Buy New Top for MFT 1080 or...

[Dan Clark]

Hi.  The legs and frame on my MFT 1080 (non-MFT/3) are still in great shape, but the top is in rough shape.  Besides deep saw blade gouges, the 20mm holes have gotten "fuzzy" over time and are no longer 20mm (20mm dogs are extremely tight).  It's pretty much toast.

It seems like I have one of two options:

1) Buy a new top for about $125, or

2) Buy Peter's UJK Parf Guide Drilling System for about $200.

From a cost and ease of installation perspective, buying a new top makes more sense.  OTOH, with Peter's system, I could make a top and then make other 20 mm "tops" for other purposes.  I like building, but...

What say you?

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Svar]

the 20mm holes have gotten "fuzzy" over time and are no longer 20mm (20mm dogs are extremely tight). 

What do you mean "fuzzy"? Are they deformed? Then why are the dogs tight?
Anyway, I'd just copy the top using drill and then pattern bit. That's what I prefer.

 

[peter halle]

Dan,

First of all, great to see you posting again (I know you posted about your bevelled top)!

You are one of those guys in my estimation who evaluate time versus effort versus future functionality based on your occupational experiences.

In your situation I would suggest a new top.

Peter

 

[guitarchitect]

I saw [member=59835]Dominofix[/member] posting in another thread and checked out their website. They have a little MFT guide coming to market in december for 68-80 Euro. I'd like to see some reviews of it first but it could be a good middle ground between the overly-expensive replacement top and the gost of the parf system... or, maybe it's not that cheap once you factor in bushings and a router bit (which is included in the UJK system)

Alternatively maybe check the local CNC places and see if someone can do it for you? There's a guy on my local kijiji that sells replacement tops for about 60% of the cost of the festool version.

 

[The Interior Cafe]

Ours are 80€ ( 15% discounts on pre orders so that’s now 68€ )And this included 2 bench dogs for repeating routing. Options are a 30mm copy ring starting for 10€ and router bit 25€ So that’s 115€ (Or 103€ with the discount) and that’s cheaper then the parf system and the woodpecker system.

Since our jig works with one plunge it’s also much faster and more accurate.

You can find all the info here:
http://shop.dominofix.com/jigs/mft-slab-jig-for-plunge-router.html

 

[Birdhunter]

I rely on my MFT top being dead on accurate. For that reason, I bought a Festool top. I admire what Peter’s spacing tool does, but a CNC will be extremely accurate.

 

[McNally Family]

Of course, there is that saying about giving someone a fish and you have fed him, teach him to fish and you have fed him for life (or words to that effect).

I think we can both agree this won't be the last top you will need, either in this standard size or some future custom work bench project.

I might be tempted to go with the device.

 

[Wooden Skye]

I would go with the LR32.  I know the upfront cost is more, but you could make several tops and recoup a good bit of the cost by reselling.  This is provided you have a festool router already.

 

[sancho57]

I bought my tops.  But then I ordered woodpeckers OTT. I thought with it I can not only make MFT tops but work bench tops, etc etc .

 

[Dan Clark]

Folks,

Many thanks for the great feedback.

Especial thanks to Peter - you know me well.  That is what I'm trying to balance.  I'd love to create other worktops with a precise pattern of 20 mm holes.  But...

In reality, I'll have little time and energy over the next several months because I'm having a knee replacement on November 28th - 4 weeks from today.  The best alternative is to simply buy a new top.   

Thanks and regards,

Dan.

P.s. By "fuzzy", I meant that the holes are very tight, to the point that I have to hammer in a dog.  And then hammer it back out.  Not good.  Given that the top is 10 years old, I guess that's to be expected.

 

[J0hn]

Buy the new top - use it as a template and make all the tops/worksurfaces you want
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...tool-boring-jig-for-mfts/msg526720/#msg526720

 

[AIPDX]

I have seen aftermarket replacement tops on eBay - check if they are still offered, if the issue is high cost of the OEM one.

 

[VeloWood]

Here is my method for making tops.  Peg board and homemade router base.  Every cut I've made on it my pieces have been dead on square

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

He's been selling a pre-made kit for several years:http://woodrave.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

Nice DIY version you did there.

Here is my method for making tops.  Peg board and homemade router base.  Every cut I've made on it my pieces have been dead on square

 

[Svar]

Here is my method for making tops.  Peg board and homemade router base.  Every cut I've made on it my pieces have been dead on square

Check 45 deg. also. I've seen peg boards where spacing between rows and columns was different.

 

[GoingMyWay]

I made this top with the UJK Parf Guide System. View attachment 1

 

[VeloWood]

Here is my method for making tops.  Peg board and homemade router base.  Every cut I've made on it my pieces have been dead on square

Check 45 deg. also. I've seen peg boards where spacing between rows and columns was different.

All good.  My router base fit perfect on every one of the 208 holes I bored.  Had the rows and columns been off, my router base would have not fit

 

[jacko9]

Another option not mentioned so far is to purchase the new Woodpecker jig and make your own.  This jig looks pretty accurate (or precise) and the price seems right.
https://www.woodpeck.com/hole-borin...62755867&_bta_c=5scbwojqrg8pekp6lpn7g34wmcl7r

Jack

 

[Marven]

I would say buy your table top.  You will get material that you cannot buy in a store and very accurate hole placement.

If you were making a cutting table (as in Parf videos), and only need certain wholes, I would definitely buy the Parf drilling guide.  That's what I bought it for.