Ok can someone please help me out as to why only Festool makes a domino?
Every other tool I can think of has multiple manufacturers.
I guess there are probably a few that I am unaware of.
I was thinking of the festool stuff mostly, everyone makes track saws, routers, sanders, vacuums, jig saws, drills, miter saws.
So why no domino type machines, it has to be similar to a biscuit joiner, everyone makes those.
I know there is always a top manufacturer for every type of tool, but for a tool that is not used everyday it would be nice to spend $4-500 instead of $1400.
I assume it is some sort of patent, but must be away to make something similar? Maybe the demand is not there?
Anyways I will pay the $1400 and be sad for awhile.

Patents. The biscuit joiner was invented in 1956. Patents are typically good for 20 years. Another example is the Fein Multimaster. There were no similar tools until their patent expired in 2007. Now everybody makes a version.

Cheers,
Pat

Depending on when, and what patent was issued, they pretty much came on-line in 04'ish so it could still be a few years yet before you see any commercially available knock-offs. That said I think most who own one will tell you that as with any pricey tool, once you rip the bandaid off its not that expensive in comparison.

On the other hand. The Domino is accurate and dependable. For a tool I use once a month or so, I can set it up without having to remember how to compensate for this or that. Sometimes it is better to pay more for the tools that you will use less often if it means it will do the job correctly.
Now if only I took my own advice once in a while. My 20 year old Dewalt biscuit jointer wore through the brushes that are no longer available. I managed over the years to tweak it until I could be happy with the joints it made. I should have dropped the $1500 for a Lamello but no i'm back try to shim and file to get get the new Dewalt to work decently.

The Domino was released in 2007. I've had mine for 10 years, and it's been great for building furniture, dog gates and some oddball elements here and there. I'll go months without ever using it, but when I need it, it's great. Fun bonus tip: it's great for cutting slotted screw holes for attaching solid wood countertops/tabletops.

Tom, I like the Porter Cable biscuit joiner better than the DeWalt. I've come close to picking up a used Lamello, but I think they only use a metric scale, so that kind of turned me off.

Cheers,
Pat

Tom Gardiner:

For what its worth, my father, who did a lot of power tool maintenance, would sometimes take larger brushes meant for another tool and sand them down to fit a tool for which he could no longer get brushes. It worked more often than not.

YMMV
TonyF

Festool has patents covering the oscillating motion of the cutters. Otherwise it would be a handheld doweler(they exist).

As the other guys have noted biscuit(plate) joiners have been common for 40+ years. They are essentially really accurate angle grinders with nice adjustable fences. It costs way less to make a biscuit joiner than the Domino.

The market for Domino’s is very small. Most people would make a quick jig and use a plunge router. The economics will be against any new manufacturers even after the patents expire.

There are plenty of ways to make mortises in a cabinet shop with stationary machinery. A Domino is likely just an installation tool for many shops. No need for a huge glut of them, but they will be more when the patent runs out.

Thought I'd jump in here quickly and respond to a couple of points.

Pat, if you're interested in a Lamello biscuit joiner, I do have standard measurement scale stickers that you could use if you'd like (and you are correct, all Lamello machines come from the factory with metric-only scales).

A general response to Scott and all: The Domino is a fine tool. In fact, I'd probably have one myself if I decided to get back into studio furniture again for leg-to-table joinery. However, I can say that a biscuit slot made with a Lamello machine is a very fast process with much more lateral adjustability. At $649 for the Classic X machine and a little less than $0.05 per biscuit, it is also quite a bit more affordable than the price range you've suggested. There is a world of difference in quality and precision between Lamello and off-brand machines. You'd know it even just by picking one up in your hands.

Then of course the P-System by Lamello is a giant leap forward in connector innovation. I've included a link to our Lamello Lessons YouTube channel below.

If anyone would like to learn more about Lamello, request literature, or receive a P-System demo block, please reach out to me.

Lamello video