Anyone make a folding TS outfeed/MFT?

[Toller]

I have been thinking of making an outfeed table for my Grizzly cabinet saw that hinges to the back rail and is supported in the front by feet.  I also thought a MFT would be nice; but I hardly have room for one, let along both. 
Then I saw Festool sells the "table profile" for a whole lot less then the table (though still expensive for just an aluminum extrusion).  I could build my folding outfeed table, but put the profiles around it and have both!

I can't be the first person to think of this.  If anyone else has done this I would greatly appreciate pictures and/or advice.

 

[gjfunk]

I am planning to build an outfeed table/MFT for my Unisaw. It is basically a torsion box with 3/8" thick skins topped with a 3/4" MDF top with the same hole pattern as used on the MFT. The bottom skin of the torsion box has square cutouts to facilitate clamping through the 20mm holes. The table folds down when not in use. Three of the sides of the main table have the standard festool rail attached. The outer sections of the torsion box will be machined to fit the festool rails.

I only have sketchup drawings for now but plan to start building this week. If anyone is interested you are welcome to the sketchup design file.

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Greg

 

[Corwin]

Looks nice.  But I am curious about the 3/8" skin directly under the 3/4" top.  Won't that extra 3/8" be a problem?

 

[gjfunk]

Looks nice.  But I am curious about the 3/8" skin directly under the 3/4" top.  Won't that extra 3/8" be a problem?

Do you mean with the clamps? I think the clamps I have should work OK. I should have a look at some other clamps though just in case. I suppose I could always make the top out of 1/2 or 3/8 MDF.

Greg

 

[butzla]

GJFunk,  I am impressed.  The level of detail is awesome.  Will the top skin have formica or some sort to let workpieces slide freely over ts?  Keep us apprised with pictures as you build it.  I'm in the process of building one myself but not MFT rather just a ts ext table.  But if space is at a premium.  I would hate to have to clear off MFT each time I need to make a rip cut.  Oh I know....make all my cuts before I use MFT but I always find myself making boo-boos and have to re-rip another piece. 

Sketchup is awesome.  I should learn how to use it!

 

[gjfunk]

GJFunk,  I am impressed.  The level of detail is awesome.  Will the top skin have formica or some sort to let workpieces slide freely over ts?   Keep us apprised with pictures as you build it.  I'm in the process of building one myself but not MFT rather just a ts ext table.  But if space is at a premium.  I would hate to have to clear off MFT each time I need to make a rip cut.  Oh I know....make all my cuts before I use MFT but I always find myself making boo-boos and have to re-rip another piece. 

The tops will be MDF just like the MFT. The outfeed table I am using now is MDF and it seems to work well. I currently make all my festool cuts on the tablesaw/outfeed table. This will hopefully make crosscuts more efficient.

Greg

 

[Corwin]

Do you mean with the clamps? I think the clamps I have should work OK. I should have a look at some other clamps though just in case. I suppose I could always make the top out of 1/2 or 3/8 MDF.

Yep, I was referring to the clamps -- and any future items that Festool may offer.  I really like your design and only question why you have not just gone with the 3/4" material alone for the top.  I would probably elect to add some support between the holes to the underside rather than making a thicker top.  However, if you have clamps that will work as you have designed, maybe this is a non-issue for you.  If your execution approaches the level of the design work you have done, then your project should be one sweet puppy! 

 

[Jim Becker]

I think it's a great idea...with the one exception of the necessary alignment and configuration of the MFT fence system which obviously cannot stay on the table when it's being used as an outfeed solution for the TS. That would be a show-stopper for me as the adjustment is critical.

 

[Ned]

Good point, Jim.

The Qwas-led thread MFT and Guide Rail Alignment provides one solution, and the new MFT/3's top V-groove promises to make repeatable fence installation easier.

Ned

 

[gjfunk]

I think it's a great idea...with the one exception of the necessary alignment and configuration of the MFT fence system which obviously cannot stay on the table when it's being used as an outfeed solution for the TS. That would be a show-stopper for me as the adjustment is critical.

My understanding (without having actually used it yet) is that the guide rail can be squared to the table by properly setting the stops in the profile frame. Then I would just need to attach or remove the fence rail and ensure that it is square to the guide rail. This doesn't look like a difficult procedure but not having done it yet I have no idea how painful this might be.

I'm stubborn enough that I expect I'll be able to come up with a workable solution. I need an extension table and I don't really have room to have a separate MFT set up permanently so I will make this work and get as much functionality as I can.

Greg

 

[gjfunk]

Good point, Jim.

The Qwas-led thread MFT and Guide Rail Alignment provides one solution, and the new MFT/3's top V-groove promises to make repeatable fence installation easier.

Ned

Thanks for the link Ned. Unfortunately the new V-groove rails won't help me as I've already bought the old ones. Maybe a future upgrade...

 

[Corwin]

The Qwas-led thread MFT and Guide Rail Alignment provides one solution...
Ned

Ned beat me to pointing you in this direction.  Using this method, you can align your guide rail to the holes and then set your stops if you wish.  And very shortly you will see a few other setups that are now quicker and easier to establish by indexing off the holes.  I think Steve (Qwas) had it right when he mentioned that one day many users would use the hole pattern this way.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

The design looks great.  But I'm skeptical about the wear resistance of the MFT top if much used as an outfeed table.  I created several wear tracks in my MFT tops simply shuffling moving boards and plywood around while building a large storage cabinet for my garage.  I needed to repostion the glued up, shallow box doors (approx 84" tall x 18" wide x 4" depth) while routing edges and sanding after glueup.  They each have shelves inside, and so weigh a bit.  I did not realize I was gouging the MFT tops simply by sliding them a bit until I removed the doors to install them after finishing them.  Have you considered applying a finish or laminating the top of your MFT extension?

Dave R.

 

[Ned]

Sort of amplifying what Dave just said:

I recently decided to remove the router insert I'd installed in my MFT.

One of the main reasons was that, while the MFT needs a bit of surface friction to do its original job, a router table works best when work slides easily on it.

An outfeed table seems like another case where easy sliding would be a good idea. 

Will the MFT-like holes give trouble with the work snagging in them?

Signed,
Mr. Sunshine 

 

[gjfunk]

Have you considered applying a finish or laminating the top of your MFT extension?

I might put some kind of finish on the MDF but I expect its going to get cut up from crosscutting in any case. I believe a number of people have used an MFT as an outfeed table by just adjusting the height so I don't forsee any problems using the MDF top. Lamininating would work well for the outfeed part but I don't think I would want to slice it up with the TS55.

Greg