The Festool Domino is one of the most coveted (and expensive) tools in modern woodworking — a plunge mortiser that makes loose-tenon joinery fast and repeatable. At roughly $1,500, it's out of reach for most hobbyists. This video tackles that problem head-on by demonstrating a shop-built jig that replicates the Domino's core function using a standard plunge router.

What makes this worth watching is the engineering detail: the creator specifically designed the jig so the router bit can be raised from the start of the cut rather than plunged mid-stroke. That's a meaningful improvement over many DIY mortising jigs, where mid-cut plunging causes tearout, bit chatter, and inconsistent depth. By eliminating the plunge action, the jig produces cleaner, more repeatable mortises — the same qualities that make the Domino desirable.

For anyone interested in loose-tenon joinery, jig design, or simply the principle of solving an expensive-tool problem with clever fixturing, this is the kind of video where a small channel often outshines bigger ones. Expect a real walkthrough of the jig's geometry, the registration surfaces that keep mortises aligned across workpieces, and the reasoning behind each design choice — not a sponsored hot-take.