Triton TDJ600 Dowel Joiner Test - Part 2: Frustration Reaches New Levels
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- The second part of the Triton Dual Dowel Joiner shows experiences with sheet goods, soft wood, and hardwood joints. Two additional flaws in this machine are discovered. This is a long video but if you are considering purchasing this machine, it is a must see.
UPDATE: I visited the Triton booth at the 2022 IWF and it appears Triton has changed the dual dowel joiner addressing many if not all the issues I had with my machine. The plunge springs have been changed making it much easier to plunge. The rubber anti-slip pads are now spring loaded so you don't have to remove them to get perpendicular holes. The fence looked square visually but I did not have a square with me to check it. With the fence laid flat it no longer wobbles when standing on end.
A shining example that "you get what you pay for". However to be fair with all it's faults the Triton is around 20% retail price in the UK of the Mafell DD40!
So with some perspective it was never going to be a rival to the DD40.
Well done Steve for your honest and accurate review.
I have the Triton TDJ600 and later upgraded to the Mafell.
The Mafell does what it is supposed to straight out of the box, and the calibration was spot on.
A testament to Mafell's engineering and production processes.
Perhaps Triton's budget wasn't high enough on this one to go all the way and produce an accurate and reliable machine, which is a shame as I believe they came quite close to making what could have been a decent tool. But as Steve has shown it cannot reliably produce accurate joints time after time.
Although it may be acceptable for someone who produces "rustic furniture" in softwood where a slight inaccuracy in joints is overlooked.
If Triton would resolve these issues, the price would be a bit higher but certainly less than $300 and be a very good alternative to the more expensive options. Steve
I was able to get a wacky Grizzly table saw to be very accurate and reliable, with very little extra cost. That table saw was about half the price of a more respected brand. I think it was worth the trouble. It took me two or three days work. Maybe I could do the same with this machine.
OK, modify the fence locking system (its just a piece of aluminum) and make a new window with thinner lines (it is just a piece of plastic). The price is so much cheaper it would be worth the effort. Just use your head a little bit.
@@cavebeastdemon3631
A table saw is a fixed machine that tends to stay in one place. The Triton is a tool that is designed to be carried. It is a useless tool for carrying onto sites.
Wrote similar on part 1. Might be OK for rougher joinery, not finer furniture. The price to build quality to design for purpose triangle is always interesting - how much more would it have cost Triton and us buyers to have made it into a budget alternative to Mafell and Festool instead of a softwood joinery tool?
Just to help anybody that’s watching this video now, I have recently purchased the Triton machine and it’s clear that they have addressed the problems highlighted by many and have improved it. The rubber bumpers are now on springs and depress into the body. The springs have been changed also. The sliding movement is much smoother. I am extremely pleased that I bought the Triton. I hope this helps.
Now they are back ordered 🤬 I won’t get mine till the end of the summer.
@@VeganRashad Sorry to hear that, I’m sure it will be worth waiting for 👍
I looked at your video before i bought the machine and almost decided not to buy it. I now have it for a year and have built about 200 bar stools and 50 bar tables whit it and it works fine. Problem number 1 whit it was that drill bits werent eaqualy in side their housing( 2 minutes fix) ,the little rubber dowels on it i removed set the fence in 90 deg , and i never used the plexi glass lines but the ones on the metal part of it. Machine works spot on.
When i build table tops i use only one 12mm bit(either right or left) and the joint is seamless.
Same for me! :)
Can you explain this problem number 1?
@@dryflyonly1
Hi. I sold this machine long time ago. Cant remeber any more. I suggest Maffell Ddf40 for duo dowler. Expensive, but excellent.
Once again, you are doing this with the rubber pads removed. No wonder it performs poorly. They are essential!!!
The centre line was out on my machine. A bit disappointing but I didn’t moan just got another piece of plastic and made a new one. My machine is now good as perfect. My spring was acceptable to me. Ok it’s a cheap machine but with a few adjustments it is fine. I don’t have that out of square problem so no issues there. In life my glass is half full. Yes you get what you pay for, if I was paying Festool prices they would have got it back. I knew what I was getting with the reviews that the Triton got. Think about it, us woodworkers, if you you can make a piece of furniture then making a few adjustments is a piece of cake to me. Best to give that machine back and get one similar to mine, maybe the machine on show does have a few problems.
I bought the Dowelmax jig 4 years ago, and it never let me down once. Very accurate joints every time. Triton has a good reputation in the UK, though I have never owned any of their products. After this test of yours. I doubt I will.
Hi Brian, I have read many good things about the Dowelmax and the Jessum dowel jigs. Given a choice between either the Triton or a good manual doweling jig, it wouldn't be the Triton. Steve
Well done review Steve. A machine with sub par results like this should never have been put to market. I am looking forward to seeing the Mafell machine in action.
