charlie b
 OfflineMember Since: Apr 2007
Posts: 34
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« on: May 17, 2007, 01:58 PM » |
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I WISH there was an "Imperial" (inches) version of the DOMINO.
The "stepped Fence to Center of Thickness" gauge could esily replaced.
The "Fence to Mortise Centerline Scale" could easily be replaced.
The "bits" could be made in 1/4", 3/8" and maybe 1/2".
The "Viewing Window Scale" could be replaced with 1/32" increments
The "Depth of Cut Notches" could be cut for 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4"
The retractable "stop pins" could be made 1/4" diameter
The distance between the retractable stop pins (inside to inside) could be at 1/2" (12.7mm)
I'll even make my own 1/4", 3/8",1/2" loose tenons
charlie b
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Brice Burrell
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Member Since: Mar 2007
Posts: 6186
Remodeling Contractor
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« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2007, 02:09 PM » |
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These same words have have been said for all of the Festool line up, they just seem to fall on deaf ears. Do what I did, learn Metric.  |
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VictorL
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Location: South-Central CT Member Since: Feb 2007
Posts: 536
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« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2007, 02:25 PM » |
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This is perfect opportunity switch to metric. Festool USA can send free metric tape with purchases $1000+. It will eliminate requests for imperial scales and make transition process less painful. |
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greg mann
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Location: Michigan Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 1126
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« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2007, 02:33 PM » |
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Charlie, Those 'simple' changes would bring monumental problems to the manufacturing process and even more cost. Here in the States we are on an excruciatingly slow path to metrication but it is not so hard once you make a philosophical adjustment. I work in both systems day in and day out, probably more imperial than metric, but I have decided to go metric in my woodworking to the greatest extent possible. My standard style is going to be 20 x 50. |
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Greg Mann
Oakland, Michigan
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ejantny
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Location: Scotia, New York Member Since: Feb 2007
Posts: 182
Scotia, NY
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« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2007, 03:30 PM » |
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There are quite a few websites that have conversion charts as well as conversion calculators. A google search for them will give you some very interesting sites.
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Bob Childress
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Location: Greenville, SC USA Member Since: Apr 2007
Posts: 121
South Carolina, USA
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« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2007, 05:27 PM » |
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Would probably add 50% to the price, easily. And then it wouldn't play well with the Other Children, so do they convert them too? Metric isn't bad. |
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TS-55, RO-150, ETS-150/3, DX-93, LS-130, CT-22, OF-1000, DF-500Q, C-12
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Rob McGilp
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Location: Slightly right of Genghis Kahn Member Since: Apr 2007
Posts: 425
Curmudgeon
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« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2007, 06:40 PM » |
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Hi Charlie,
I,m not sure the Domino could happily drive a 1/2" cutter, but others will know more than me.
Also, with regard to making tenons, you may have noticed that all Festool products really need Festool blades, pads, dominoes etc. (with some exceptions.)
The adage, "You sell one dog but lots of dog food" applies well here. Not that I object, but I don't know if they particularly want you to make your own dominoes.
Actually, the idea of a 12 or 12.7mm cutter is intriguing. Anyone know why they aren't available?
Regards,
Albert
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Rocker
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Location: Caboolture, Queensland, Australia Member Since: May 2007
Posts: 63
Furniture maker, Queensland, Australia
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« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2007, 10:03 PM » |
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Charlie,
Have you considered the fact that it is actually much easier to work in metric? It really is not that hard to convert inches to millimeters (use a calculator to multiply them by 25.4). The only problem is that metric router bits are a bit hard to find. But they are obtainable from CMT, which manufactures them in Italy.
David Dundas
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charlie b
OfflineMember Since: Apr 2007
Posts: 34
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« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2007, 12:16 AM » |
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Regarding the price tag for the "imperial" parts
The "stepped Fence to Center of Thickness" gauge could esily replaced.
(This is an injection mold part. While the cost of having the mold made
is in the $10-20K range for a set of production molds, the price may
be less thanks to CNC machines. So maybe this "option" might add
a few dollars - maybe even $10. But remember - you've got a very
large market in the USA with lots of Boomers with a fair amount of
disposable income. I probably will make my own out of lexan. I've
even got a letters and number set of steel stamps )
The "Fence to Mortise Centerline Scale" could easily be replaced.
(this one wouldn't add but maybe $5 to the retail price)
The "bits" could be made in 1/4", 3/8" and maybe 1/2".
