Part 3: Triton Duo Dowel Joiner vs Mafell Duo Dowel Joiner

[@cezanne1954]

Steve , I have to believe that you are the most patient man on the planet (trying to write a review with a very poor piece of equipment and then having to justify your comments with an angry reader). I want to speak for all the other positive viewers that your efforts are very appreciated and we enjoy every review. You are thorough and clear and even have time to chase the grand kids through the shop!!! Can hardly wait to meet you in Denver.

[@extremewoodworker]

Hi Gary, Thank you. I am looking forward to the class as well and meeting new friends. There is another viewer taking the class as well and am looking forward to meeting him face to face for the first time. I think he was just venting and as long as things stay civil, I let it roll. Steve

[@trieditusedit5846]

The fence on the triton is square with work piece with the rubbers are left on. It’s off set deliberately to allow for the thickness of them.

[@tiralie]

Steve, thanks for doing these. Like Lamello tools the Mafell is high quality, designed for years of use. I didn't realize that these are now available as 110/20 volt machines. Thanks for making my wallet lighter...that Barth table is amazing too.

[@extremewoodworker]

Thanks Timothy, you should probably know better than to watch a channel titled extreme woodworker - LOL. Steve

[@BlindBlacksmith]

Thanks for the Demo. I have been trying to decide on the Tritan and am glad you shared the Mafell. I am planning to do some board doors for the old house I am living in and wanted to do the doors with a Dowel Joining with Rim Locks. That Mafell will probably be my next investment. Thanks again.

[@extremewoodworker]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brianb2100]

I recently purchased a Triton Duo Dowel Jointer a few months ago. Sharp Edge Wood Work ,had the most in depth review of the tool at the time. I have been pleased with the Dowel jointer, since my purchase. I have used it quite a bit on several projects. With that said , up until I discovered the Triton Jointer, I was limited to my Dewalt Biscuit Jointer and pocket screw Joinery. I'm not a professional Full time woodworker depending on the tool to earn my living. Or trying to work within a micron tolerance. This tool has upped my game as far as quality and speed of production on cabinet face frames and some door panel assemblies I've done. I've had some good success with the joiner. There is a learning curve as with any hand tool, personally I wouldn't discourage anyone from purchasing the tool, if you need one. The average DIY Guy , weekend woodworker, will probably never wear the thing out and it's more than capable of producing decent quality. I guess the Short And The Skiny everything has a purpose and a philosophy of use. It's just another wrench in my tool box and allows me some Joinery options I wouldn't have otherwise, I'm not a Triton Fan Boy, but I have to weigh the price against realistically how often I use it. And there is only Low End and High End nothing in the middle that I'm aware of. I enjoyed your video and appreciate the time and effort you invested in it. You did an honest review. I just wanted to throw my two cents worth out their. I'm not in any disagreement, I'm just not that critical of the tool I guess. Thanks again for sharing the review.

[@extremewoodworker]

Hi Brian. Thank you for your well presented comment and sharing the results you are achieving. I believe those considering purchase of any tool need to consider all results and not just one piece of information (including my own). As you said, there are currently only two fish in the sea in this category, the budget tool and the tool whose pricing makes Festool look like a budget brand. I had viewed the Sharp Edge videos on the Triton and while he had issues to fix as well, he was apparently able to overcome those and achieve good results. I did expect to do some tuning on the machine based on his reviews and had high hopes for the Triton as an affordable alternative to the other machines. Based on a few good reports on this tool and a few bad results on the same item, I can't help but believe that there are some quality control issues in the Triton factory where they seem to be unable to produce a consistently performing product from one machine to the next. Several days ago, I was making the last video in this series and while doing so, I got a computer generated email from Triton asking for feedback on the purchase. I will provide feedback on this (including links to the videos) and hopefully, they will take the appropriate actions to produce a more consistent product. Thank you for your thoughts. Steve

[@brianb2100]

Thanks for the reply. I had E-mailed Triton, actually I think they are a US based distributor for Triton, in the Carolina's. I was asking about the availability of the tool as Rockler and other reputable vendors are constantly out of stock.They replied with an apology for the unavailability saying they didn't anticipate the sales and demand they experienced. They assured me ,they would be getting another shipment and asked me to wait a week or two , That the next shipment would be an improved model. I wish I had waited , but I found mine on Amazon and pulled the trigger on the purchase. I was hopping your video was based on this illusive new and improved model. Id be interested in seeing that.Id buy the tool again at the current price point , if there are any real marked improvements. Thanks again for the reply.

