The real domino killer?

For years there the Festool domino has been the gold standard for floating mortise and tenon joinery. Unfortunately, that comes with a high price tag. Is there finally new competition in town for home hobbyist?

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Videos Mentioned:

[DennisinMA]

I have to say - it is refreshing to see all of these content creators supporting each other as opposed to it being some sort of big competition.

[sicr]

I'm a cabinetmaker here in the UK and own both this Domino and its bigger brother the 700.
I was impressed with the pocketmill and can see it's appeal to the hobbyist/keen amateur woodworker as it looks very well made and offers a decent saving over the Festool machine. However, the Domino's most important feature in my opinion is the time it saves, which for the professional woodworker matters a lot, both my Domino's have paid back their addmitaly high purchase price several times over in time saved, but I do think the pocketmill is the best Domino alternative I've seen so far.
BTW, I'm new to this channel and was very impressed so you have a new subscriber....thanks for an informative and nicely presented video.

[fritterVII]

For people leaning towards the Domino - remember that the $800 you save could go towards a 4x4 panel of Baltic birch.

[MrGartzilla]

I subscribe to quite a few tool review and maker channels. I really really really (3x!) like your videos. Seriously. Funny. Insightful. Honest. Non annoying voice. Relevant. I’m a huge fan. Thank you for taking the time to do it.

[alanr]

Dude. Very informative, concise, organized, and helpful. Your level-headed opinion and mild humor makes for a very educational walkthrough of how to think about tool buying. Thanks!

[jessicahughes]

Hey Jessem, if you read these comments WELL DONE. I admire a company that is willing to have a fair and unbiased review and it makes me more likely to consider the product. And thank you for making this video! I get pretty sick of seeing sponsored content cosplaying as just casual use *cough* *cough* rhymes with shmanto shmouter *cough* so this is awesome.

[bammortgage]

I'm a pretty serious hobbyist woodworker and I want to compliment you that your videos are OUTSTANDING. Great thought & insight. I am subscribing NOW as what you do in your reviews is heads and shoulders above what most people do.

[LouisKleiman]

You rock. I bought my Domino about 15 years ago. Yes, I use it relatively rarely as a home hobbyist, but it makes me better at be the craft with very little skill on my part. I'm an Android guy, but this time I'll take the Apple-like Festool implementation. Except in rare cases, it just works.

[calebkennedy]

For a 25 year old trying to figure out the best way to spend my money on tools, I can’t thank you enough for this review. Was about to pull the trigger on a dowel jig when I saw JessEm released the pocket mill, and have been waiting for someone I “knew” (aka YouTuber I watched) to review it. Great job.

[marcellemay]

I'm an old carpenter transitioning into more fancy woodworking projects, so I do this professionally. When it comes to buying tools, I've mostly regretted buying a cheaper work around tool. I don't own a domino, mostly because I haven't had the need for one...yet. But if a job came up that the domino would save me lots of hours and aggravation, I would buy one quicker than you can say "domino". Woodworkers did just fine without one for decades but the domino does change the playing field as most innovative tools do. To stay competitive, sometimes you just gotta buy the tool that'll get you there. There's definitely a domino in my future when the right job comes up for me to justify the purchase.

[freshmas]

The full length cutting flutes are why the Jessem slots are wider at the top compared to the Festool’s cutter having a reduced diameter, non-cutting shank. As the Jessem’s tool is cutting the deepest passes, it’s also cutting the top. This will get worse as the tip wears and the higher edges remain fresh. Still a compelling budget option, of course; just thought I’d share some machinist perspective on why the tops of the slots were wider on one and not the other 🤘🏼

[jgoodwin]

Thank you, I’m a hobbyist but do take a few commissions. I do mostly hand tool work but the power tools I use regularly are all top of the line . I was about to buy a domino basically to have one I use a router or beadlock for loose tenons and really don’t have a problem with either. I was ready to pull the trigger on a domino a couple months back when I saw Jess em advertising for presale . Since then I’ve been on the fence. Your no nonsense video plus I trust your opinion made the difference. Thank you and I’ll be ordering the Jess em soon.

[ElementsWoodworking]

Thanks for this review! I struggle with spending so much on a single use tool given the volume of work I do. Really appreciate the no nonsense reviews!

[sail]

Excellent video as usual. I’ve had the Domino for 10 years as a hobbyist and full time woodworker. I’ve never regretted buying it. The Jessem unit looks like a good tool but it requires marking locations, using Allen wrenches and a lot of extra setup. Buying the extra jigs, keeping track of them, transporting them, and still being much slower than a Domino.
I’d really recommend someone comparing both systems to use pocket screws or screws and plugs until you can afford the Domino. It really opens new doors in woodworking because you can make strong, hidden joinery very quickly.

[robykaufman]

These tools are cool and it was a great review. I am a little old school and if you have a vice and a router with a fence, then loose mortise and tenon is entirely possible without limits.

[autoguygl]

Glad to see you are continuing to make content and how upfront you are; please keep at it!

[wonkywoody]

The big advantage of the Domino for the hobbyist is its simplicity. I might go two months w/o needing it, but when I do I don't need a refresher on how it works. Additionally, there are so few accessories that I need to store and setup. I can't imagine being able to say that about the Pocketmill. That said, Jon's right about Domino's weaknesses. We all have to weigh the pros and cons. Even after this excellent review I would still buy a Domino.

[robertzarfas]

I this is such a great and useful review. I feel like we are entering a golden age of woodworking YouTube where everyone is synergistically working together to make the entire community better. So cool to be along for the ride.

[senorduck]

I appreciate your content and your format of video styles. No fluff, no word vomit. Just pure content.

[manybikesrbest]

Excellent! . . . And I own a Domino XL, teach woodworking, and have over 40yrs experience as a pro cabinetmaker and finish carpenter. You covered all the bases quickly and succinctly. Thank you!