Festool Domino Machine Instruction Manual - page 2

ing tables such as this one are well within 

your grasp whether you are a hobbyist 

just starting out or a seasoned furniture 

maker with years of experience under 

your belt.  

The Domino machine is the key.

Also in this manual we will follow the con-

struction of a conventional four leg with 

side skirt style of table, an upright chest 

with gracefully flaring legs and sliding 

doors, and a unique “convertible” coffee 

table that can quickly change look and 

function.  

All of these are easy to build by using 

the Domino machine and are all within 

your reach as well.  

How should we describe this innova-

tive tool?

Early in the U.S. introduction planning I 

was asked by Festool USA how I 

thought the machine should be de-

scribed.  Because I had lots of experi-

ence with loose tenon joinery using the 

three dimensional sliding table on my 

industrial slot mortising machine, I first 

described it in those terms.  At that time I  

wrote that I would describe the Domino 

machine as, “a portable loose tenon 

jointer with great positional accuracy.”  

And, as we will discover moving through 

this manual, it certainly is that.  

However, as I used the Domino machine 

on more and different projects, it evolved 

in my head to something much more than 

those words could capture.  The Domino 

machine solves a whole range of wood-

working issues from joining two pieces of 

wood in all six ways one can joint two 

pieces together, to handling a myriad of 

wood movement problems that are al-

ways a part of building with solid woods, 

to  precisely aligning two or more compo-

nents during assembly operations, to 

making hidden latches, stops and door 

slides, and much more.

As you progress through this manual I  

think you will enjoy seeing examples of all 

of these uses and the opportunity to learn 

more about this truly remarkable and 

unique woodworking tool.

The author, Jerry Work, designs 

and hand crafts fine furniture in 

the 1907 Masonic Temple build-

ing in historic Kerby, OR, where 

visitors are always welcome.

glwork@mac.com

www.jerrywork.com