A question about mft3 for my shop

[Machiyalily]

Hello everyone,
I'm still in the planning phase for my shop.  It will be 20 feet by 20 feet and I am a hobbyist, not a professional.  While I like the idea of being able to move things around the shop, portability is not really an issue for me.  I've been studying the mft3 and I can definitely see how the top, a track saw combination and some qwas dogs could help me improve the quality of my work. 

So, here are my questions about the mft3:
Since portability is not an issue for me, wouldn't it be better to just buy replacement tops and incorporate them into a permanent workbench?  This seems like it would be more stable and would also allow for a much longer bench and be much cheaper.  I would loose the ability to use the vgrooves on the mft3 as well as the flip up rail system.  On the other hand, I don't know what accessory I would use with the vgrooves.  The flip up rail seems to be easily replaced by rail dogs.  Other than the opportunity cost of building the bench what are the downsides to doing it this way? 

I expected to find hordes of plans for something like this but my searches haven't found them.  It makes me think I'm overlooking something.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Birdhunter]

I have a somewhat larger area for my work bench. I do not need the mobility the MFT offers.

I replaced a large home-build bench with a dual MFT. I added the leg braces to get it more rigid and then added an extension for a heavy woodworking vise. The extension plus the vise allow me to plane and saw on the MFTs without them moving.

I find the flip-up rail works extremely well with the TS55 track saw and my Festool routers. The hole pattern, Qwas dogs, and the flip-up rail are the big MFT plusses for me. The extrusion rails that rim the MSTs are very handy for clamping, especially if you don't add a vise as I did. All-in-all, the MFT system (it is a system) is well thought out and well executed.

The only negatives I found with the MFT is that it isn't all that stable and there isn't a way to add a vise without doing something like I did, adding an extension.

I just finished building an island using an MFT top over a cabinet. The cabinet provides storage for frequently used hand tools. I like the way the island turned out, but I find myself using the MFT setup more than the island.

Regardless of whether you go with the MFT or the home build table with the MFT top, you will find a very accurate large (18" per leg) square extremely helpful. The large accurate square combined with Qwas dogs is the only way I've found to get true cuts on the MFT. My square came from Woodpeckers. There have been posts recently about a plywood square that people seem to like and is far cheaper than the Woodpeckers framing square.

If you buy the MFT, look at buying a little device called a Slopstop. It fits on the underside of the flip-up rail and pretty much eliminates any side-to-side movement of the rail. I think it cost $25.

 

[Harvey]

I suggest you check out this page:http://www.benchworks.be/sysport.html

 

[Lou in DE]

At first I was skeptical about the usefulness of the MFT3 - especially considering the price. I bought it anyway thinking that there must be more to it than I realized (being relatively new to Festool) and my assumption was correct - I have it now for about 6 months and find myself using it more and more. I am a hobbyist also so it never moves out of the shop so a few months ago I removed the legs and mounted it to a moveable table that was the same height as my out feed table and table saw (this removed about 2 inches in height from the MFT3).  Here's a picture:

Lou

 

[JeromeM]

Hello everyone,
I'm still in the planning phase for my shop.  It will be 20 feet by 20 feet and I am a hobbyist, not a professional.  While I like the idea of being able to move things around the shop, portability is not really an issue for me.  I've been studying the mft3 and I can definitely see how the top, a track saw combination and some qwas dogs could help me improve the quality of my work. 

So, here are my questions about the mft3:
Since portability is not an issue for me, wouldn't it be better to just buy replacement tops and incorporate them into a permanent workbench?  This seems like it would be more stable and would also allow for a much longer bench and be much cheaper.  I would loose the ability to use the vgrooves on the mft3 as well as the flip up rail system.  On the other hand, I don't know what accessory I would use with the vgrooves.  The flip up rail seems to be easily replaced by rail dogs.  Other than the opportunity cost of building the bench what are the downsides to doing it this way? 

I expected to find hordes of plans for something like this but my searches haven't found them.  It makes me think I'm overlooking something.

Thanks,

Mark

Hi Mark

Maybe you should readhttp://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...n-a-sturdy-softwood-base/msg440595/#msg440595 as many of the points have just been discussed.

If there's anything else just ask.