[@RICKYDENNIS49]

Just to help anybody that’s watching this video now, I have recently purchased the Triton machine and it’s clear that they have addressed the problems highlighted by many and have improved it. The rubber bumpers are now on springs and depress into the body. The springs have been changed also. The sliding movement is much smoother. I am extremely pleased that I bought the Triton. I hope this helps.

[@g0ttam]

what about the wobble in a flat position?

[@RICKYDENNIS49]

No machine in this price range is going to be perfect, I find this product to be very acceptable and I’m pleased I bought it.

[@martijnkerver]

Agree most of the original issue have been addressed

[@VeganRashad]

@@martijnkerver I agree. They have all been fixed

[@Get_Stoked]

The Mafell is not perfect though. If you plan on buying one, make sure you buy a bunch of the internal springs that allow the plate to retract. We went through an entire bag in a 4 month period. Also, depending on how you are using it, that vaccum attachment location can be rubbish. We were using the mafell Dowlers daily for making douglas fur cladding. If you do not have a vacuum, make sure you have a blower, it clogs up fast otherwise.

[@alirionoguera1897]

Muchas gracias por las soluciones que ofreces, le veo mucho potencial a esta maqyvale la pena intentarlo, saludos desde Venezuela

[@rob3616]

Join Steve next time as he brings us his comparison review of the Ford Pinto vs the BMW i8, haha!

[@extremewoodworker]

LOL - We used to have a 73 Pinto and traded it off in 1983 after 136K miles. Never owned a BMW but have driven one. Needless to say, the BWM would be a nicer ride but the bottom line is both will get you from point A to point B reliably. If the Triton were a car, I doubt it would get out of the driveway.

[@mahto54]

I don't see why using the jig, when the dual fences do same thing. I have the Grizzly, $115, I've only used it on cedar, ash and plywood so far and I love it. I had to adjust a few things but thats common with any tool and its fine now! Good video!

[@jeffoldham668]

thank you for this video,,,im interested in getting one,,but my only compliant is that it is not self centering like a standard doweling jig,,,i dont know if anyone has this feature on a doweler like this,,,

[@extremewoodworker]

Thanks Jeff. As long as you keep track of your reference faces, centering is not really necessary. Steve

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

The Triton does not lie flat, or set to 90deg because you have removed the rubber buttons! Others have made this mistake. fit them and it is fine.

[@Roman-hx3qj]

Good review of both. Although true, that it is unfair to do a comparison of such price difference machines it is also true that they both aim to do the same job therefore I find it fair game. Good review. I hope you put back the rubber cushions on the Triton to be fair.

[@extremewoodworker]

The problem with the rubber cushions is they cause misalignment of the holes when joining a rail and stile. The overall design is very poor.

[@Roman-hx3qj]

@@extremewoodworker thank you for the clarification makes sense.

[@SL1800]

Thanks for the comparison Steve. Would you please do a comparison between the Mafell and a Festool 500 domino? Since I do have the domino, but no first hand experience with the Mafell, I would be interested to know under which situations you would chose one over the other.

[@tracdfar]

+1 on the Domino vs Mafell

[@extremewoodworker]

Hi Steve, I'll cover that in the next video. Steve

[@MoGhotbi]

Thanks for the video, Steve. I was actually contemplating buying the Triton (was down to $179), but it would appear to be money thrown away. Guess I'm going to save for the Mafell or a Domino. Perhaps the folks at Triton will take the reviews to heart and redesign a reasonable tool.

[@extremewoodworker]

Thanks Mo, I was hoping for good results but things went south pretty fast. Perhaps they will see it and correct the deficiencies. Even if they had to charge more to make it work, I think it would still be very price competitive considering the next choice is much higher in price. Steve

[@iiu212]

Great review. Like any other quality product, the details is in the repeatability of function. I was going to cheap out and get the trition as I couldn't find the Mafell locally, but ended up with a Domino XL after watching your video. Yes, 200 and 1500 are different price points, but time is also money, and I don't like to waste good wood or have to do a lot of finishing after joining. Good wood is not cheap. I want to get it right the first time.

