not sure why I bought a domino

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[@dangkolache]

Hi Scott - I disagree vehemently. I won't specify in what way. Hope this helps

[@ginawhitmarsh2390]

One thing not mentioned in the video is the resistance to cyclical loading (fatigue) and to the seasonal expansion/contraction of wood. Pocket screws gradually loosen with both of these loadings. I use pocket screws for shop cabinets, never plugging them on the expectation they will have to be tightened up every once in a while to get rid of the rickety. I also have a biscuit joiner, inherited from my dad. I've used the stink out of it in both appropriate and inappropriate scenarios. "Appropriate" would be relying on the glue joint for strength and the biscuit for alignment. "Inappropriate" would be considering the biscuit as a structural member, as you would a dowel or a domino. I used to have that loose biscuit problem until I discovered what I was doing wrong. You have to hold the fence tight against the workpiece and focus on straight insertion and withdrawal, otherwise the rocking of the tool will open up the width of your slot. In most cases I need a mallet to lightly tap the biscuit in.

[@WoodcraftBySuman]

Buying a domino just to prove dowels are stronger is a true influencer flex.

[@JB-nz6ew]

Mathias had similar results with dowels a while back. Great to see the results reproduced independently.

[@shadowgolem9158]

We still have the desk my grandfather made as his journeyman piece. It will get passed on the next generation too. Make it well and beautifully and it is worth it. Consider styles that are still used 100 or more years later instead of the latest trend though.

[@nominalvelocity]

I'm not a Festool fanboy, but a neat thing about the domino is the ability to cut wider mortises, providing some slop to the joint along the joint but not across the joint, allowing it to be moved a small amount when assembling, which dowels can't do but is intrinsic to the biscuit.

[@Zambonick]

I love the reality check about ppl wanting to make "heirloom quality" pieces. You remind me of my good friend talking me down from overcomplicating projects using rational, practical, grounding advice.

[@Tsuchimursu]

I use biscuits all the time when I make custom dimension kitchen cabinets. (instead of the premade ones that have cnc drilled dowel holes.) The material is always the same 16mm melamine chipboard so I never need to adjust the fence whether I do 90° or flat plane joints. Just grab the tool, punch holes and glue together. And it is a non visible joint which is a must.

[@F0XD1E]

Using exposed dowels also will allow you to do it without any jigs or fit concerns. I'll be doing that on the next structural project I do. I think they look cool too.

[@Chief069]

I have been using dowels and pocket holes for years. Dowels are by far my favorite. As you stated, pocket screws have their place. I sold my biscuit cutter, just never liked it and didn't feel like it fit my what I needed in my shop. I use dowels for joining table tops for glue ups. Makes the alignment process so much easier. I have tried my neighbors Domino cutter. I liked it, but have been using the Dowelmax and JessEm systems for so long, I have gotten really fast at making the joints. I use 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" dowels and buy them in bulk so the cost is very minimal per joint. The strength of the joints are amazing. Every system has their place in woodworking. Every one has a preference and mine are dowels.

[@thebonermaker]

I like biscuits for panel glue ups because you can get the pieces flat and aligned before the glue sets up. I wouldn’t say biscuits help with strength more so they help align large pieces that tend to have inevitable warp in them. I’m also building 1.875” thick 14 foot long dining tables quite often at my job. For speed and precise alignment of joints my favorite is the Lamello Zeta P2 system. The snap in biscuits as well as the cam lock style are super awesome. They even help with the clamping force when joining pieces together. Just make sure you mark and join the pieces accurately.

[@CascadianBraeden]

I made a design for a special wine bottle drawer where the bottom of the drawer was just essentially long domino-shaped strips that fit into coresponding domino-holes in the front & back of the drawer frame. The wine bottles rested in the gaps between the domino strips and they took the weight pretty well. And once sanded & stained everything came out lookin great. So there are definitely some interesting applications for a domino router besides your typical joint. You can also use it to cut out linear grooves of verying depths for verious purposes.

[@nafnaf0]

I used dowels before getting a Domino. For large panel layups it works like a charm and each domino, especially if you are using the larger ones, each one will be stronger.

[@mileshh515]

Bought a dowelmax years ago and have been blown away by the quality. The machining is top notch, it couldn't be more precise.

[@fidelperez4837]

The biscuit joiner tool is great for z-clip slots for underside joining replaceable table tops. That's pretty much all I use it for. Bought it for joinery but pocket holes are great for quick and unstressed joints (drawers) and the other two are better for higher stress, more alignment perfect scenarios. Great video!

[@michaelprozonic]

I really don’t use biscuits often but the joiner is handy for cutting slots for Z-clips to make removable table / desk tops. The Z-clips let the top expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes without destroying the frame or cracking the top

[@JohnD-JohnD]

About 10 years ago, I built my 20' workbench in my garage. The frame and drawers were all pocked screwed together. The top was made from joined 2x4's using biscuits and a good glue.

[@wxwisetrue3712]

Scott, the vid you showed of the biscuit joint test showed the failure of the wood, not of the joint itself. The joint actually stayed intact. Biscuits certainly aren't good for every joint, but in situations where you don't want to see the fastener they obviously superior to pocket screws. For instance, I've used them many times to secure face frames to cabinets...and they work great for that. Makes alignment onto the carcass a snap, and provides a rock solid connection of the face frames to the carcass.

[@rmaguire1000]

I'm looking at building a custom desk for myself. I've built some things, but never anything like that. I was fortunate enough to come across someone selling their stock of live edge slabs at basically firewood prices (two ash slabs, little over 9 ft long, 2.5 inches deep and about 1.5 ft wide for $20/slab) and was trying to figure out the best way to join them together and this helped so much. I'm definitely going to pay the extra and go with dowels. I want something that will last me for a long time

[@Bonezz024]

Bud. Your humor, delivery, and follow through on the topic is impeccable.