Calling all MFS users

[ear3]

Edward, I often feel like I'm a little Devil, but Trend makes a nice little unit for a 1/4 of the cost. If it's something that your using few and far between this maybe away to get your feet wet without drownding  your wallet. If you like it sell it or use it as a part of your site kit, and get the MFS. B
PS:Amazon has a used MFS at this time.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[CarolinaNomad]

A few years back I a did a users guide for the MFS.

Brice,  My next project will be to clad stairs for a new house.  I've been looking for information on how to use the MFS for the stringers.  But your link in the pdf, which directs someone to the small staircase project, is broken.  Can you post or email me the pdf?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Brice Burrell]

A few years back I a did a users guide for the MFS.

Brice,  My next project will be to clad stairs for a new house.  I've been looking for information on how to use the MFS for the stringers.  But your link in the pdf, which directs someone to the small staircase project, is broken.  Can you post or email me the pdf?

Thanks,
Jeff

The link in the pdf is to my old website.  I do have a pdf copy of the old website article if you like I can email it to you. 

 

[CarolinaNomad]

Yes, that would be great.  I tried looking on your new site.

 

[Knight Woodworks]

Brice,

Your users guide to MFS is superb. Thanks for doing it.

John

 

[Tinker]

I just was reminded of another little problem i have had when using the MFS. 

When you set the frame and tighten those little boat shaped nuts that lock the rails together, Be sure none of the corners of those nuts protrude. When using the setup to check my guide rail for square, I noticed a tiny space between one end of the rail and the MFS.  Having just checked the rail yesterday, i was sure the rail was still square.  Having had the problem a few times in the past, i checked the corners of the MFS; and sure enough, one of those nuts had a corner sticking out.  It is such a small amount of exposure, you wouldn't think it could be a problem, but when it is against a metal fence, or rail, it can make a big difference if you are trying to get accuracy for something like a picture frame or the frame of rail and style doors.  It can give one fits.  A very gentle tap with a tack hammer straightened the problem right out.  You don't have to clobber that nut as you can create damage to the channels. Just back off  tension on the screw and a gentle tap, retighten the screw and it is good to go.
Tinker

 

[tbellemare]

Those funky-shaped locking nuts are also biased. The threaded hole is on one far end so, though it's not likely, it is possible to install them backward.

Tom

 

[Roseland]

Teocaf said:
"I imagine that he uses a rail connector piece that fits under the guide rail and also fits into one of the slots on the mrs extrusion.  so basically using the guide rail as a trammel arm."

Exactly that.

Andrew

 

[dutchie]

Edward, I often feel like I'm a little Devil, but Trend makes a nice little unit for a 1/4 of the cost. If it's something that your using few and far between this maybe away to get your feet wet without drownding  your wallet. If you like it sell it or use it as a part of your site kit, and get the MFS. B
PS:Amazon has a used MFS at this time.

I happen own the Trend VariJig and it's okay but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you can get it (used) dirt cheap! It's near impossible to get exactly square and the screws it comes with are absolutely appalling. Literally are unusable after tightening them down only 3-4 times!!

 

[CarolinaNomad]

Has anyone tried the virulex template for stairs?  The aluminium rails look just like the MFS Version.

 

[Tinker]

Edward, I often feel like I'm a little Devil, but Trend makes a nice little unit for a 1/4 of the cost. If it's something that your using few and far between this maybe away to get your feet wet without drownding  your wallet. If you like it sell it or use it as a part of your site kit, and get the MFS. B
PS:Amazon has a used MFS at this time.

I happen own the Trend VariJig and it's okay but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you can get it (used) dirt cheap! It's near impossible to get exactly square and the screws it comes with are absolutely appalling. Literally are unusable after tightening them down only 3-4 times!!