Hi Guy, I agree completely, Triton needs to address many design, manufacturing, and quality control issues to make this a viable joinery tool. The Mafell is a joy to use but it is very pricey particularly when you start adding the rails. I never expected the Triton to outperform the Mafell but I did expect it to make respectable joints and it doesn't do that. Steve
I've found that in general, the more frustrating something is, the more likely you're doing something very wrong.
Steve, nicely done video. Honest and straightforward. Thank you.
Thank You for You time to do this test
Before you give up on that tool I suggest that you watch a video titled "Triton Dowel Jointer Modifications" on the "Sharp Edge Woodworking" UA-cam channel. One of his modifications is to replace the sight window and recilibrated it and scribed his own sighting lines.
I watched his video but concluded it only resolves one issue. The other issues still preclude achieving good results. Steve
This contraption certainly doesn't merit any more time. Nor do we need better proof that you usually get what you pay for. Maybe with finer machining, positive stops for plunge angle, a better indexing system... then it wouldn't be this tool anymore!
Seriously, thanks for your thoroughness and patience. You likely saved some poor soul a few hard earned bucks.
Thanks Tracey, I agree. Steve
Great honest video, thank you very much for doing it. What I don't get is why so many people keep saying this is an alternative to the domino machine? It's not even close to the same joint. Also, don't know why so many people talk like Triton is a high quality tool company, "they should know better". They are in the business to make inexpensive tools, that are okay, they are not high quality. I have their 3-1/4 HP router and I don't regret my purchase, it does the job, but it has several quirks, it is NOT some incredible, outstanding, perfect tool. Just compare their tools to other brands like Porter Cable and you notice the differences. Not bashing Triton, just saying, seems to many folks give them more credit than you have earned.
Very informative video Steve. Thanks for the review. Looking forward to Part 3.
sometimes we wonder about the price difference of two tools that appear similar......this video explains it all. Material selection, parts machined from stock to tight tolerances vs casting.....calibration and testing.......just general pride in the tool being manufactured (as we take in our own work) rather than mass producing junk. I am not a professional, just a hobbyist so the high end tools are not an option. I have always been torn between buying a biscuit joiner or a good doweling jig, never been interested in the domino due to the price, and came across the tool and thought it may be a viable alternative. I am sure glad I watched your review first. I think I will be investing in the Jessem doweling jig instead.
Now this is a great review. It appears to me the problem is with the poorly cast parts and a lack of machined fit, Good Job. It will not compare favorably to the Mafell.
Very honest review
Very good video. I was close to order this doweller! but now... no thanks!!
Use the centre mark on the metal plate not the centre line on the plastic sight window, alignment prob solved for me.
maybe you should try to release power button and wait until bitss stops rotating, and then pull'em out. it happens so often when tryin to be precise that you do a mess while pulling bit back. it's not over when you think its over
I was able to get a wacky Grizzly table saw to be very accurate and reliable, with very little extra cost. That table saw was about half the price of a more respected brand. I think it was worth the trouble. It took me two or three days work. Maybe I could do the same with this machine.
When I saw this jointer I thought to myself, finally an option to festool domino. I also though, can't afford either, my rockler jig has got to cut it.
If you have a jig that works, stick with it. The power tool option just adds speed and efficiency. Steve
Replace the springs. McMaster Carr has replacement that will reduce the tendency to lift the machine as you drill.
One thing to take into account is that 1/2mm equal aprox 0.019685in which is a very MINUTE discrepancy!!! {aprox 2/100th of an inch} He is wanting Machinist level accuracy out of a wood working tool that cost less than 1/6th of the nearest competitor.
+Fixers Workshop
Dowels require accuracy because they are pegs that go into a hole and require alignment then with the opposing holes.
There is simply no point having the tool if it is not accurate.
When you did the two 1x softwoods with the triton, they looked like they weren't coplanar after joining. This may be the same problem you had with the tool when doing the melamine. The cutters don't seem to be parallel to the fence. (Edit: I see you saw that afterwards with the hardwoods)
The actual drill bits are the biggest problem with the machine. Thats why it struggled with hardwoods. I replaced my stock bits with CMT bits off of Amazon and lo and behold it started working much better. I did have to make a new sight window, cut the springs down as well as sand the cheap sliding surfaces. In the end I concluded that it isnt worth the time and the effort. I'm back using the Domino.
The problems with the Triton go far beyond the bits. Interestingly, I cut my losses and salvaged the Triton bits for use in the Mafell and they work fine in hardwoods at the slower 13000 rpm speed. Steve
grizdeluxe what bits did you buy for replacement
CMT
Hi Extreme Woodworker, I have the same model as the triton but the name badge was ripped off when I got it. It is blue in colour. The moveable fence was not at right angle to the machining face but also the fence was skew across its length so while one end could be right angle the other end was out. I could never get the two faces of wood flat and level in two directions. I spent hours like you but became ultimately frustrated by it. I think the quality control team at the manufacturers were on holiday the day it was made or the Korean copiers could not read the drawings to make it. I look forward to the Mafell demonstration. Colin in Northern Ireland.
