I just happened to come across this MFT table design last night. I think it is a really well thought out design and is very portable and storage friendly. I actually have a MFT and find it outstanding like most Festool equipment, however I have always thought it was a little too small and slightly too heavy to transport back and forth. Im considering selling it and having 2 of these made instead. What do you festooligans think?
Aftermarket MFT Plans
- Thread starter MarcV
- Start date
Iceclimber
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2014
- Messages
- 504
I also like this,
I also agree the MFT especially the 3 is a bit more cumbersome than i care to deal with on a daily/weekly worksite basis..
Will i buy one of these i don't think so. Just a old piece of plywood and a couple saw horses have worked fine for my needs thus far.
Sure this would be way better but then id be protective of yet another tool. My plywood worktop cut table extraordinair can be forgotten in the back of my truck. In the event of inclement weather rain or snow and simply be replaced with another scrap from the crap pile when need be
I also agree the MFT especially the 3 is a bit more cumbersome than i care to deal with on a daily/weekly worksite basis..
Will i buy one of these i don't think so. Just a old piece of plywood and a couple saw horses have worked fine for my needs thus far.
Sure this would be way better but then id be protective of yet another tool. My plywood worktop cut table extraordinair can be forgotten in the back of my truck. In the event of inclement weather rain or snow and simply be replaced with another scrap from the crap pile when need be
Handyman Mike
Member
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2012
- Messages
- 63
Looks pretty sweet to me. I might go for it myself.
3PedalMINI
Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2012
- Messages
- 492
WOW! Ive wanted a MFT table for quite some time. I need a workbench at my jobsites but just cant justify the MFT table for what I do and for how much it weighs.
I could easily slide this in my Transit and set it up on some saw horses.
Anyone know where I can find a CNC shop in the Eastern PA/South Jersey/Philadelphia Market?
Awesome post! thanks for sharing!
I could easily slide this in my Transit and set it up on some saw horses.
Anyone know where I can find a CNC shop in the Eastern PA/South Jersey/Philadelphia Market?
Awesome post! thanks for sharing!
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2013
- Messages
- 3,575
Just to tie the two threads together, this was posted and discussed back in November. If you want to see what was said then, check this link:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/mfslab-portable-work-table/msg354047/#msg354047
No problem bringing it back up, IMO - it's a really cool design!
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/mfslab-portable-work-table/msg354047/#msg354047
No problem bringing it back up, IMO - it's a really cool design!
Ok i download the plans and found a cnc place to cut it for me. The 1" MDF was $47 per sheet (2) and the CNC is $140 total for both sheets, which will make 2-3'x5' tops and 2-2'x4' bottom panels. Seemed pretty reasonable to me to have 2-MFT type table that are bigger than the original. When I get a chance to use them I will update my thoughts on them.
I saw this design on another thread, and thought that it could be improved as 3/4" material with 2x strongbacks. (My Stanley horses, similar to current Dewalts, have grooves for 2xs on edge.)
I'm contemplating doing some of these and/or the MFT cart design. If I do just one, I will do it on my own, but if other folks in West LA wanted some, too, we could go in on a CNC run - most of the cost is in the setup.
I'm contemplating doing some of these and/or the MFT cart design. If I do just one, I will do it on my own, but if other folks in West LA wanted some, too, we could go in on a CNC run - most of the cost is in the setup.
I had the table CNC'd out of 1" MDF and have some advice for you guys thinking about it.
1. The 1" MDF that I picked up is still pretty heavy, There is mention of using light weight MDF so check that out also.
2. The CNC business that I used apparently used laser CNC and every cut was black burned wood and black soot would come off and stain everything. It took me hours and hours to sand everything pretty and clean, and I think in doing so I slightly enlarged the holes. I would advise against laser and try to find a regular mechanical router cnc shop.
3. The last advice is that I think 1" might be a little too thick to work with Festool clamps. I think 3/4" supported by 2x4's across the sawhorses would work better. I could get them in there but it took too much pressure and would damage the hole corners slightly. Maybe after I roundover the corners it will be better.
I find the size of the table perfect and I can see its function, but I may need to start over with some of the changes that I mentioned. Thought I would give some of you a heads up.
