That domino joiner finally gave out after 15 years

My old Festool DF500 started smoking halfway through a pantry job last Thursday and I had to finish all the mortises by hand with a chisel... took forever. Anyone else had a major tool die in the middle of a deadline and just had to power through?

2 comments

2 Comments

mia_singh241d ago

My 2008 Porter Cable biscuit joiner seized up mid-cut on a kitchen remodel and I just switched to a router with a straight bit to get through it honestly. I actually prefer the hand chisel method for tight spots since you get way more control than any power tool.

hannaht291d ago

Wait, are you saying you actually prefer hand chisels over a router for tight spots? That's interesting because I've always found a router with a small bit gets into corners way better than a chisel ever could... but maybe my chisels are just dull. I had a similar thing happen with my old drill press - the motor just seized up on a Friday afternoon and I had to finish a bunch of tenons by hand with a coping saw and a chisel. It was brutal but honestly it made me realize how much I rely on power tools for stuff I could be doing manually. I think there's something to be said for knowing how to do things the hard way, even if it takes twice as long.