Is this new? HF dual dowel jointer

[dewi1219]

Stumbled onto this while looking for something else and maybe I'm just out of the loop but I've never seen it before. Works like a biscuit joiner but drills dual dowel holes - similar to the Domino I guess, but a little cheaper Pretty interesting.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=97427

[radhak]

That is new, never seen myself either.

But without having handled it, or even seen it in person, I can already see problems using it : how does it ensure accuracy? How do i drill holes in two different workpieces and hope they align? All other dowel makers have in-built clamps and surface-alignments to help, but none is visible here.

But on second thoughts, how does the Domino do it... ?

[dewi1219]

But without having handled it, or even seen it in person, I can already see problems using it : how does it ensure accuracy? How do i drill holes in two different workpieces and hope they align?

I believe it uses a center mark just like a biscuit joiner. You align the two parts to be joined, make a pencil mark across the top of both where you want the holes to be centered, and then use that mark to position the tool to drill the holes on both pieces.

I think you would just have to be sure that the fence was set at exactly 90 degrees and also that the fence is exactly flat on the workpiece before drilling the holes. Otherwise, the pieces won't be joined at exactly 90 degrees. A biscuit joiner is more forgiving in this respect. I am very intrigued by this tool, though, and I think it could be very valuable for many applications. If I hadn't just bought a Kreg jig I would probably have already bought this.

[Talance]

This looks like a copy of a new tool , I believe from Freud, that I just saw on a Wood Magazine video of highlights from this year's IWF in Atlanta.

Amazing how quickly the copy cats come out.

[sweensdv]

It appears that you would be limited to only using ¼" dowel pins with this machine. Maybe that wouldn't be a major problem for most applications but then again it does limit the applications where you can use this tool.

[Hoover]

I believe Triton has one.

[dewi1219]

It appears that you would be limited to only using ¼" dowel pins with this machine. Maybe that wouldn't be a major problem for most applications but then again it does limit the applications where you can use this tool.

I dunno, if it locates the holes that quickly & accurately, even if you had to chase them with a hand drill and larger bit for bigger dowels I think it would still be a real time saver. But off the top of my head I can't think of a project I've built where 1/4" dowels wouldn't be appropriate either.

[messmaker]

It appears that you would be limited to only using ¼" dowel pins with this machine. Maybe that wouldn't be a major problem for most applications but then again it does limit the applications where you can use this tool.

I downloaded the info from the website and it looks as if it comes with 3 sizes of bits-1/4,5/16,3/8. I think these have been available in Europe for some time. If you can keep it in place, I could see where it might be handy. It is no Domino. It cuts both holes dead-on and gives almost no wiggle room. You better put the holes where you wanted them.

[cgallery]

It has been discussed elsewhere. Someone or two got 'em at Sawmillcreek and didn't get great results. It apparently spins pretty fast for the crappy bits it comes with.

I've thought about getting one and replacing the bits with carbide. As long as it references off the top and one side, it could be a very useful way to join wood.

[RayintheUK]

I believe Triton has one.

You're correct, Hoover! I've had one for a while for review purposes. No news of a release date just yet, but I doubt that it'll be far away now.

Twin dowels make for an easier dry fit than biscuits - in some cases - and are better for knock-down projects too.

My review's here if it's of interest.

Ray.

[Bill in Buena Park]

Is that a DC port I see on the bottom - that black protrusion?

[radhak]

Ray, thanks for the review, puts a lot in perspective.

I'd be interested to know of how 'easy' you thought the process was, particularly keeping the tool aligned with the mark(s) on the two pieces, and ending up with a perfectly flush joint.

[RayintheUK]

I'd be interested to know of how 'easy' you thought the process was, particularly keeping the tool aligned with the mark(s) on the two pieces, and ending up with a perfectly flush joint.

Although the overall set-up and useage is very similar to a biscuit jointer, plus the distance between the centers of the holes is constant, unlike biscuit joint slots, there's no lateral tolerance at all (as has been mentioned already), so assuming that you can mark up the centers effectively, you've got to ensure that there's absolutely no side-slip or rock when plunging.

As an aid (at least, I can only assume it was done as an aid), one of the drills sits just a hair proud of the other, so that you can enter the point first before plunging and this definitely helps reduce slip.

Another thing to remember is that, when drilling into the edge of a workpiece, there may be a tendency to drill (plunge) a little deeper, on the grounds that "it'll give the glue somewhere to go and prevent any possibility of hydraulic action or pressure build-up."

You may be surprised, then, how easy it is to carry over this plunge depth setting (as you would with a biscuit jointer) to the face drilling, only to find - yep - right through and out the other side.

Test pieces are the order of the day and remember to drill the face section first! That said, once you get the feel of the machine, it's no harder to do than biscuits. HTH

Ray.

[LCHIEN]

I don't see the advantage to this over biscuits, the biscuits give you the capability to slop right to left by about 1/8", this is really important if you are edge-joining two boards to make a table top or something wider.

[dewi1219]

I don't see the advantage to this over biscuits, the biscuits give you the capability to slop right to left by about 1/8", this is really important if you are edge-joining two boards to make a table top or something wider.

Loring,
That's exactly the advantage to this tool - If you have a joint where fit is critical and you DON'T want to have any slop (e.g. face frame, cabinet, etc.) this should do it, providing you have set up and used the tool properly