I 'Imperialized' my Domino today

[srracer]

Ever since I got my Domino, I found it slightly annoying that Festool couldn't manage a U.S. version with inch markings.  I'm not a luddite about imperial vs. metric, but all of our other tools are in inches, so....

I Imperialized my Domino.  For the scale, I simply bought a little pocket scale and cut it, and then used 1 minute epoxy (my latest favorite shop adhesive) to bond it to the existing Domino scale.

The height setting plate was a little more involved.  I planned out what thicknesses I figured I'd use the most and mapped them out.  I used the Domino's existing pre-set heights to determine the offset in the part itself and then clamped it up in my CNC Bridgeport. 

I fumbled up the engraving as I didn't have a real engraving tool and Festool's choice of plastic is a bit soft and gummy, so it didn't quite take the lettering very cleanly - not to mention that I was playing with the font spacing to try to get the characters to fit and that didn't help..  But it looks a little better in person than in the pictures.

For reference, they say " 1/2, 5/8, 3/4P, 3/4, 1"

I may order another piece and do the engraving better next time.  I shaved the top numbers so that I wouldn't accidentally refer to the old metric numbers for the heights that I altered.  I used it most of the day on my TV Console project and I must say that the change is fantastic!  mortises right in the center of 3/4" stock is instant and now I can set the height to match my tape. 

 

[Bob Mircetic]

Great fix, I like it a lot!

That is my one gripe, both with the Domino and my TS55 - the metric markings.  I don't care that metric is "easier" than imperial... it's a pain having to work in two different measuring systems.  And since Festool already has to change the motors on the machines they sell here in the US, I don't understand why they couldn't also give us imperial measurements.

Anyway... thanks for posting this, it's a good idea.

 

[GaryLaroff]

I think it is beyond a "good idea" and is a great idea.  I lived and worked at a technical job in Switzerland years ago and have had technical jobs ever since.  Metric makes sense on a number of levels and sometimes when designing really small and intricate items like small inlaid designs and ornamental banding my design and calculations are either in metric or decimal inches.  But when I head to the shop, I am back to a world of fractional inches.  My stationary power tools were made by the Swiss company INCA and the applied scales, such as on the planer, are in fractional inches.

I learned decades ago that keeping two measurement systems going in a single project is a disaster waiting to happen.  For those American cabinet makers who have managed to convert their business to Metric, you get my respect.  Going Metric in the shop is more than a political and mental issue.  Unless you buy all your tools from Festool, use true European hinges and parts and live in a world of Systainers and Sortainers filled with quality Centrotec Metric tools, you just have to use fractional inches.  I should have outfitted my shop in Metric tools when I was traveling often to Europe.  In the US, it has taken me years to find a complete set of Metric brad point drills and they are marginally accurate,  low cost, poor quality Chinese steel.  The great tooling available to most of us is in fractional inches.

As long as I have to communicate with and buy from people who work in fractional Imperial measure, my shop, computerized design and shop notes have to remain in inches and I need to continue with the silliness of converting Imperial to Metric, Metric to Imperial and the mental gymnastics of fractional arithmetic.

Imperializing the Domino is four years overdue and if Festool or a third party offered the parts or stick-on strips and a quick way to calibrate them, I would buy them in a heartbeat.  This looks like a business opportunity for some enterprising Festoolian.

 

[srracer]

Well, if enough people are interested, I can order a batch of the scales and pre-set blocks (not sure what their real name is) and make up a batch.  Of course, I could improve the engraving over my 1st cut.  I'll monitor this post for interest, but I'd probably need around 15 people to make it worth while..

Let me know,
-Chris

 

[GaryLaroff]

Sign me up for #1.

Gary

 

[Alan m]

ok i dont need this. i live firmly in metric land. i do how ever feel that the tools should be offered in both . it wouldnt be hard or dear to include a few extra scales.

anyway.
if you are going to make a few scales i would make the ruler longer and drill 2 holes in it and mount it the same a the stock one. this would allow it to be adjusted for accurisy.

 

[srracer]

Hi Alan,

The scale is adjustable as it is glued to the stock scale which already has slots in it for adjustability. 

I had to glue it to the stock scale because I couldn't find any rulers starting at less than 'zero'.

-Chris

 

[Tezzer]

Whats imperial ???

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Whats imperial ???

Fractional, like we still enjoy in the U.S. of A.

 

[Captainwrinkles]

Hey,

Not a bad idea for the Americans that still use imperial.
However, this is where Festoolusa should step in and offer you the custom made scales already in the systainer when you buy your beloveD new tool.

I can somewhat sympathise with you though. I myself learnt (in the last 3 years) the imperial measurements. and what a headache that was
Having to make cabinets in imperial when i had learnt how to do it in Metric

 

[Samo]

I would definitely convert my Domi if a kit became available.  I think a lot of Americans would.  Please keep us updated and thanks for taking the time to post this.  [big grin]  Sam.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I don't see me converting my domino since everything else Festool is in metric.  If I did, I'm sure the TS55 would be next, and then what?

 

[Patrick Smith]

I kicked around the idea too but like others said I have other Festool items that are metric too.    The domino doesn't bother me as much considering you're still using the metric dominos and you'd have to still remember the setting to use for you 30 MM domino etc.  I agree it would be nice to have both though [cool]

 

[MrGinCT]

I'd be interested.  Keep us in the loop [cool]

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I think I'll pass, since the dominoes are made in metric sizes only, you will have to plan your work using two systems of measurement. 

Let's see, 4 mm is pretty close to 5/32, 5 mm is a little shy of 13/64, 6 mm is a little proud of 15/64,  8mm is a little more than 5/16, and 10mm is proud of 25/64.  Nothing to it! [crying]

 

[srracer]

Jesse, I'm not sure I understand what you mean..?

It seems for me, the most important thing not to screw up is the location of the mortise.... I rarely - if ever - feel like I need to be concerned with the size of the mortise.  But what was most aggravating was how it was nearly impossible to center the dominoes in stock without some annoying conversions and tap dancing with the fence lock.

Now, I can very quickly (and easily), set the domino locations in the center of my stock - irrespective of what size domino I happen to be using.

Is there something I'm missing?

Thanks,
-Chris

 

[srracer]

It occurred to me in re-reading the responses that it may not be clear what I did.

In addition to gluing an english scale over the fence height gauge, I also MACHINED the 'step block' for the pre-set fence heights so that they were exactly set to the heights needed to center the mortise in traditional U.S. stock thicknesses (1/2", 5/8", 3/4" Plywood, 3/4" & 1").  

Then I attempted to engrave those thicknesses in the side of the pre-set step block.

Just FYI.

-Chris

 

[Samo]

Chris,

I think Jesse makes our side of the issue for your height gauge.  I think he is just joking around. [blink]

I would use your kit on my Domi, but if I had a project that involved lots of metric ply, I could switch back to the Festools gauge. [smile]

Thanks, Sam.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

I wish the US would just convert to the metric system like the rest of the world.

 

[Samo]

Kodi,

Amen!  When I look at all the sockets and wrenches I have in both, all I see is wasted, hard earned money.

Best wrenches I own are adjustable and invented by this company called CRESCENT.  [big grin]