Domino

[lynx]

May have an offer on a new domino, sat on the shelf for a year. Is this going to be the older, metal pin model or the newer plastic stop?

Are they really worth the money?

[paulchapman]

If it's a year old I would think it's probably the metal pin type.

Great tool in my view (for cabinet making-size rather than joinery-size loose tenons) - only you can decide whether it's worth the money.

Cheers

Paul

[wizer]

no rubbish, let me relieve you of it before you waste your money

[jonnyd]

I would say it is worth the money. I was talking to a festool rep and he said the metal pin ones are the ones to have. It is excellent for carcase work and face frames for kitchens and just about any job you would use a biscuit jointer for. I got mine 2 years ago and it paid for itself after the first kitchen job i used it for.

jon

[lynx]

thats the thing. If this one is the metal pin type then it maybe a winner. Is the newer black thingie version as good (same machine, just that difference).

I have a kitchen door job after christmas and this will speed up the operation.

[jonnyd]

I havent used the new type but had a look at a show and it looked they would work fine. I only tend to use the stops when doing carcase work to reference the tight domino. I also bought the cross stop for the machine but have never used it.

[sainty]

Plastic thingy or metal pin? Thinking about it, I dont think that it will affedt the functionality but the metal pin can be used to reference from a domino hole to the next.

Dec 18, 2008 21:20:33 GMT jonnyd said:

I havent used the new type but had a look at a show and it looked they would work fine. I only tend to use the stops when doing carcase work to reference the tight domino. I also bought the cross stop for the machine but have never used it.

Jonnyd, if you use the stop it makes carcasses much simpler (I'm assuming you mark out domino spacing) Use the pin to make the first hole (tight) referencing the front edge of the carcass. Set the stop to reference from the first hole to the centre of the carcass and make another tight hole, then make the third and in my case last hole referenceing the centre hole (tight again). If you set up both stops either side you can whip through all your dominoing(?) pretty quickly, no marking out. It takes a bit of a leap of faith to use the tight setting all the way across but if you are careful (which you have to be with the domino, I find) it does work.

rgds


Stu

[paulchapman]

Dec 18, 2008 20:24:56 GMT jonnyd said:

just about any job you would use a biscuit jointer for.

You can also use it for jobs where you can't use the biscuit jointer, because of the orientation of the Dominos compared to the orientation of biscuits - eg on narrow door frames where the biscuit jointer wouldn't work, you could almost certainly use the Domino.

Cheers

Paul

[jonnyd]

I suppose i should get the cross stop out of the box and have a go with it i tend to mark out by hand so it could save some time. I use the trim stop quite a bit though.

I agree with what your saying paul its much more versatile than the biscuit jointer.

jon

[scraper]

I have the long stop thingy, but tend to lay out with pencil marks.

A 'bodge' I use is when I'm doing multiple dominos in a piece is that I do them all at the tight setting, doing the first one bang on the mark, then the others on the mark too, but plunge again with the tool moved a fraction from the mark.

This gives a good fit, the first domino aligning the parts as Festool intended, but a better fit in the rest than using the wider settings which I think are just too sloppy!

If that makes sense!

I've tried them ALL on tight without my 'adjustment' and sometimes had assembly probs. But that IS down to my inaccuracy - probably by being in too big a hurry!!

Great tool though. Would hate to be without it now.

[jake]

Why did they change the pins? I'd gathered they had, but not why, and no-one seems to prefer the newer ones.

[paulchapman]

Dec 19, 2008 10:39:57 GMT jake said:

Why did they change the pins? I'd gathered they had, but not why, and no-one seems to prefer the newer ones.

I read somewhere that it infringed a patent held by Mafell for their dowelling machine.

Cheers

Paul

[jake]

Aaah. That would explain it.

Thanks Paul, another little mystery solved.

[scraper]

There has been a few threads on the Festool Owners Group board about the change in the pin design.

Apparently Festool supply spare plastic ones along with a new Domino incase the fitted ones wear and become innacurate.

Festool owners get a bit 'clubby' about their tools - hence the vibrant Owners Group.

Nowt for Dewalt breakers users though!

Interestingly Freud (now part of Bosch) have introduced a doweller similar to the Mafell, and it has the metal pins too. Hmm ....

[pauldavidthomas]

Well, we will see if this works...

I find the Domino a stunning bit of kit. I am making up 9 office carcasses - 500, 600 & 400 wide and ranging from 600 to 450 deep. Each one requires 16 (it's not moving) motrice and tenon joints - sub 2 mins to cut them all . MM perfect I hope my pictures get attached...




Nop... can someone let me know how to attach images to a reply (or post)

[9fingers]

Welcome to assylum PDT !

try here for picture posting info

trevera25.proboards85.com/index.cgi?board=projects&action=display&thread=417

Bob

[misterfish]

Not everyone seems to like the Domino. Have a look over on the 'other side' at the thread entitled 'Rant alert'. Somebody may get a bargain!

Misterfish