Thanks Colin. Based on our experiences, I don't think they have a quality control team and if they do, it is totally ineffective. How a tool like this gets on store shelves is beyond my comprehension. Steve
What is that cool measuring tool you are using @4:50?
It is made by iGaging for measuring height/depth. As I recall, it was under $30.
Mafell DD40!!! I have seen yours in previous videos.
Thanks Richard, I'll get there. Steve
Well done review, Steve. I just took a look at the price of the Mafell DD40 and was wondering at the price it is, why someone would choose this over a Domino?
I chose the Mafell DD40 over the Festool Domino for a couple of reasons.The first was because wooden dowels are cheap and readily available, and secondly because as well as jointing I can also use the DD40 for drilling shelf pin holes with the aid of the Mafell Guide Rail.
Thanks Steve. I purchased the DD40 to do 32mm shelf pin holes as a replacement to the Festool LR32 which was too fiddly and time consuming to suit me. After purchase, I discovered the DD40 was also an excellent joinery machine. Steve
Ah, I didn't think of it being used for shelf pins and not just for joinery. So if a person was debating getting either the Domino or the DD40 for joinery purposes only, does the DD40 have an advantage over the Domino?
Hi Steve. I'll try to cover that in the last video in the series. The DD40 has lower cost per joint than the Domino up to about 12mm diameter. Above that size, the cost per joint advantage goes to the Domino unless you make your own. For the depth of the joint, the DD40 has the edge over the 500 but the 700 has the edge over the DD40. A lot of it depends on what you build most. As a general rule, I would suggest the DD40 is more suitable for cabinet construction where the Domino is more suited for furniture construction. YMMV. Steve
Excellent information there, thanks, Steve.
Interesting - you removed the rubber feet supplied with the tool and then complained about it not being square. Put the feet back and then run a square over the fence and rubber and apologise to the manufacturer - the arrogance of festool users
Interesting - you obviously have never made a rail and stile dowel joint. You obviously have not seen, used, or owned the Triton. You fail to recognize that with only one rubber pad contacting a workpiece the axis will be askew and the joint will not make up properly. Arrogance you say? Ignorance must be bliss.
@@extremewoodworker I agree with Paul. And BOTH pads must contact the workpiece. If this is not possible, add pads inside the current ones. Others have, with success.
It looks like it's worse than useless for making furniture and cabinetry. To have any credibility at all, Triton needs to recall and retool it and bring it back to market AFTER fixing it. I certainly won't be buying one -- at least until they come out with a guaranteed fix. Steve, for this very fair review, you get a thumb's up. Triton, you get a HUGE thumb's down.
Thanks Welsh. I am really quite shocked at how poorly the Triton performed. I certainly expected more even from a cheap tool. I agree, until Triton fixes their issues, I would not recommend this to anyone. Steve
Why don't you show lining up with the pencil marks....you may be off and not showing it...........
Excellent review. I handled the tool at a wood working show. I immediately noticed that the machining is poor. The other problem with this tool is the platen will prevent consistent 90-degree dowel placement which renders the tool worthless. Triton needs to find a new company to make their machines. Overall Triton makes good tools but this one isn't. It's junk.
It is hard to argue with the junk description on the TDJ600. With this being the first experience with the Triton brand, I am not so sure I would consider another. Steve
Steve, I have two of their routers and the 7" monster power planer and the tools are first rate and have used them for several years without problems. I am left thinking that they need to tweak their machining and/or change the manufacturer in China. The other Triton machines in my possession I believe were made in Taiwan.
Check out this tool tune-up as well: ua-cam.com/video/9-9AwrM8QSk/v-deo.html
La maquina perfecta para mi yo me preocupo si el margen de error pasa de pulgada (soy carpintero muy malo ) :)
Jorge, nobody could be that bad a carpenter. LOL Steve
Great review Steve!! I have only had one Triton tool, a router, which gave me issues of stripped gears, same for the one my Dad has and the same for one a friend had, so Triton is not on my list of quality tool makers.
Thanks Steve. Wow! Three instances of stripped gears on a plunge router is enough to convince me to stay away. Thanks for the report. Steve
I've had the TRA001 3.25 for a year. It stays on the router table where I regularly use it for rails, stiles, raised panels, window sashes, shutters, and as a joiner in a pinch. Very satisfied. Only issue was a loose lock down lever. However, I do think they tried to be too clever with the unique plunge mechanism (which I never use). Considering the price point and where they source manufacturing, I can see the issue you mentioned as a distinct possibility. Seems Triton is focused on occasional/DIY user, not the pro. That's where the market is shifting.
If they spent more time & money designing a better mouse trap they could easily raise the price and still be less than half of the domino
For more precision you're going g to have to jig the the tool and bring the workpiece to it. Basic.
I shouldn't have watched part 4 first.
Thanks for your time. Definitely won't buy that thing
Whopper what?..