When I was first thinking of getting the MFS, I saw something like the Trend Varijig (maybe the same. it is now buried deep in my basement) at a wood show. As all demonstrators can do at those shows, it came out square every time.  Of course, no bystander happened to have a squre handy to measure squareness, but I guess I was suckeed in.  What the heck, that jig was twice as big as the MFS 400, and maybe bigger than even the MFS 700.  I brought one home, set up to make a large tray bottom.  It came out, well, not parallel sides.  Let's just say, i made a perfect trapezoid.  I tried again with more care in the measurements.  Well, with the extra practice, i ended up with a slightly smaller >>> trapezoid. 

after several attempts, somewhere along the way, I was able to make a perfect rectangle.  I have a long story in my stories portfolio of a dentist trying to put stitches into my gum where he had just extracted a wisdom tooth.  I had gotten quite exasperated at the time.  Well, with a lot of years of experience with exasperation between that situation and my attempts at trying to make a repeatable parallelogram, my vocabulary had not tamed one bit.  perhaps even a few new words and expressions had managed to creep in along the way.  I dumped that jig as far back into a corner as possible without removing a wall or two.  it is still there with more debris on top of it.  the next day, i put in an order to Uncle Bob or my Norwalk Festoy store, doesn't matter who.  From there, i have added the MFS 700 and have never had a problem.  (BTW: Don't bother to suggest that I sell on E-bay.  I don't have the heart or the lack of integrity to even try to sell it.  Besides, the buyer might find out where I live [sad])

Oh, i did run into problems with MFS circles, but i have told how i solved that in an earlier post.  The expeience with that other "jig" just reinforced my old 'tude that "Cheap ain't always cheap"
Tinker

 

[Roseland]

I know Trend claim to have a good reputation, but everything I've ever bought from them has been a disappointment.  From the router base that wasn't flat, the depth gauge that's really flimsy plastic, the square that you have to assemble and set, well, square.  Oh, and their router bits are rubbish too.

The only thing I might ever buy from them now is the letters and number templates, and that's only because I like the font they produce.  And I'm already expecting them to be a bit rubbish.

Andrew

 

[Tinker]

They probably have a great reputation with those who don't have a clue as to what "good" really means.  My vey first router was a low end Skill.  I wanted to letter a sign i was making.  t lasted thru, I think, the second letter before the collet allowed the bit to drop thru the sign.  One sign ruined.  the second attempt last a little longer before the same thing happened.  I tried no more and took a trip to my Milwaukee toy store.  That was way back in mid 1960's.  I still have that ancient Milwaukee and still use it when working outside in my wide open spaces shop where lack of DC is no problem. The skill router is buried even deeper than my Trend jig.
Tinker

 

[dutchie]

Quick question, can anyone tell me what kind of screwdriver exactly comes supplied with the MFS?

I managed to pick up a good deal on a used MFS 700, however sadly without any accessories. Just looked up the spare parts and yikes those are not cheap The brackets etc. I can probably do without for a while, but the screwdriver would be handy. However I'm guessing I can find it elsewhere for a fraction of the € 15,- for the original Festool one...Is it a torx 5?

 

[waho6o9]

"Quick question, can anyone tell me what kind of screwdriver exactly comes supplied with the MFS? "

Mine says:

SW3 x 100  Wiha-SoftFinish      367

 

[GarryMartin]

waho609 is correct - it's a standard 3mm ball ended hex driver. The one Festool ship is a Wiha one; it's not even branded Festool.

 

[dutchie]

Thanks a bunch! Found one online

 

[ear3]

Just bumping this thread back up to ask -- what is the most economical option on the MFS (I thought someone had mentioned this in this thread, but apparently it was in another that I can no longer find)?

Buy a 400 then add larger extension profiles, or buy the 700 immediately and if you need extensions go for the super long ones.  Obviously a lot depends on the type of work to be done, but I'm just wondering what other peoples' experiences have been, and whether, for example, they bought the 400 only to find out they should have gotten the 700.

 

[copcarcollector]

Just bumping this thread back up to ask -- what is the most economical option on the MFS (I thought someone had mentioned this in this thread, but apparently it was in another that I can no longer find)?

Pretty sure its this, I put these in my Amazon cart a long time ago when the cost savings was suggested on the FOG!

Festool 492610 Mfs 400 Multi-Routing Template  $360
Festool 492724 Extension Profile 700                  $237

 

[ear3]

Thanks!

Just bumping this thread back up to ask -- what is the most economical option on the MFS (I thought someone had mentioned this in this thread, but apparently it was in another that I can no longer find)?

Pretty sure its this, I put these in my Amazon cart a long time ago when the cost savings was suggested on the FOG!

Festool 492610 Mfs 400 Multi-Routing Template  $360
Festool 492724 Extension Profile 700                  $237