Any difference between older and new Domino?

[rjwz28]

I am thinking of getting a Domino and wondered if there is a big difference between the old and newer ones?  I've heard something about the "pins" or tabs used for indexing.  Can someone please explain this to me?
Thanks,
Rob

 

[peter halle]

The older pin style allows you to use the pins to space additional domino mortices along your wood surface.  They also allow you to reference off the end of a board.  The paddles will allow you to reference off the end of a board, but they will not fit into the mortices.

There are all sorts of ideas as to why the change from pins to paddles.  It was explained to me that frankly the engineers found that not that many people were using the pins to reference additional mortices - the spacing was greater than people normally used, so they simplified and went with the paddles.  The paddles also allow you to reference closer to the end of the board than the pins - I think.  I have a pin model.  

That is the major change.

Peter

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Another difference is that you can lock the paddles if you do not use them to reference so that it works similar to a Biscuit Jointer.  The Pin style fence also needs a slight modification to use it with 4mm tenons in 1/2 inch stock.  There are a lot of threads on FOG arguing the Pros and Cons of each style and you have the Pin camp and the Paddle camp or folks like me that really do not care either way -- it is a great tool that is revolutionary, regardless of the fence style.

Scot

 

[Tezzer]

The older pin style allows you to use the pins to space additional domino mortices along your wood surface.  They also allow you to reference off the end of a board.  The paddles will allow you to reference off the end of a board, but they will not fit into the mortices.

There are all sorts of ideas as to why the change from pins to paddles.  It was explained to me that frankly the engineers found that not that many people were using the pins to reference additional mortices - the spacing was greater than people normally used, so they simplified and went with the paddles.  The paddles also allow you to reference closer to the end of the board than the pins - I think.  I have a pin model.  

That is the major change.

Peter

Surely that’s not the reason as the spacing distance is very close.

As an example, the distance from the extreme outsides of  two 8mm Dominos using the pin spacing is 52mm, and the distance between those two Dominos is only 10mm.

I would hate to know what they think is really close.

I would be devastated if something happened to my beloved pin Domino and I had to replace it and could only find an inferior paddle model.

 

[peter halle]

In regards to the pins / versus paddles, I can only offer this as I remember being told.  The majority of users use marks on their workpieces and use them to bore the mortices versus using the pins for spacing.  The paddles versus the pins spacing advantage / difference /change is at the end of the board.

Peter

 

[rjwz28]

Thanks guys.  It seems like it isn't a deal-breaker either way.

Rob

 

[tms0425]

Thanks guys.  It seems like it isn't a deal-breaker either way.

Rob

Rick Christopherson's new SCG-10 works great on the paddle style to give you indexing off the end of a part.

http://www.dominoguide.com/

 

[jtwood]

The new one with paddles comes with Cross Stops that can be attached to both sides to allow spacing using the first hole drilled in a series, to make up for the loss of the pins (would be my guess).  Haven't use one with the pins, myself, but I am very happy with the paddle-type.

 

[Tezzer]

As Festool obviously still have the tooling, they should offer the pin-head as an option.

The way I see it is, the pin can do everything the paddles can, but the paddles cant do everything the pins can (an im not talking about retracting, as that isn’t a feature)

 

[barnowl]

Just last in line, and not disputing anyone.

I have an earlier version with the pins.

If I remember correctly, the pins were changed because of a patent issue with another tool maker.

That being said, if I didn't own a Domino, I'd buy one in a heartbeat after seeing what it's capable of.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

If I remember correctly, the pins were changed because of a patent issue with another tool maker.

Just to clarify... That patent dispute was dropped, dismissed or otherwise rendered in favor of Festool, I don't remember the exact circumstances of it being resolved. So, the pins were not changed because it was required due to a legal dispute.