[@extremewoodworker]

Good comment, time is valuable to the hobby woodworker too as all too often, our time is limited. Some inexpensive tools do what they advertise pretty well, the Triton dowel joiner is just not one of them. The Domino is such a big timesaver and makes strong joinery as well. Steve

[@kazumitakemoto2543]

Well explained through your video series that you have enough money to show. I do not see other message from this video.

[@stevecollins9450]

Another great demo, Steve. IMO the Triton would probably fair poorly compared to the better doweling jigs, the Triton and Mafell are in two different leagues.

[@extremewoodworker]

Hi Steve, I think you are correct. I could probably have gotten better results. Steve

[@johnfrederickson3082]

Steve, Have you seen Grizzly’s version of the dual dowel? I wondered if it was Triton with a Grizzly label, or perhaps includes improvements so one could actually us it?

[@extremewoodworker]

Hi John. It looks just like a rebadged Triton. Even if they fixed the other issues, the anti-slip pads that stand proud are problematic especially with narrow stock. Steve

[@ronh9384]

Hi Steve. How are you doing my friend? I haven’t seen any video from you in a while and wanted to see how you were doing.... Everything ok or did you just get tired of the haters, and all responding to comments? Either way is fine..... I just wanted to make sure YOU are ok? I hope to hear back from you soon. Have a good one Steve and hope the family including the grandkids are all well. Just got my third grandbaby added to the family 4 months ago. I have a grandson and now two granddaughters now! 😊 I’m loving it. All the best! Ron

[@extremewoodworker]

Hi Ron. I am doing okay. I just got busy last year and spent little time in the shop. Making videos takes quite a bit of time and slows woodworking considerably so it has been a year since my last video. My contract work is finished so I am re-retired for the moment. I do tire of the rude and snide comments and fortunately, the haters are a small percentage of people. I will start making videos again, I just needed a break. Congratulations on the new grandbaby. We are heading to the Dallas area this weekend for granddaughter number 3's third birthday. Steve

[@johnfrederickson3082]

THANKS YOU ARE VERY NICE AS ALWAYS

[@cuebj]

Worth noting that power output is not directly related to input. Quality of wire and winding can mean massive loss from input to output. Mafell has much more powerful power consumption, and higher quality motor means far more power to drive bits into hardwood

[@mellowrebel4618]

On some I have seen you need to compensate for it drawing back when you adjust the angle. Like at 45 start locking it down at 50 so it will stop at 45,

[@ronh9384]

Hi Steve. Thanks for the great review of the two machines. It was very illuminating. Yes both machines have very different prices and you expect different machines qualities but the Triton didn't even perform its basic functions in a satisfactory manner. Too bad you don't have access to the discontinued Freud to compare it to the Mafell. I'm curious how it would compare to your Mafell. After watching your 3rd video I got my Freud Duo Doweller out and followed your testing protocol. All the joints were flush and fit with no issues. The fence and base are all machined and is flat and does not rock and the fence does hold 90 degrees with no problems. It too cannot compare to the Mafell and its features but it seems to be better than the Triton. Ron

[@extremewoodworker]

Good report Ron. Steve

[@vct1040]

What do you prefer using, the Mafell dual doweler, or the Festool domino?

[@extremewoodworker]

I wouldn't call it a preference but based on the work I typically do, I tend to use the Domino more. Steve

[@fiddleronthebike]

of course there must be a difference if you look at the prices; but look at those joints made with the triton - you can do that easily with any 5€ template. So, either you go with the pro equipment or you shouldn't buy such a tool at all! This comparison shows that very well

[@KirkDickinson]

If I were going to drop +$1200, I would certainly get a Festool Dominio and not a Mafell DD40P.

[@bigwangmark]

Dowel joints are stronger than the Festool Dominio joints.

[@yohannsantos4901]

a dowel costs 1cent and you can get them every where,

[@apsynto]

I would rather have to use Einhell than give festool my money.

[@richardallen2222]

Really good video thank you! I assume it is possible just to remove one cutter where only one dowel (or an uneven number) is required?

[@extremewoodworker]

Thanks Richard. It is possible to remove one bit but that would leave a joint that would rotate so I do not do this. I have found with the Mafell, it will accurately drill into the same hole with the rail for any bit or with the plastic spacers with the 8mm bit. Steve

[@chrisdemeglio7983]

Reviewing 2 tools with such a price difference isn't fair. You said the fence on the triton is not 90 degrees. You checked square on the mafell but not the triton. You are obviously an experienced person but you should compare the festool with the mafell.

