Quality time
Getting hands-on time with a power tool you’ve lusted after for years can be a great holiday gift.
Getting hands-on time with a power tool you’ve lusted after for years can be a great holiday gift.
I’ve wanted a Festool Domino since it was introduced back in 2007. It’s a groundbreaking tool, able to cut mortises for loose tenons in a single operation in a matter of seconds. I’ve been able to use one several times at woodworking shows, as well as at a friend’s shop before we moved here. And each time, I fell in love with it again.
But they’re expensive – about 1,200 bucks for a basic kit – and while I don’t have an issue spending money for a quality tool such as this, I just don’t use loose tenons enough to justify it.
But I’ve had a bit of luck. An article assignment I’m working on requires that I include loose tenon joints made with a Domino, and so they sent me one to use. It’s only on loan so I don’t get to keep it, but once my article is done, I can play with it as much as I want until after the holidays.
I’ve had a ball with it. It took every bit of willpower I possess (which isn’t much) to stop having fun with it and get back to work on the article. However, as soon as it’s wrapped up, I have a project in mind that would be perfect for loose tenons. With things slow over the holidays, I’ll have plenty of time to get the project done and enjoy every minute of it.
By then, maybe they’ll forget I have it.
A.J. Hamler is the former editor of Woodshop News and Woodcraft Magazine. He's currently a freelance woodworking writer/editor, which is another way of stating self-employed. When he's not writing or in the shop, he enjoys science fiction, gourmet cooking and Civil War reenacting, but not at the same time.
