Unpopular opinion: domino joiners are overrated for face frames

I was at a shop supply place in St. Louis last week and overheard a guy bragging about how his Domino DF700 paid for itself in 3 months. I run a crew of 4 and we build about 30 face frames a month, and I still use pocket screws. Dominoes are great for big panels and table tops, but for face frames? Pocket screws are faster, stronger, and way cheaper when you factor in bit replacement. A $60 Kreg jig does the same job. Has anyone else ditched the domino for face frames or am I the only one who thinks it's a cash grab?

2 comments

2 Comments

jana_davis901mo ago

Honestly, I gotta push back a little on the pocket screws being "stronger" for face frames. Pocket screws are definitely fast and cheap, but they rely on the screw holding in end grain, which isn't always the strongest joint for a face frame over time. Dominoes might be overkill, but they do give you a better mechanical connection with real glue surface, especially if you ever have to take a frame apart or deal with movement. Not saying you should switch, just that it's not exactly a cash grab, it's just a different tool for a different kind of joint.

faith_thomas1mo ago

Call me crazy, but I've seen pocket screw joints split right along the screw path on a lot of older face frames. @jana_davis90 has a good point about end grain being a crap shoot, and Dominos at least give you something other than friction to rely on. Yeah, it's pricey, but sometimes you gotta pay for peace of mind.