[@niedzwiedzx1740]

hello I'm going to buy a triton tdj600 please tell me if you recommend it

[@extremewoodworker]

I don't know if your question is serious or not but, you did give me a good laugh this morning. Answer - I have purchased many inexpensive power tools over the past 50 years and without a doubt, this Triton tops the list as the worst power tool I have ever purchased.

[@niedzwiedzx1740]

@@extremewoodworker Thank you for answering the question, I am a beginner seriously and therefore I am looking for opinions from people who have more experience. greetings

[@fedx2185]

You must be getting a free jointer...lol. Apples to Oranges... $1000 tool to a $150 tool.. Like comparing a Saw Stop cabinet saw to a Harbor Freight portable saw.. It's a tool dude and with that the more you pay the more options and hopefully quality.. I know several guys who have the Triton who are very satisfied with the tool granted they made improvements but again satisfied.. Part of the hobby has always been adapting lower priced tools for most to improve there craft..

[@bobbg9041]

Big price difference for machines. One's a home use tool and the other is a pro tool that most pro's would like to have but can't justify buying. What somone should do it make a retro fit kit for the Triton to step up its game and make it comparable to the better tool.@ 1/2 the price Even Trition could offer that option.

[@n64previews29]

Does the Triton work with the Mafell template guide?

[@extremewoodworker]

It does not work with the Mafell guide.

[@TheRTM]

what’s the name of the tool you’re using to determine how flush the joints are?

[@extremewoodworker]

It is an iGaging electronic height gage. Very useful for a lot of setups.

[@puddytat62]

Yes the Mafell is better but it’s $1500 USD correct??? The Triton is what $230 USD at Rockler. So not at all a fair comparison don’t you think. If you can drop that kind of cash then buy the Festool domino joiner

[@extremewoodworker]

It is fair because both tools are supposed to do the same thing. One performs orders of magnitude better than the other. If you want the Triton, by all means go for it, I am sure you will be impressed by its low price. Steve

[@sumandl]

You get what u pay for. Good review!

[@extremewoodworker]

Thanks, you are correct in this case. Sometimes I have been pleasantly surprised with more budget oriented tools but more often than not, have been disappointed. Steve

[@rossbuchanan7632]

I have this Triton doweller, and I manage to make decent joints with it, but only because I am thinking about what the tool's failings are. It doesn't give the out-of-the-box accuracy that you get with a Domino jointer (I've not used the Mafell), but how can it at £120. At the price it is not possible to make and sell a precision machine, and it is foolishly optimistic to think the triton will be. Best save up your money and buy the German

[@dobishs]

Where can I buy a mafell? Can I use with longer bits?

[@extremewoodworker]

In the US, Timberwolf Tools. Don't use with longer bits even if available since they would protrude from the base.

[@diycharger1760]

Good video. Thanks. But the price is too far.

[@RoaringSurfFishing]

Great review thanks. Why this vs domino?

[@extremewoodworker]

Hi Tony, I'll cover that in the final video on this. In a nutshell, dowel joinery is faster with less expensive consumables but it does have some size limitations the Domino does not have. Steve

[@rbyt2010]

Great review. Yeah, not a fan of Triton. I am generally curious about what's driving you to dowels when you have Dominos and the P-system available (all though there's nothing wrong with another high-quality tool :). Share your thoughts there?

[@extremewoodworker]

HI Ron, I'll cover that in the final video. See the reply to Tony's comment. I didn't really purchase the dowel machine for joinery but it does an excellent job at it. The Zeta P was purchased for larger jobs because I don't have the room for a bunch of assembled cabinets in my shop. It was less expensive than adding on. Steve

[@adwokatdiabla7753]

this is a great review! great job -- but you are comparing a 200$ machine with 1200$ machine

[@alias_not_needed]

so? I found the comaprison quite interesting. If I was a professional woodworker and would have to use such tools often, I would buy the higher price willingly. This just shows that good quality has it's price. I think of it that way: Festool/Mafell or other high quality brands want to sell good working tools of high quality AND make money. Some other companies just want to make money and provide kind of a functioning tool that does the job to minimal standards. Of course there are variuos steps in between this two asumptions.