1. The 1" MDF that I picked up is still pretty heavy, There is mention of using light weight MDF so check that out also.
2. The CNC business that I used apparently used laser CNC and every cut was black burned wood and black soot would come off and stain everything. It took me hours and hours to sand everything pretty and clean, and I think in doing so I slightly enlarged the holes. I would advise against laser and try to find a regular mechanical router cnc shop.
3. The last advice is that I think 1" might be a little too thick to work with Festool clamps. I think 3/4" supported by 2x4's across the sawhorses would work better. I could get them in there but it took too much pressure and would damage the hole corners slightly. Maybe after I roundover the corners it will be better.
I find the size of the table perfect and I can see its function, but I may need to start over with some of the changes that I mentioned. Thought I would give some of you a heads up.
I have been using this concept for over 3 years using my own piece of MDF and a simple hole pattern. This with a set of Parf Dogs is all you need. I will be making a video about my solution in the not too distant future.
Peter
Peter
I have always thought the easiest/cheapest way to make one of these was to use an existing mft top as a template (or buy a replacement top on Amazon for about $85). Clamp the template to your workpiece, use a drill to remove most of the material and then a router with a flush trim bit to make a perfect copy. If you want to make a new top bigger than your template - you will need some of the longer dogs for alignment
I wanted the MFT for a while but the more I read about them the less I wanted one so I made my own solution. It isn't as versatile as the MFT but it is a lot cheaper and like the OP's solution uses standard saw horses. I use standard Festool MFT tops as I feel they are as cheap as chips for what you get. I didn't see the point of trying to make a top though I wasted a lot of time on here looking at every way possible to replicate them before I decided it was a waste of time for me.
The base shown below is made of ply and has 4 holes in the corners to allow the top to be screwed down and two larger ones to access Qwas or Parf dogs from below. It has sufficient weight that I can clamp items on the table and still cut with the piece overhanging the side. It is not fixed to the saw horses in any way but is very stable. One has a lip on one end to allow a second to be added and bolted together using a single saw horse. I tend to use a single top most of the time and add the 2nd one on sites with more room. I've also put 20mm holes at 100mm centres in the front face of one to allow for more clamping options.
The base also brings the top to 900mm so it is the same height as an MFT.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
The base shown below is made of ply and has 4 holes in the corners to allow the top to be screwed down and two larger ones to access Qwas or Parf dogs from below. It has sufficient weight that I can clamp items on the table and still cut with the piece overhanging the side. It is not fixed to the saw horses in any way but is very stable. One has a lip on one end to allow a second to be added and bolted together using a single saw horse. I tend to use a single top most of the time and add the 2nd one on sites with more room. I've also put 20mm holes at 100mm centres in the front face of one to allow for more clamping options.
The base also brings the top to 900mm so it is the same height as an MFT.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
Attachments
Stephen B
Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Messages
- 2,749
[size=14pt]Peter Parfitt said:
I had recently enquired about a MFT top but the price down here rose from A $160 to $358 on Jan 1. I can get 2400X1200X18mm MDF for $38.00 at work. I had thought that all I neaded was around three rows of holes intersecting at 90 degrees to use ParfDogs effectively. Well maybe!?
So Peter I look fwd to your video in [size=18pt]the very near future? [smile] [unsure] [big grin]
Gary in Texas
Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2014
- Messages
- 613
Andy,
Like the design, looks neat and very user friendly!!!
Gary
Like the design, looks neat and very user friendly!!!
Gary
ear3
Member
As a follow up to my previous initial thoughts on the Multi Function Slab. I initially said that the 1" thickness posed a problem for the Festool clamps. I went ahead and did a slight round over to one side of the hole and the clamps now slide in easily. I went ahead and rounded over all the edges and it is super comfortable to hold and walk with. The one inch thickness makes it pretty stout and it does not want to move around on the sawhorses, but it still easy enough to carry. I'm pretty positive that I'm going to sell my MFT/3 now as this setup is much bigger and only takes up 1" of wall space while doing most of the important features that I want out of a work table. I was thinking of doing a waterproof treatment to it by using Beeswax/Linseed Oil/Turpentine (2/1/1). Has anyone ever used that formula for MDF? It is a boy scout recipe to waterproof cloth/wood/vinyl ect...
Similar threads
