Another custom MFT bench.

[jeffm13]

Hi Everybody,

This is my first post here. After purchasing a bunch of Festool products, I decided to take the dive and build my own MFT bench with systainer storage underneath. I based the cabinets underneath on Tim Wilmot's design, with a top configuration similar to the Paulk bench, and I'm using 30x60 extrusions from Misumi Engineering at the front and back edges.  Size of the top is (right now) 966 x 1920.

I've gotten a good way through the construction process--cabinets are all built, Euro style with LR32, and they are mounted on six 2.5inch Wood River casters.  Seems plenty solid, with the cabinets sitting on a 23mm

Now I'm starting to think about the top. Ideally, I'd like it to be at the height of my table saw outfeed table.  That will give me about 140mm of clearance (although clearance will be reduced to about 88mm at the front and rear because of the extrusion). A bit tight, but I think it'll work.

My question is on hole placement.  I built the cabinets first and then thought about the hole pattern on top.  Not ideal planning, but that's the way it worked out.  So does it really matter how far the holes are from the edge of the table?  Any problem with having them offset a different amount from the front and rear edges?

Jeff

 

[jeffm13]

Some images to show you what I'm talking about.  Simple design in Sketchup. The most frequently used tools in the front, bigger systainers in the rear.

 

[TSO_Products]

[member=39425]jeffm13[/member]  - since no one has responded with any suggestion for choosing the hole pattern offset from the edges of your worktop, I will at least suggest that you compare the hole patterns in the several free downloadable drawings and CAD files we offer on our website:https://tsoproducts.com/plans-drawings/

The other suggestion: consider buying your own Parf Guide System for making the hole pattern of your choice:https://tsoproducts.com/workholding-accessories/ujk-technology-parf-guide-system/

you'll be surprised how many uses you find for specialized and odd sized mounting plates, many with just a limited hole pattern - in addition to making a replacement top whenever so you don't have be ever so careful about "not cutting into the worktop"...

enjoy and let us know what you chose to do and how it worked out!

Hans

 

[jeffm13]

Hans,

Thanks for the response.  I thought maybe I offended somebody. 

I decided to use a 48mm offset from the front and side edges. Because the width was off, the back row has an offest of 54mm. After making that decision, I spent the last few days applying poly & wax to both sides of the top.  I just (mostly) finished it today:

[attachimg=1]

I used the UJK Parf Guide System (that I sourced from TSO) to drill the grid, and it worked great!  Although drilling 200 pilot holes, flipping the MDF to create 200 "clearance holes", and then using the Parf Guide System to drill 200 20mm holes was a tad tedious to do in one session.  But of course, thanks to [member=11196]Peter Parfitt[/member] & Pythagoras, the grid turned out reasonably close to perfect. And since there's no tear-out on the bottom side, I'll be able to flip it if I decide I need to in the future.

So now, once I finish the bench, I can use the MTR-18(that I also sourced, with the Master Accessory Kit, from TSO) to full advantage:

[attachimg=2]

Note the stealth sighting of Parf Long Super Dogs, TSO Double Groove Bench Dogs, and theUJK Dog Rail Clips. Not shown is the UJK Chamfer Tool (to make the Parf Super Dogs and Tall Super Dogs work). BTW, as long as we're chamfering our homegrown MFT tops, you might want to consider carrying the UJK Guide Pups and UJK Guide Dogs.

Thanks again for the response.

Jeff

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Jeff

Many thanks for alerting me to this thread...

I love the bench and a real labour of love drilling so many holes. I have not drilled anything like that many in any top that I have created but can manage a new MFT3 top (77 holes) in about 55 minutes from start to finish as long as the phone does not ring !

Cheers.

Peter

 

[SoonerFan]

[member=39425]jeffm13[/member]

Nice bench.  I am sure you will get lots of good use out of it.

Thanks for sharing.