Dowelmax

[Bob Jeppson]

First of all I am not a representative of, a family member of nor do I have any financial interest in dowelmax. I felt this tool worthy of a testimonial.

What an amazing well engineered tool. As a beginning woodworker the dowelmax makes me look like I know what I am doing. Perfect fits and worth the money though I did question my own sanity when I made the decision to spend that amount of money on a "dowel jig". To call this highly engineered tool a "dowel jig" does not serve it justice. I would spend the money again. It is one of those rare items that does exactly what it is advertised to do.

Thanks for reading.

[Carroll Courtney]

Thanks Bob,I have made plans to purchase one also, when my secret funds allows me too.Each postive post that I read gets me fired up.

[Matt Ocel]

Yeah - I'm going to get one also. No matter how hard I try, I still get a little creep on my pocket screws

[Mike Heidrick]

My instructional free DVD came today and the price sheet. Looks awesome. Anyone want to sell me theirs and buy a domino?

[Randy Davidson]

I am extremely happy with my Dowelmax. It has been easy and accurate to the tee every time I have used it. Seriously consider ordering the 1/4" dowel setup along with it.

[J. Z. Guest]

Originally Posted by Mike Heidrick

My instructional free DVD came today and the price sheet. Looks awesome. Anyone want to sell me theirs and buy a domino?

Nope, and that's the key Mike. There are very few bad things about it, and no one wants to sell theirs. Also, people don't regret spending the money after buying it, even though it costs a pretty penny! That was pretty convincing to me.

I ordered the free DVD & flyer too, and watched it about 5 times, each time, I was closer to buying it. Even so, that is nothing until you see & touch one in person. If you're coming up in the Chicago direction, drop me a PM and I'll have you over to look at it in person over a beer or two.

(Mike Lindsay: Have you considered creating a Dowelmax Owners Registry? One in which DM owners would be willing to demonstrate in person the DMs? I think that would help your cause. If it results in a sale, tracked through a simple referall form, you could give the original DM owner a $10 gift card for dowelmax products or a free baggie of dowels?)


Here were the things that surprised me about Dowelmax:

• The bit needs cleaning a bit more often than is shown in the videos. (and not with your fingers, or you'll slice yourself on that razor-sharp bit)
• The fit & finish of the device. Even though everyone says it is great, it just cannot be appreciated except in person. For example, the way the finger nuts are so buttery smooth on the threaded studs.
• If you use it to glue up panels, make sure you don't put the dowels too close to the ends of the boards. Otherwise, when you cut the panel to final length and cut through a dowel, you'll be mad at yourself. Also, make the panel near to final width, so you don't rip it later and get into the ends of the dowels.

Downsides? Only two that I can think of, and they're both pretty weak:

• In order to work efficiently on 3/4" stock, you need two bits & stop collars. Otherwise, you have to keep moving the stop collar.
• The joints look like butt joints when finished. This is not always what I'm after. (just bought a dovetail jig for the rest of the time)

The old adage is especially true when it comes to doweling jigs: "Buy once, cry once. Buy cheap, buy twice."

[Ray Schafer]

As I have said in other posts, this is an awesome tool. It has even outdone my Kreg pocket jig as my favorite device. I bought the 1/4" kit and one extra drill bit and drill stop for each size.

[Don Dorn]

I keep reading testimonials like this and edge closer each time to ordering one. I have absolutely no doubt as to the tools quality and accuracy, but with so many other options, I'm having difficulty justifying it. That said however, I sprung for a Mortise Pal and really like it - same type of quality engineering. Not sure I really need both but I'm positive I would have been very happy with the Dowelmax. I hope to see one in action before droppig nearly $300.

[Bryan Berguson]

I took another hickory face frame out of the clamps tonight that was put together using my Dowelmax. I was again able to sand the joints with my ROS using 150 grit. A couple of them I could have hand sanded! If you've ever worked with hickory, you'll know how good of a testimonial that is.
I sure wish I'd had the DM when I made all the trim for my house...

Bryan

[Art Mulder]

Originally Posted by Randy Davidson

I Seriously consider ordering the 1/4" dowel setup along with it.

I echo this. This comment is the ONE regret that I read over and over again in owner testimonials. Save on shipping and order this right away with the whole package.

Actually, I am surprised that the company doesn't just offer this as a package on their website.

Originally Posted by Jeremy Zorns

The bit needs cleaning a bit more often than is shown in the videos. (and not with your fingers, or you'll slice yourself on that razor-sharp bit)

I found this also. So far, I usually poked it out with a pencil, but I might just get a chopstick or some other scrap of wood and tuck it into my domino kit box to keep it handy.

[Phil Thien]

For fast bit-cleaning with my shop-made doweling jig, I mounted a scrub brush to the edge of my bench. I can just drag my bit against the scrub brush and it cleans the bit for me. Fast and no bleeding.

[Jim Lindsay]

(Mike Lindsay: Have you considered creating a Dowelmax Owners Registry? One in which DM owners would be willing to demonstrate in person the DMs? I think that would help your cause. If it results in a sale, tracked through a simple referall form, you could give the original DM owner a $10 gift card for dowelmax products or a free baggie of dowels?)

Hi Jeremy,

It's an excellent idea and we've considered it before, however this is the first time it has been suggested from outside the company. Just last week someone from Carlisle, PA was asking for a local Dowelmax owner that he could contact. Also, thanks for offering to show it to the member that is interested. One thing about this business is that we have really great customers.

Because it could be a commercial pursuit, what we need to do is set up a Dowelmax Owners Club blog or forum of our own to host the registry. In the meantime, I will send you a PM to discuss it further.

Mike Lindsay.

[Bryan Berguson]

Originally Posted by Jim Lindsay

It's an excellent idea and we've considered it before, however this is the first time it has been suggested from outside the company. Just last week someone from Carlisle, PA was asking for a local Dowelmax owner that he could contact. Also, thanks for offering to show it to the member that is interested. One thing about this business is that we have really great customers.

Mike Lindsay.
http://www.dowelmax.com

Jim,

Carlisle is about 3 hours from me. Not that close but I'd be happy to talk to this fellow about my Dowelmax.

PM me if you'd like contact information.

Bryan

[Glenn Clabo]

[quote=Jim LindsayBecause it could be a commercial pursuit, what we need to do is set up a Dowelmax Owners Club blog or forum of our own to host the registry.
Mike Lindsay.[/quote]
Contact Keith...
http://sawmillcreek.org/member.php?f...poster&t=78954

[Tom Esh]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Zorns

...The fit & finish of the device. Even though everyone says it is great, it just cannot be appreciated except in person. For example, the way the finger nuts are so buttery smooth on the threaded studs.

Indeed. I don't own any Lie-Nielsen planes, but the DM is certainly the most beautifully made tool in my shop.


Tip / warning for all DM owners: Be very careful when adding or fabricating your own supplemental shims or you can easily degrade the accuracy of this wonderful tool. In particular, don't expect a handful of brass washers from the local hardware store to come anywhere near DM tolerances. Use precision spacers if you can find them. I was doing an edge joint, did the first bores, moved the jig, and the index pin wouldn't drop into the bore. (What the ...!!?) Turns out my shims were .05 thicker on one side of the jig than the other. Out comes the micrometer and holy cow, major variance in those washers. So I went and bought a bag full and spent the next hour with the micrometer and a lapping plate to come up with half a dozen flat and within a couple thou of each other. In hindsight I think I could have fabricated some one-piece shims from sheet alum faster, but it was kinda' fun watching that DMT diamond plate make short work of brass.