Kreg MortiseMate Review - Should Festool Be Worried?

Kreg recently released a new tool that appears to be a straight shot at the Festool Domino. It makes the mortises with any drill and does so via a clever mechanism that advances the bit about 1/16" per pass. Kreg also sells Domino-like tenons that complete the system. But is it a Domino killer? Watch this Kreg MortiseMate Review to find out!

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[frowe]

In a world filled with woodworking YouTube content creators, this is the gold standard of tool reviews. Keep it up.

[WilliamMcCarty-qv]

No, Festool does not need to be worried.

[Ashitaka]

As someone who has been working with the Beadlock system for a couple years now, a few tips for those interested.
1. Use a quality bit. If you ignore everything else, do this. The regular twist bits that come with it aren't great. Get a good, sharp brad point bit. It also helps to use a marking gauge to give a little gauge line for the tip of the brad to find when you start a hole. Doing this has made my holes A LOT cleaner and more accurate.
2. Use two clamps. The images of the product show just one, but I started to always use two. Keeping the jig well-attached, again, leads to cleaner and more accurate holes.
3. Take your time on setup and layout. This seems obvious, but a product like this is always marketed as "quick and easy." But for PRECISE joinery, go the extra mile. A good sharp line is a must. A knife line is even better and transfers even more precisely to the mating piece (but leaving the knife line on the surface may be a no-go depending on the project). This extends to the wood itself of course; get your stock straight and square.
4. If you like the system, upgrade the thumb bolts that come with it. Small heads and sharp corners will do a number on your fingers if you're using it frequently, and just recently I had a head break off and expose the cheap way they are made internally.
5. Just buy the pre-cut pieces for most things. The lengths are fine. You can have some of the 12 inch long cut-to-size stock on hand for the occasion when you might need it; usually it will be something heavy duty, which normally means the 3/8th or 1/2 size (I only just recently needed some of the 1/2 inch size for the first time). The router bits to make your own stock are not cheap and then you actually have to go through the trouble of making it, so try the jig for a while and consider if you'll be using it enough to make the time and money worth it to you.

The complete 38th size kit + the 1/4 and 1/2 kits + the spacers (you definitely want the spacers if you plan to use it with ANY stock over 3/4" thickness) runs you $200 before taxes and shipping. I haven't used the Kreg, but just looking at the video, I'm unimpressed with the effort it takes, the loose fit (it looks much looser than the fit I get with the beadlock and a quality bit), and the fact that it is a "bring the stock to the stationary jig" tool rather than the beadlock and domino, where the tool is brought to the stock. I'm using beadlock on a garden arch right now with some big 8ft long 4x4 posts and it would be a serious hassle to try to line those up on this stationary Kreg thing. I will say that the thing Kreg has here that Beadlock doesn't is dust collection, beadlock has no solution to that. Be sure to back the bit out frequently or the chips will be jammed into the hole and need to be cleaned out individually. But considering all that, not to mention the price difference, I'm liking my beadlock even more.

[mattparker]

Every one of these “domino killers” just end up showing how good the domino really is

[johnandrebeccamalcolm]

Thank you for reinforcing that my purchase of the dowel max was the correct thing to do. It works exceedingly well, and i'm very happy to have it.

[jlbfd]

Hey Marc. I find your product reviews super helpful. Really appreciate them. Please keep posting!

[wdmn-cs]

Marc we always appreciate your honesty and straightforward advice. thanks

[brock]

I appreciate the honest review. As a hobbyist I've looked at the domino but just can't justify the price for the few times a year I would use it. I was thinking about the dowelmax and you convinced me that is best for my situation.

[alanr]

So essentially, if you want the Kreg MortiseMate....make your own tenon/domino stock. Definitely not hurting Festool's sales. Marc, excellent product review. As always, we appreciate your thoroughness, but also your humor. Actually, always, you humor.

[flatlander]

Yea, that is a no starter from Kreg. I wish content creators would produce more videos on using a router to create mortises and tenons. I still think that is a great place to learn the basics of router operation and joinery. Very good video Marc and your content is always informative.

[SloverOfTeuth]

Saw the title, so I had to watch as I finally splurged on a Domino 2 weeks ago. The moment you pulled it out I realised I'd made the right decision and relaxed. Before the Domino I'd been using biscuit joints and the 3x3Custom loose tenon router jig, which is quicker to use than this looks. I often use epoxy, which will fill gaps, but I wouldn't find the Kreg results acceptably tight with that, let alone with wood glue.

[delongpredannon]

The honesty in your videos is appreciated. I look forward to when you actually do show us all the next domino killer

[awildeep]

The Jessem dowelling jig is fantastic. I own an aluminum edition, so I can't speak to the steel edition. It works in the middle of a board (but a bit fussy).

[AlCapwndYou]

I'm glad you mentioned the DowelMax - that has been my "Poor Man's Dominio" for a while now. I know you showed it off back when we both had less salt in our beards, and seemed "meh" about it at the time, but so far it has checked all the boxes for me compared to all the alternatives. Accurate tight fitting joints, reasonably priced, can take the tool to the wood using a regular drill, and not being limited as to where to place them. Most of the similar speed/convenience of pocket screws, really.

[aaroncashion]

Your reviews are simply the best. Thanks for what you continue to do for this community.

[KienTran]

Wild that they released it at that price point. There are so many alternatives out there including making your own jig using a trim router and bushings. Been saving up for a Dowelmax and this video helps confirm it's the best value for the job for me.

[AnimatorsatWork]

Thanks for this review I saw an ad for this the other day and it made me consider buying this over a domino but now I’m starting to rethink that again.

[AnonVideos]

Thanks for immediately disclosing everything to us in the beginning.

Your honesty is much appreciated! 😊

[Woodworkingneo]

Great content as always!

The Domino has had hobbyists everywhere second guessing their joinery of choice ever since its release. Now people think floating tenons are the gold standard, so of course companies like Kreg will capitalize. At the end of the day, it’s a gadget that, yes, makes you go faster with great joints. If you’re not at production level, though, the cost:benefit just isn’t there. I agree with the Dowelmax. It’s a relatively low cost solution that also makes rapid, strong, and accurate joints. In head to head comparisons, dowel strength performs at or better than traditional mortise and tenons if done correctly. Thanks again, but I’ll be sticking with my Dowelmax!!

[MightyMiniWorkshop]

I use the jessem dowel jigs and I love them, I am also glad we know that kreg didn’t take advantage of Jessem