see anything in the specs or on the JessEm site about this. But for that matter I don't really know how the Festool does it either.
RFGuy wrote: ↑Fri Dec 16, 2022 2:28 pm
... or springing just a few more bucks for a Festool Domino. JMO...
"A few" seems optimistic. Isn't the entry level Domino $1K+ ? And the large one like $1600?
- David
David,
Thanks. No, I don't know how the Jessem jig controls anything and that is a good catch you make about its operation and compatibility. For the Festool Domino's I believe the sizes are 5 mm tenons are 19 mm wide, 6 mm tenons are 20 mm wide, 8 mm tenons are 22 mm wide and the 10mm are 24 mm wide. This raises a good point about comparing the Jessem product to the Festool Domino. Also, another feature that the Festool Domino has is the ability for each tenon to adjust how tight in width it fits in the mortise. On the default setting, every tenon size fits perfectly snug in 2 axes, which guarantees both vertical and horizontal alignment of the pieces being joined. However, you can set different looser width modes, if you choose. These are helpful, e.g. in making a panel from solid lumber. Only one of the loose tenons need a snug width fit to guarantee both vertical and horizontal alignment, then the rest can be made at the looser width setting because only vertical alignment is required of the rest. It just makes glue-up and assembly easier than trying to thread multiple tenons on a panel which requires perfect placement accuracy of every mortise.
Mortise depth can easily be set with a slider on the Festool Domino and presumably the width adjusts automatically via the difference in cutter size diameter for it. How exactly do you set the depth of cut on the Jessem product? Maybe it is obscured in the photos, but I don't see a depth control, though I know it has one. My point is I wonder how easy it is to adjust things like this on the Jessem compared to the Domino? As for price, well in for a penny, in for a pound right?
I just think if you are going to spend this kind of money on a "jig" that you would be willing to spend significantly less for a better working router jig or spend a bit more for the Domino. In the sizes Jessem lists it ONLY competes with the smaller Festool Domino df500. The df700 is a much larger beast from Festool and does mortises suitable for making doors, large furniture, etc. The df700 Domino sizes are 8mm, 10mm, 12mm & 14mm, though with an adapter from Seneca you can do all of the df500 sizes with it as well. A bit cumbersome though because the df700 is huge compared to the df500.