(this one could be a problem - until someone comes up with an
aftermarket product - which I suspect WILL happen. $30
is right up the router bit makers alley and market)
The "Viewing Window Scale" could be replaced with 1/32" increments
(OK - add another $5)
The "Depth of Cut Notches" could be cut for 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4"
(I suspect that Festool has to do some machining on the die cast
part anyway - so machine a little differently - CNC machines
are VERY adaptable)
The retractable "stop pins" could be made 1/4" diameter
(since the die casting has to be machined anyway for the 5mm pins
and brass insert would it kill them to program the CNC to do a1/4"
hole - mortise side say 1 3/8" to centerline? OK add another $20)
The distance between the retractable stop pins (inside to inside) could be at 1/2" (12.7mm)
(see above - 1 2/8")
I'd have paid another $100 to have Imperial.
I've got a metric and inches pocket tape - Stanley
5m/16' (33-158) AND a digital metric/decimal inch
caliper. And the primitive "drawing program" I use
for my scaled illustrations will display dimensions
in millimeters or decimal inches. heck, I've
got a Robland X31 combi - made in Brugge, Belgium.
It's got both metric and imperial parts - I even think
some of the nuts and bolts are SAE so I'm not
new to The Tower of Babel.
BUT - most USA woodworkers think and work in
inches and fractions of inches, not decimal inches.
YES - metric is really handy - no fun and games
adding, subtracting or dividing fractions. BUT
most of my tools have Imperial Scales and machine
heights for table saws, joiners, shapers etc. are
all around 34" off the shop floor. I KNOW where
34" is - without a tape, metric or imperial. But
if you asked me to show you with the palm of
my hand where 863.5 mm was - or how
wide a 610mm cabinet is - you'd get a blank
stare (it's darn close to 2 feet - or 24")
It's not hard to convert between mm and inches.
But converting the resulting decimal inches to
something on an imperial pocket tape - well that's
a bit more time consuming. And the more side
tracks I have to take before I get to where I
want to go may mean that I either give up
somewhere along the way or don't even start
down that path. It's just one more "challenge"
to play with - and some folks are pretty sure
I'm already "developmentally challenged" -
pun very much intended.
Let's go back to Furlongs and Cubits (my
father was an accountant so Roman
Numerals are out)!
charlie b
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mastercabman
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Location: norfolk va Member Since: Apr 2007
Posts: 1370
NORFOLK,VA
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« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2007, 08:02 AM » |
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CHARLIE,why go to all that trouble?just deal with it! i think it would cost a lot more than you think to redesign a tool so that it is calibrated in imperial.and where are you going to get your dominos?that 's another cost for festool to manufacture dominos in imperial.lot's of money!!
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I don't understand!?! I keep cutting it,and it's still too short!
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Rocker
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Location: Caboolture, Queensland, Australia Member Since: May 2007
Posts: 63
Furniture maker, Queensland, Australia
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« Reply #10 on: May 19, 2007, 04:12 PM » |
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Charlie, What Mastercabman said; I was brought up with imperial and made the transition to metric - it is not that hard. The 8 mm domino, the most commonly used size, is in imperial anyway  It is within 1/500" of being the same as 5/16". So non-owners of the Domino can rout mortises with a 5/16" spiral bit and use domino tenons. Rocker |
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rich1
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Location: San Diego Member Since: Apr 2007
Posts: 28
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« Reply #11 on: June 01, 2007, 11:54 PM » |
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Well Festool will most likely not make imperial tools but, Lee Valley has come to the rescue! I ordered one of these: Blindman's Fractional Electronic Caliper This electronic caliper has the additional feature of converting back and forth among decimal inches, fractional inches and millimetres at the touch of a button. see: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43513,49782&p=56741Hope this helps Ric |
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Dan Clark
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Location: Bellevue, WA USA Member Since: Jul 2009
Posts: 387
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« Reply #12 on: June 02, 2007, 11:29 AM » |
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I bought a Wixey Fractional micrometer at Woodcraft: http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=20110. It displays fractional and decimal inches simultaneously, and converts to millimeters at the push of a button. It's very similar to the Lee Valley unit. It works very well. Regards, Dan. |
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minimal
OfflineMember Since: Apr 2007
Posts: 74
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« Reply #13 on: June 19, 2007, 10:19 AM » |
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Matthew Schenker
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Location: UNITED STATES (US) Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 2624
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« Reply #14 on: June 19, 2007, 11:35 AM » |
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That's funny! What's Liberia's excuse?