 

[bigarm]

At first I was skeptical about the usefulness of the MFT3 - especially considering the price. I bought it anyway thinking that there must be more to it than I realized (being relatively new to Festool) and my assumption was correct - I have it now for about 6 months and find myself using it more and more. I am a hobbyist also so it never moves out of the shop so a few months ago I removed the legs and mounted it to a moveable table that was the same height as my out feed table and table saw (this removed about 2 inches in height from the MFT3).  Here's a picture:

Lou

That is a great idea!  I had struggled with the decision of buying a MFT/3 or not and finally broke down and bought it.  I have a very small shop (about 9' x 29') with a lot of stuff in it already.  I figured that I would move the MFT/3 in and out as needed but after a lot of rearranging the tools, it surprisingly fits in.  I could see how it would be nice to roll it around and maybe have storage under it.  So, my question is - do you have other photos of your set up including how the MFT top is attached to the table, etc?

 

[mark60]

I bought Tim's plans and built an MFTC but I dimensioned it around a replacement MFT top I had bought. I have limited space and didn't want to pony up the money for an MFT. It works great with the various dogs I bought and I can get nice square cuts all day long.

You can easily rig up a stop on a built solution for repeatable cuts but with dogs and an MFT top your crosscut capacity is limited to the space between the dogs. For cabinet sized panels I have to work across the narrow dimension of the tabletop. I just picked up a new in box used MFT and love it. I might be in the minority but I like the hinged rail for crosscuts and once I got it squared up the cuts are square.

If you build I'd suggest having a top made or make your own but make it larger and if you buy a full blown MFT  you probably wouldn't regret it.

 

[Holmz]

Having an MFT I would do as you suggest.
You can also get the top in any size which can be bespoke.

Then you will not need to worry about the base moving under it.

 

[Lou in DE]

That is a great idea!  I had struggled with the decision of buying a MFT/3 or not and finally broke down and bought it.  I have a very small shop (about 9' x 29') with a lot of stuff in it already.  I figured that I would move the MFT/3 in and out as needed but after a lot of rearranging the tools, it surprisingly fits in.  I could see how it would be nice to roll it around and maybe have storage under it.  So, my question is - do you have other photos of your set up including how the MFT top is attached to the table, etc?
[/quote]

Not very elegant but this is how I attached the MFT to the base - some scrap oak with a notch that slips over the corner bracket and a screw - one at each corner of course - the CXS with right angle attachment came in handy with install:

Lou

 

[bigarm]

Thanks!

 

[Patrick Cox]

At first I was skeptical about the usefulness of the MFT3 - especially considering the price. I bought it anyway thinking that there must be more to it than I realized (being relatively new to Festool) and my assumption was correct - I have it now for about 6 months and find myself using it more and more. I am a hobbyist also so it never moves out of the shop so a few months ago I removed the legs and mounted it to a moveable table that was the same height as my out feed table and table saw (this removed about 2 inches in height from the MFT3).  Here's a picture:

Lou

Very nice table. I am planning something similar. Do you have any details on the construction?  Thanks!

 

[Goran_Sweden]

I have a similar setup on a mobile base with storage under the table. On the top of the mobile base I made notches at each corner. The rubber "pads" on the mft/3 fits in the notches and that is all that is needed to keep the mft from moving. Very simple and very sturdy.

I use my mft/3 daily and think it is a very well designed system.

 

[grbmds]

[member=48620]Lou in DE[/member] I love the table! That is nice work!

 

[Sparktrician]

You might want to review this thread. 

 

[sancho57]

Check out Ron Paulks ultimate work bench.

 

[JimD]

Here's a couple pictures of my Paulk inspired workbench.  It is about 1/4 inch shorter than my table saw so it functions as outfeed support some.  It is 3 feet by 7 feet.  The top was bored using pegboard and a Woodrave router base (and a Freud 20mm bit).  The dual top is very handy to keep frequently used items handy but the top of the bench less cluttered.  I built a crosscut jig from Ron's plans too as is shown in the second picture.  It has a little over 3 feet capacity and a moveable stop for repeat cuts.  The whole bench rolls on 6 totally locking casters.  I am very happy with this setup.  I have storage below and a great bench.  Cutting up sheet goods on this bench with my DeWalt track saw is SOOOO much easier than on the table saw.