I'm pretty sure that 7 years is standard….. Can be extended if they improve the design and reapply

 

How long has the domino been out? I know it's been out quite awhile. I was hoping it would be a matter of months, not years before someone else came out with their own version.

 

Lamello's 1960s era patent on the plate joiner expired
sometime in the early 90s and then suddenly biscuit joinery
became affordable. As long as Lamello had the market
cornered, it was a professional technology priced accordingly.

The Domino is like a cross between a slot mortiser and a
swing-chisel mortiser. You'll find a dedicated slot mortiser
less tiring to use than a hand-held power tool you have to
hold and push into the work.

You'll hold about for about 20 more years waiting for the
Domino patent to expire I reckon.

 

I've said the same thing about Festool for years, but I finally broke down and took the plunge last month. I purchased the RO 90 DX and the CT Midi hepa vacuum. The sander was 10% off and I had a $100 gift card to use at a local festool dealer. I've been using the sander on a Maloof-style rocker build and so far I have been more than pleased. This system is awesome and I have no doubt that from the feel of it and the way they are built they will last forever. Once I get more use under my belt I will do a review. It is pricey, but so far I feel it is worth every penny. My lungs second my opinion.

 

I do not own the domino but had the oportuntiy to use one about 8 months ago. Personally, I do not see all the hoopla over this tool. Yes, it does a nice job, but seems a little slow when making the wobbled out mortise. The other thing that was a turn off to me was the length of the splines. They seemed real short, as in about 1-1/2" in length. Maybe festool makes longer, but the owner only had the shoreter ones.
But, as a disclaimer of sorts, I have an old-old-old stanley dowling jig, a mortise jig, a table saw tenon jig, a buiscut joiner and a kreg pocket hole jig. I think I can achive a good joint with any of the above…...in a particular application…....so why spend that kind of money.

 

The mortisepal works exceptionally well for any work I have done using mortises. I have a Powermatic mortiser and never use it.

 

Loren….......Unless I read your post wrong, Lamelo's patent must have run out way before the 90's. I purchased a virutex biusut joiner back in early to mid 80's. The reason I know that is because I have been here since 1988, and it came with me. And at that time…..if memory serves me correctly, there were 3 brands on the market at the time I purchased mine.

 

I'm not an expert, but I think you will find that patents usually run about 20 years.

I'll also second Greg's comment on the MortisePal. I have one and I have, on occasion, referred to it as the "poor man's domino". I think it is great in most, but not all, the situations that a domino joiner works well and I have ways to get around its limitations in those other situations.

When I compare my MortisePal (with a router) to a domino joiner, I think the only advantage the domino joiner would give me is the ability to work a little (but not a lot) faster.

 

Note that the following is what I believe to be correct, but don't guarantee, and is probably good enough to give you an idea about the duration of patents in the U.S. Until 2010, U.S. patents (the only ones that are in effect in the U.S.) were good for 17 years from date of issue. Beginning in 2010, the U.S. patents were changed to match those of most other countries (Europe primarily) to being enforced for 20 years from date of filing the patent.

 

You appear to be a very young man, quality tools like Festool although expensive will last you most of your life. When buying a tool, I ask myself how much I am going to use it and how long will it last me. Buy quality tools and they will lasty you a lifetime and give you very good results. Weigh the cost of your project if you were to purchase it against the cost of the tool along with quality of what you are building. If you do not want to go for the Domino due to cost, conscider a good dowling jig.

 

I have a festool sander and it is many times better faster than any other sander i own. If i figured my sanding time was worth 10 dollars a hour…it has payed for it's self. You will save so much time with festool.

I thinking about the domino but i remember reading a studty that the joints are not strong. Even getting beat by a biscket. I will look for that artical.

Fou d the study
Mortest tendon. 1500lbs
Dowels. 759
Pocket screws. 698
Domino. 597
Biscut. 545

Nothing butt joint 473

Artical is in finewoodworking. Does not look good for domino. Just a little better than nothing

 

You may not have to wait for the patent to run out. The Chinese could clone the Domino and sell it at Harbor Freight. Maybe they could rename it the "block" or the "tile".

 

how would you feel if you invented something that in your mind revolutionised a particular trade or hobby and there was no patent system?
thats where festool is. they spent years and millions perfecting it and their price reflects that
im not a festool user at all, i cant afford it, but want to use their technology and research? you have to pay, period

quote: "I refuse to pay outrageous sums of money for Festool products" end quote

so be it, its called capitalism, get over it or move to china

 

Ducky, I'm interested in the article you referred to. I thought I saw one that stated that the domino was the strongest. I'll look as well. I guess I'll look into the mortise pal and see what it's all about. I know that the domino is probably "worth every cent", but I feel like taking a stand against their pricing scheme. You know, all the little plastic "add-ons" that cost $50 here for a plug, $70 there for a plastic doodad. It's more of a boycott I guess.

 

Mondak, I don't know when it expired or whatever. I suspect
Virutex joiners were made under a license with Lamello.

The flood of inexpensive joiners happened when the patents
ran out. That's what I know about it. I could not tell you
exactly how, when or why Lamello lost it's corner on the
market.

 

An interesting thing happened when the Domino came out
too: the market for the Hoffmann portable dowel joiner
was gutted. I picked up a Hoffmann in a Systainer with
clamps and guide rails for a song a few months back. I
saw them when they came out in N. America but the
price was pretty high back then, comparable to what a
Domino kit costs now.

You can complain all you want about dowels; used properly
they solve many joinery problems well, parts align
perfectly and the dowels are inexpensive. Plus, done
well doweling is strong enough.

All I am saying is that the Domino is the hot joinery tool
of the moment, and it is a cool technology for many
applications. I wouldn't agree that the technology is
superior to the Hoffmann doweler or to a biscuit joinery
for that matter, nor to pocket holes. It is just newer,
patented, proprietary and different. Is it better than
biscuits or dowels in some situations? sure. But dowels
and biscuits have situations where they are excellent
options as well.

 

Fou d the study
Mortest tendon. 1500lbs
Dowels. 759
Pocket screws. 698
Domino. 597
Biscut. 545

Nothing butt joint 473

Artical is in finewoodworking. Does not look good for domino. Just a little better than nothing

 

i totally agree with jaaune

want to use great tools made in a country that takes pride in the manufacturing? DONT buy chinese junk

festool is one of very few companies that still produce portable tools that last, the rest are throwaways

biscuit joiners went the same way that the domino will eventually, compare a lamello with a powerfist or harbour freight, there's no comparison for accuracy.

buying cheap offshore tools is a lousy investment and tools are cheap compared to the materials and time involved with a project

i dont use a domino, my preference is dowel joinery using a dowelmax, a very fine product made totally in north america, canada actually

 

Ducky, that is really interesting. I remember hearing that biscuits were not nearly as strong as the domino, but according to the numbers you posted, their neck and neck. I have trouble believing that pocket screws are stronger, but who knows? Thanks for posting that. And I understand that quality tools warrant the money. My point is all the extras, like a power cord. The little things that they didn't invent, but charge a ton for. Ex -

hold down clamp - $70
hand sanding blocks - $75
vaccuum hose - $135
Twelve Drawer Sortainer - $135