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Michael Kellough
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Location: UNITED STATES (US) Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 1905
Southern New York
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« Reply #16 on: June 19, 2007, 04:43 PM » |
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Who gives a flip about Myanmar...what about Burma? |
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Bob Childress
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Location: Greenville, SC USA Member Since: Apr 2007
Posts: 121
South Carolina, USA
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« Reply #17 on: June 19, 2007, 05:45 PM » |
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Yer showin' yer age, mate. |
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TS-55, RO-150, ETS-150/3, DX-93, LS-130, CT-22, OF-1000, DF-500Q, C-12
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Trevor H
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Location: Lincoln, NE Member Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 63
web man for www.festooljunkie.com
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« Reply #18 on: September 21, 2007, 10:27 AM » |
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I can learn metric, just bring me some more tools. I need a kapex quick like!
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joiner1970
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Location: London, England Member Since: Jun 2007
Posts: 1207
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« Reply #19 on: September 21, 2007, 01:48 PM » |
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Hi Charlie b
You boys across the pond always want everything your way. When we want American tools in the UK we have to put up with imperial scales on everything which is much harder to work with and you don't hear us moaning.
I spoke to an importer of Incra and he had got nowhere in trying to get them to make runners to fit metric European mitre slots in table saws. Such a simple thing to do I would think but they were not in the slightest bit interested.
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Dan Clermont
Festool Dealer
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Location: Vancouver / Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 973
Canadian Festool Dealer
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« Reply #20 on: September 21, 2007, 02:06 PM » |
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We Canadians think Metric when we drive and Imperial when we cut.
I was concerned when I got my TS-55 and it was in metric but you know 25mm on the scale is purt near an inch. 12.5mm is 1/2".
I'd actually like to convert my thinking to metric and lose imperial as working with simple numbers might be easier then adding 32nd's to 1/4's and such. Less chance for a mistake. I am good at math so my accountant friends tell me when it comes to splitting up the pub bill but metric seems pretty darn easy once you use it for awhile.
Dan C
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Canadian Festool Dealer and User!!!
778-558-7745
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Eli
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Location: Melbourne, Australia Member Since: Jul 2007
Posts: 2478
A Yankee in Kangaroo Court
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« Reply #21 on: September 21, 2007, 05:53 PM » |
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I used imperial for 30+ years. I only switched in April. I freaKed out when I first moved here, thinking it would be so hard. After all, only in the last five years did I really get good at adding fractions. So my first purchase was a Stanley 8m/20' tape. That made everything really confusing, because I didn't know which system to measure in and was trying to mentally convert everything. Not to mention when you're reading that tape upside down it really does your head in. So my second tape was a Stabila 8m metric tape. All of a sudden, things were easy to measure, add, and convert. I got comfortable using metric in about three weeks, I speak in feet sometimes still, but don't use them at all for work. I've got an imperial tape measure as a gift for anyone who visits.
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Do nothing, stay ahead.
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joiner1970
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Location: London, England Member Since: Jun 2007
Posts: 1207
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« Reply #22 on: September 22, 2007, 04:05 AM » |
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I am 36 we went metric in England when I was born but I and most people my age grew up using both so how confusing do you think that was.
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Taos
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Location: UNITED STATES (US) Member Since: Sep 2007
Posts: 227
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« Reply #23 on: March 04, 2008, 11:34 AM » |
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NOW THATS FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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woodshopdemos
Inactive Member
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Location: Hope, RI Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 759
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« Reply #24 on: March 04, 2008, 11:49 AM » |
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I have 68 years plus of imperial and don't need to change. So the plunge saw has metric, I set it by using a thickness or two of boards that I will be cutting. No imperial and no metric, just a good cut. Same with Domino. I have the case of 5mm, 8mm and so on but I don't look at the sizes, just the sight of the tenon. It is fat or slim.
If a woman is 85 D, would you decide not to look cause you couldn't know how stacked she is? not me.
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« Last Edit: March 04, 2008, 12:18 PM by woodshopdemos »
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In memory of John Lucas (1937 - 2010)
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Frank Pellow
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Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 2390
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
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« Reply #25 on: March 04, 2008, 01:17 PM » |
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NOW THATS FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it's sad. Sad that some have not, not that most have. But, what the map does not show is countries such as Canada and the UK which have officially gone metric, but in practice are dragging their heals and have not fully converted. I wish we in Canada would get on with it and really convert to metric. |
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Cheers,
Frank (Festool connoisseur)
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woodshopdemos
Inactive Member
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Location: Hope, RI Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 759
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« Reply #26 on: March 04, 2008, 02:21 PM » |
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... I wish we in Canada would get on with it and really convert to metric.
Aren't you still spending time and money converting to two languages? |
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In memory of John Lucas (1937 - 2010)
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