Domino Patent expiry

[PraJDoXa]

I am about to bite the bullet and buy a Domino 500. However I read that the patent is set to expire June 2026. So now I'm wondering if in one year or so, there will be much more affordable alternatives that are just as quick and easy to use. and/or that Festool dramatically drop their prices for it.
I found 7 patents by Festool related to this actually. But the main one is EP1757415B1 in Europe and that one is set to expire June 2026.

I think I'll still go an buy one this week and just hope it is as quick, easy an accurate as the hype suggests. After all, even once the patent expires it would take time for someone else to make in bulk, cheaper with similar accuracy. I guess I'm just very hesitant due to the great cost of it, so I don't want to discover in 2 years that prices tumble. I'm not some factory that will get a return on it within 18 months or something.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I would say just go and buy it knowing you're getting a superbly machined tool that is pure joy to use. However Festool have released a new DF500 that I think may hit here in OZ around Sept. Improved fence and pins compared to the current model. As well as a cordless model with a DF700 type handle that looks fantastic.

Some here believe as soon as the patents expire the market will be flooded with quality clones at a cheaper price, I don't believe that at all. I think what will happen at best is that maybe a couple of models might appear, but at a price reflecting the quality. You can see what the Kreg Domino-like machine costs and I think that looks to be one of the most awkward tools around.

I bought a Lamello Zeta clone to save money, and it looked the goods, and did sort of work, but it was a very far cry from the quality and usability of the real one. I hated using it as I couldn't get repeatable results, and it was ridiculously difficult to adjust properly. You can see these all over Aliexpress for $500-$800 or so. I ended up buying the Lamello Zeta and it was night and day, and the pain of the cost disappeared after the first use.

I think it will be the same with Domino clones, maybe one or possibly 2 decent quality machines at a high selling price, and a boat load of rubbish quality ones cheap.

 

[woodferret]

The Kreg is hilarious. Might as well staple stuff together with the amount of slop it has
What we'll likely see is a lot of people buying Kreg Domino (TM) and then go "yup, just as I thought, dominos were over-hyped by the koolaid cult".

 

[kevinculle]

More affordable alternatives...quite possibly. Festool dramatically reducing prices...

 

[luvmytoolz]

The Kreg is hilarious. Might as well staple stuff together with the amount of slop it has
What we'll likely see is a lot of people buying Kreg Domino (TM) and then go "yup, just as I thought, dominos were over-hyped by the koolaid cult".

Too true! And it's $570AUD at our local tool shop! At least the Woodpeckers one looks pretty!

 

[ChuckS]

If there're more than one patent that protect the DF500 there is no telling whether the expiry of one patent would mean copies and clones would soon be available. The quality factor of the clones must also be considered as they're unknown.

If a new fence is coming out, study its details before concluding it's better. Make sure the pins can be retracted and held in place like the paddles (the original pin version which has been discontinued is not retractable and can be a pain (pun not intended) in certain cases).

 

[Cheese]

...and/or that Festool dramatically drop their prices for it.

...so I don't want to discover in 2 years that prices tumble.

FWIW...in the 18+ years I've been purchasing Festool tools and reading Festool catalogs, they've only permanently reduced the price on ONE tool, the VAC SYS and that was by 20%. Two years later...it was discontinued.

 

[peter halle]

I remember when the talk was all about the patent expiring on aspects of the track saw and the speculation that there would be so much competition afterwards and so many offerings at cheaper price points. Well, the first ones out were not that much cheaper and didn't have all the features. Then the market expanded, but even now the Festool offerings more than hold up against their competitors. And I offer, remember that for decades before hand people were sliding circular saws alongside straightedges - shop made or purchased. The Domino is a more complex machine.

Buy it now versus waiting would be my unsolicited advice.

Peter

 

[Ebuwan]

I get it, it's a lot of money. I used to scoff at it years ago when i started hobby woodworking.

The short of my story? Buy it. Stop thinking about it. Just buy it.

I made a jig that you would mount a workpiece to and route the mortise, then use a pattern routing bit, with a smaller bearing, and with another home grown jig to make the tenon. (I think I would do tenon first now that i think about it.) I could fart around spending my time making "tools" to do the woodworking.

This was pre-children; I'd get home from work, have all the time in the world to putz around the garage/shop, casually eat dinner at 7pm (or whenever I wanted) then hang out with my wife, maybe putz around some more in the garage. Not to mention, I was deep into the "proper way to woodwork" mantra; the "domino is cheating" is the attitude I had.

What I had was Time; I had tons of time.

Then had Children.

I barely had time to build anything, especially after the second child was around. So i saved up multiple xmas and birthday presents (asked for cash, and stated what I wanted it for). Eventually had enough for the Domino.