[@ianrose2823]

The Triton is a 3 dressed up as a nine .

[@extremewoodworker]

Hi Ian, no argument from me on that. Steve

[@RichM1967]

I know this is long after the product review -- but you're comparing a tool that costs $1500 vs one that is $150 -- Its not a very fair comparison. Is the $150 model better than using a dowel jig -- probably so, makes it a good option for us that are just doing this for the fun of it. There are vieos showing how to make the $150 version work better so... Would you use the $150 for professional full time cabinet makers? -- probably not. I don't understand why you're doing this video -- like comparing a base model toyota corolla to a top of the line lexus.

[@extremewoodworker]

Hardly. Both the base Corolla and the Lexus get you from point A to point B. I would not hesitate to purchase either as they both get the job done although I am sure the Lexus would be with more comfort. Using your analogy, the Triton is more like a Yugo - maybe it will get you there and it most certainly will not be easy or fun.

[@toolsconsumables7055]

Dear Sir, Comparing Triton with Mafell is akin to comparing an Aston Martin versus a French Citroen 2CV. They both will you to where you want, however don't expect much in the ride quality, speed, road holding & handling capability of a Citroen ( Incidentally in Dutch it means lemon, need I say more???). Of course for those whose budget knows no limits &/ are willing to pay the extra premium, there is no contest. Likewise for the person who wishes to acquire some sort of device that will perform a similar task but at a fraction of the price, there will be some compromises to be made. It's all relative just as when people decide to acquire something ( cars, motorbikes, T.Vs, etc, etc...)where there is a plethora of manufacturers & models to choose from. We can all justify it to ourselves & no need to anyone else. I've chosen the route of simply the finest regardless of cost but that is my personal choice that others might &/ might not share. Very well done demonstration however. Kind regards.

[@fiddleronthebike]

of course there must be a difference if you look at the prices; but look at those joints made with the triton - you can do that easily with any 5€ template. So, either you go with the pro equipment or you shouldn't buy such a tool at all! Btw - it's the same with biscuit jointers, the cheap ones are absolute crap, and even the DeWalt or Makita aren't good compared to the Lamello's

[@ghostdancer58]

I can't understand why you would want to review 2 machines that are so far apart in price scale,does not make sense to me,one would be ok for making garden gates the other for fine furniture.

[@extremewoodworker]

This is explained completely in part 4 of the series. Steve

[@iiu212]

because they are the same type of machine. Its identical in function, but appears totally different in performance. Dowels require very tight tolerances to be of use. You can buy a dowelmax, which is good quality, but is not motorized. I'd get a dowelmax before a triton. Slow and accurate is better than fast and sloppy.

[@martyn1678]

my boss has a bentley and i have a puegoet 206 we both have 4 wheels and a exhaust but his bentley is so much more comfy it really doesnt compare, makes my puegeot look like trash! now my mate has a crappy larder my puegeot make his larder look like a skip, you carnt compare these things

[@sumandl]

Great video! It's amazing how much less you get from Triton 👎🏻

[@dmueller1875]

how much less? You are paying 109 for triton vs 999 the price of the mafell... what do you expect?

[@tracdfar]

The Triton is actually more expensive than the Mafell, after you consider all the wasted time, material, and lost business.

[@extremewoodworker]

Hi Tracy, I agree. Your comment reminds me of one of those John Ruskin quotes: “It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.” Steve

[@Steve_MFr]

Sorry Tracy, but you can not have purchased the Triton expecting it to be a good shop tool for professional use. I did not check US prices, but the tool is available in Europe for €155 at the time of this comment. The Mafell is around €750. Where were you expecting this to be close in quality? Like most Chinese knock-off tools, with a little diligence, modification, and care in use (=time) it can be made to work very, very well. For us non-professional users, that means we can achieve results on-par with professionals (albeit with a greater investment in time), and that makes a purchase such as this (and all the rest of my cheaper, non-professional Chinese tools) worth it. Even if we only use the tools a handful of times a year. There is a company in the UK called Axminster Tools and Machinery. They classify their tools by use: hobby, trade (professional), or industrial. It's not difficult to do this yourself when your tool shopping. If a tool costs only 15% as much as the big, professional brands, it's not made for professional use. Do this and you'll no longer lose any business.

[@missionron]

Its a no brainer...

[@lollobit15]

Mafell is German engineering. That's all