Domino New Style or Pin, which one do I keep???

R

rookie08

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Joined
Dec 14, 2007
Messages
210
So I bought a new Domino a few months ago and then a neighbor had one with the pins he'd used twice and decided he was stopping his hobby.  I wanted to help him out plus he was asking a fair price.  He then threw in the systainer domino asst with the 5 bits he'd bought at the same time!

So I find myself the proud owner of 2 dominoes, pin and the new style.  

Both are new in my eyes since he only used a handful of dominoes and both are still under warranty (though the pin has 1 year less) so where I'd usually keep the newer of a tool that does not apply here.  I have not had the time to use either one so if it was you .....

which one would you keep???   [eek]

 
They both work great and they have their advantages.  If you use it lining up marks, the paddles are nice as you can lock them in place.  If you want to use 4mm Dominos in 1/2 inch stock the new style also does not need modification (although it is simple to file down the small area to get the fence to drop down).  If you want to register off the pins and register off of 5mm or larger mortises, then the pin style is better as the paddles cannot fit in the mortises.  Others will weigh in I am sure.  Personally I would be happy with either one.

Scot
 
There are many threads on this debate.

I love the pins model (I have not used the paddle version, FYI).  You can use them to register previous mortises, which I do all the time.  And there is a set of third-party (he's on this forum.  You'll see them on eBay) spacers you put on the pins to alter the offset from edge.  I use those all the time.  Both of these methods provide dead on accuracy, and not a single bit of measuring.  Just trust the stops.

Whichever you keep... if you don't have it already, the Domiplate is another must-have accessory.  Mind-blowing simplicity with extraordinary results.  RonWen is the man!
 
I am quite certain there are forum members, probably right in your own back yard, that are more than willing to offer you expert advice to aid you in solving your dilemma.  All you would need do is provide them with the two Dominoes, along with all pertinent support materials, and within a very short period of time, geologically speaking, you will have your answer.  [big grin]
 
Nobodys giving you a straight answer so i will.

Keep the pins  [big grin]

Woodguy
 
I too think you should keep both, just because now you have the opportunity to try both types out for a while and see which you really prefer.  Sell the other one down the road and I think you'll get enough money for it that you won't feel like, I should have sold it right away. -- Nothing beats experience over opinions.
 
Or you could keep the pin model, investigate what a complete paddle style head would cost.  Purchase that and then sell your complete paddle domino for probably what you paid your friend for the used pin model or more.  Net result = you have the best of both worlds and an domino assortment with systainer and have some extra money in your pocket for more Festool stuff. 

That's what I would try to do anyway.

Peter
 
I have the pins model.  I love it!!!!  (but, of course, it IS a Festool).  Never had any situations where it didn't do what I needed it to do, and I use it a LOT.

HOWEVER, having said all of that, I just read above something about needing to modify it to use the 4mm Dominos in 1/2" stock?
I bought a 4mm cutter and Dominos, but haven't used them as yet.
Can you elaborate on that a bit for me so I know what I am in for?

Thanks.

 
atogrf1 said:
I have the pins model.  I love it!!!!  (but, of course, it IS a Festool).  Never had any situations where it didn't do what I needed it to do, and I use it a LOT.

HOWEVER, having said all of that, I just read above something about needing to modify it to use the 4mm Dominos in 1/2" stock?
I bought a 4mm cutter and Dominos, but haven't used them as yet.
Can you elaborate on that a bit for me so I know what I am in for?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Without doubt, the best walk through is here: 

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/domino-modification-for-the-4mm-cutter/

 
I like Ken and Peter's answers -- experience is worth more than any opinion as we are all different and use our tools different and only the end-user can decide.  Peter's solution allows you to have the best of both worlds and swap the base for the application at hand.  This seems like the best of both worlds.

Scot
 
peters post is the most practical. if you cant do that then i would also reconmend trying them both out and judging for your self. i would keep both bases. watch paul marcels videos on the pin model
 
Based on everyone's great responses I'm going to work with both for a while and see which one is a better fit for me.  Both have their advantages.  I know I'll have to try ands decide soon so I can consider one of the new C drills!  Does the slippery slope ever end? [scared]

[thanks] everyone!!!

James
 
Wood_Junkie said:
atogrf1 said:
I have the pins model.  I love it!!!!  (but, of course, it IS a Festool).  Never had any situations where it didn't do what I needed it to do, and I use it a LOT.

HOWEVER, having said all of that, I just read above something about needing to modify it to use the 4mm Dominos in 1/2" stock?
I bought a 4mm cutter and Dominos, but haven't used them as yet.
Can you elaborate on that a bit for me so I know what I am in for?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Without doubt, the best walk through is here: 

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/domino-modification-for-the-4mm-cutter/
Click to expand...

What is the problem with 4mm, or is it just that you wouldn't put anything bigger in 1/2" stock?
Mine (pins, purchased immediately after they went on sale) goes down to about 6.3mm, which is pretty much centered in 12.7mm (1/2"), so I don't see the problem.
What am I missing?
 
I'm a gluton for efficiency, even in the workshop where as a hobbiest I don't have to be.  I would keep it for the purpose solely to speed up production but not for opting for one over the other for usage preference with one small exception.  If you want to affix it to the sled for the LR32 rails, you need the pin style.

There is possibly one other exception and I will ask this question to all, which for the longest time, I felt too embarassed to ask since acquiring my tab style Domino a couple of years ago.  When people cite that being able to index the pin into the mortise of the previous hole for the next hole, is that for when aligning them to fasten two long edges together?  I find that I generally space my dominos 4 to 6 inches apart, sometimes further depending on how I feel about what would be sufficient, and using the pins to index would only seperate the mortices relatively the same distance as the tabs off an edge which is an inch or so.  Or are you only using the indexing from the previous hole in situations like doing style and rails via placing two dom's in each end is where this is somewhat solely beneficial?

Further to that, at the risk of slightly stealing the thread, I know there is a rule of thumb on what Domino thickness to use ie: one third thickness rule, but what rule is there in fact for how far to space the dominos apart in a series along two long edges being fastened together.  I don't recall ever reading one, and as mentioned before, I kinda have gone with what "feels" right to me.
 
So if pins were such a desirable feature, why would Festool eliminate that feature on domino v2.0?  sorry if this has been covered....simple answer will suffice...

 
This will be denied by the powers at be but it was a patent issue, they had to change.
 
JSands said:
So if pins were such a desirable feature, why would Festool eliminate that feature on domino v2.0?   sorry if this has been covered....simple answer will suffice...
Click to expand...

It may have been in fact a patent issue, for which it was said that the patent challenge was successfully "challenged" and nothing would have happened otherwise, but the official line was that the change was based on user interactive preferences to move away from the pin configuration.

One of its complaints, albeit minor apparently, was that the spring loaded nature of the pins was annoying in dealing with when applying the face to the workpiece to ensure the plate was flush to the surface as the pins would tend to "push off" the face if not being forceful enough and diligent enough in doing so.  I've never used a pin style myself, but even with the tabs, which are recesseable although I don't tend to recess as I should, you sometimes can take a plunge and the tabs have made it that you were not flush on occasion.  This is rare though. 

An interesting commentary would be from the few out there who have both pin and tab styles, and as to whether the tabs have more "push" than the old style pins in relation to this occasional potentail predicament. 

I have to admit, if a pin style became available at some ridiculius low price, I'd likely buy one myself to complement my tab unit.
 
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