If I could reach back in time and smack myself, i would have bought it so much sooner; SUCH a time saver. It opens up new workflows too. It allowed me to take the little time I had in the shop with whatever the rest of life had going on for me, and produce stuff much more efficiently with my time, which I now have much, much less of. I use it almost on every project I do; even if its something that I follow tradition on and do some through tenons, I use it for re-enforcement in other places.

In regards to waiting for clones to come out when the patent expires; the other option could be good; could be great; could be hot trash. What i do know, the Domino is great.

P.S. - If other clones come out, whos ready for the 1000 videos titled "Domino Killer!?" with the guy with the shocked face?

 

[Cheese]

P.S. - If other clones come out, who's ready for the 1000 videos titled "Domino Killer!?" with the guy with the shocked face?

Ya...that'd be a painful experience for sure. Just not having to watch the guy with the shocked face is worth the admission price of a Domino.

 

[Coen]

FWIW...in the 18+ years I've been purchasing Festool tools and reading Festool catalogs, they've only permanently reduced the price on ONE tool, the VAC SYS and that was by 20%. Two years later...it was discontinued.

The PS 300 wasn't lowered in price in the USA? In Europe it was lowered not long after the Carvex came out.

 

[luvmytoolz]

P.S. - If other clones come out, whos ready for the 1000 videos titled "Domino Killer!?" with the guy with the shocked face?

There's already a bunch of them featuring the Woodpeckers, and then the Kreg versions of their "Domino Killer"!

 

[Cheese]

The PS 300 wasn't lowered in price in the USA? In Europe it was lowered not long after the Carvex came out.

You got me there Coen...the Trion pricing was also lowered in the US. Still, just 2 tools reduced in pricing over the last 18 years doesn't give much hope for the DF 500.

 

[jimbo51]

You got me there Coen...the Trion pricing was also lowered in the US. Still, just 2 tools reduced in pricing over the last 18 years doesn't give much hope for the DF 500.

Festool just sent out a notice to buy before August 1 2025 in case their cost increases in the US.

 

[Mini Me]

Fein faced the same issue with the Multi Tool and there are quite a few of that machine now available from other brands. The alternatives to the Domino now available are only as bad as they are due to the patent and when that expires there is nothing preventing direct copies that are better than what is available now so that comparison will go away.

 

[kevinculle]

IMnsHO Festool covering the adjustment points for the laser makes absolutely no sense...particularly if they are shipping Kapex saws with lasers not calibrated to specs.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Fein faced the same issue with the Multi Tool and there are quite a few of that machine now available from other brands. The alternatives to the Domino now available are only as bad as they are due to the patent and when that expires there is nothing preventing direct copies that are better than what is available now so that comparison will go away.

Heaps of copycat Multi Tools around, I've owned and ultimately sold several of them, but while it was more expensive, the Fein is still the best one I've used and worth every cent. I'll never sell that one.

I haven't tried the Festool one however which does also look really good. I'm thinking of getting it in the cordless at some point.

I've tended to notice over the decades that copying a product AND the associated level of usability and quality usually doesn't result in a dramatic price reduction on an equal basis copy.

The price reduction usually takes the form of design or quality compromises that render it not worth it in many cases, except for those truly determined to save costs, at all costs.

 

[luvmytoolz]

IMnsHO Festool covering the adjustment points for the laser makes absolutely no sense...particularly if they are shipping Kapex saws with lasers not calibrated to specs.

I've always thought it was likely to deter people from "tweaking" the settings, as you need to commit if you're going to puncture the stickers.

We used to do the same in the IT company I work at, putting stickers over the tiny recessed reset button on the CPE's, as it seemed to be like a "big red button" that would get pushed just to see what happened. You could lose a couple hours of support trying to help an agitated end use who'd suddenly lost internet reconfigure the CPE who was adamant "no one pressed it", but here we are!

 

[Neil Lickfold]

In Wellington, is a DF500 for sale with a starter Domino set, all in Systainers for around NZD 1800. It is a model that is sold in China I noted. From the few pictures of it looks to be in really good condition. So look for a really good used one is another option. It's 1k cheaper than a new one out here with the block set and cutter set. Interestingly , China, NZ Australia is all the same power plug voltage etc I got the larger one, as eventually will be making furniture that I want to use the larger longer domino's in its construction. I am very happy with the Festool tools. It is more money but I really do like the way it works, and that spares are available, and the domino's themselves are fairly well made for the money and my local supplier has a good range in stock of the blocks. I don't think that the corded DF500 is going to drop in price once the battery option arrives. If you have a use for it now, then getting it now is a good thing. Yeah I am a new convert to their corded tools. Any price changes will come from the wholesaler in your country. Out of curiosity, looked up the price of a DF500 in China, close to 4k for the machine itself shipped. So not a cheaper option at all.

 

[luvmytoolz]

In Wellington, is a DF500 for sale with a starter Domino set, all in Systainers for around NZD 1800.

That's a great price if it's in good nick!