CMS-VL questions?

[Runhard]

Can the CMS-VL be attached to any of the 4 sides of the MFT/3? Can the 2 legs be taken off and then attach the CMS-VL between 2 MFTs? Can the sliding table be attached to a MFT?

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[dsweetser]

Yes. No. No.

 

[Runhard]

Thanks! It would have been cool to place the CMS between two MFTs.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Thanks! It would have been cool to place the CMS between two MFT's.

I got news for you, you can.  Attach the CMS to one MFT as you normally would, then park the second MFT behind to make your CMS sandwich.

 

[Runhard]

Thanks! It would have been cool to place the CMS between two MFTs.

I got news for you, you can.  Attach the CMS to one MFT as you normally would, then park the second MFT behind to make your CMS sandwich.

I was actually thinking about attaching the CMS long ways between 2 MFT's that were also running long ways, so that the MFTs would be in-feed and out-feed tables, if that makes sense. The sides of the CMS would be attached to the sides of the MFTs

 

[dsweetser]

Park it yes, attach it no. I have done as Brice suggest.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Should be easy to make a custom bracket that holds the two MFT's together with the VL parked in between.

 

[skids]

Can the CMS-VL be attached to any of the 4 sides of the MFT/3? Can the 2 legs be taken off and then attach the CMS-VL between 2 MFTs? Can the sliding table be attached to a MFT?

Thanks,

Daniel

Did you get the VL? How do you like it?

 

[peter halle]

One application where the VL could appeal to some is if the user wants to put together an aftermarket fence like an Incra and make an indexing system that used the holes in the mft for mounting.

The VL is less expensive than the GE set but honestly IMO the GE makes much more sense for most users - including you.  Why?

1.  Ultimate in flexibility - Because the height matches the MFT/3's you can place them as outfeeds anywhere you want in any position you want.

2.  Size - Sometimes in a shop size matters.  If you are working on a box you don't need the same space as if you are working on a bookshelf.  With the VL you will always need to have a MFT/3 set up to use your CMS VL.  With the GE your MFT/3 can be folded up and leaning against the wall or set up or the second one could be set up as well.  You decide.  If you just need a little more space for outfeed?  Unfold the extension if you buy the GE set.  (IMO the GE set is the way to go - hands down)

3.  Adaptability - Maybe you are one of those who really needs to maximize space usage and would like to utilize the space below the VL.  Well, you could make a freestanding cabinet that fit in that space and if you had to move your VL you could move the cabinet, the MFT, and the cabinet individually.  With the CMS GE - just like the MFT/3 you have the option of folding the metal legs up and having a compact router table that sits on top of a rolling cabinet that can be customized as you wish.

Everyone's shop is different and some like to rock out their space for efficiency, for appearance, for whatever.  I had to think about all this before I got my CMS GE Set and the flexibility overcame the price difference in a hurry.  To me it ended up being a no-brainer.

Sorry if much of this is off topic to some degree.

Peter

 

[Sparktrician]

One application where the VL could appeal to some is if the user wants to put together an aftermarket fence like an Incra and make an indexing system that used the holes in the mft for mounting.

The VL is less expensive than the GE set but honestly IMO the GE makes much more sense for most users - including you.  Why?

1.  Ultimate in flexibility - Because the height matches the MFT/3's you can place them as outfeeds anywhere you want in any position you want.

2.  Size - Sometimes in a shop size matters.  If you are working on a box you don't need the same space as if you are working on a bookshelf.  With the VL you will always need to have a MFT/3 set up to use your CMS VL.  With the GE your MFT/3 can be folded up and leaning against the wall or set up or the second one could be set up as well.  You decide.  If you just need a little more space for outfeed?  Unfold the extension if you buy the GE set.  (IMO the GE set is the way to go - hands down)

3.  Adaptability - Maybe you are one of those who really needs to maximize space usage and would like to utilize the space below the VL.  Well, you could make a freestanding cabinet that fit in that space and if you had to move your VL you could move the cabinet, the MFT, and the cabinet individually.  With the CMS GE - just like the MFT/3 you have the option of folding the metal legs up and having a compact router table that sits on top of a rolling cabinet that can be customized as you wish.

Everyone's shop is different and some like to rock out their space for efficiency, for appearance, for whatever.  I had to think about all this before I got my CMS GE Set and the flexibility overcame the price difference in a hurry.  To me it ended up being a no-brainer.

Sorry if much of this is off topic to some degree.

Peter

 

Peter's reasoning is pretty much spot on to my own.  I chose to buy the CMS-GE because of the flexibility it provides as a stand-alone, and added one more extension table to act as the infeed table in most cases.  If I really need longer infeed/outfeeds, I can park the CMS-GE between my two MFT/3s and take full advantage of their length. 

 

[skids]

One application where the VL could appeal to some is if the user wants to put together an aftermarket fence like an Incra and make an indexing system that used the holes in the mft for mounting.

The VL is less expensive than the GE set but honestly IMO the GE makes much more sense for most users - including you.  Why?

1.  Ultimate in flexibility - Because the height matches the MFT/3's you can place them as outfeeds anywhere you want in any position you want.

2.  Size - Sometimes in a shop size matters.  If you are working on a box you don't need the same space as if you are working on a bookshelf.  With the VL you will always need to have a MFT/3 set up to use your CMS VL.  With the GE your MFT/3 can be folded up and leaning against the wall or set up or the second one could be set up as well.  You decide.  If you just need a little more space for outfeed?  Unfold the extension if you buy the GE set.  (IMO the GE set is the way to go - hands down)

3.  Adaptability - Maybe you are one of those who really needs to maximize space usage and would like to utilize the space below the VL.  Well, you could make a freestanding cabinet that fit in that space and if you had to move your VL you could move the cabinet, the MFT, and the cabinet individually.  With the CMS GE - just like the MFT/3 you have the option of folding the metal legs up and having a compact router table that sits on top of a rolling cabinet that can be customized as you wish.

Everyone's shop is different and some like to rock out their space for efficiency, for appearance, for whatever.  I had to think about all this before I got my CMS GE Set and the flexibility overcame the price difference in a hurry.  To me it ended up being a no-brainer.

Sorry if much of this is off topic to some degree.

Peter

Not that this is aimed at me, but I am following this out of curiousity and this was super helpful.

Thank you!

 

[peter halle]

You're welcome.  It must have been the coffee I had.  [big grin]

Peter

 

[Kev]

GE or VL + MFT is academic really .. as soon as there's more CMS models in the mix for NA, most people will find justifications for both  [wink]

 

[thebicyclecafe]

Good analysis Peter- In fact there's only a small price difference since with the GE you get the extension table as well. Seems like you're basically paying for the two extra legs. If it's going to live on the jobsite or spend time between shop/jobsite the GE is way more flexible.

From my research, you can also put the VL on a nice rolling cart setup as well, like MattFC did very nicely here (link below), so it seems like horses for courses here. If you were to mount the VL on a cart it looks like you have the advantage of using it docked to the MFT, or using it as a standalone. Along with the larger table size, the VL might be a better shop solution if you're willing to put some time into building it into a station. If you take it on the road infrequently, you could pop the legs back on and use it with the MFT.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/sysport-cms-mft-(work-in-progress)/

One application where the VL could appeal to some is if the user wants to put together an aftermarket fence like an Incra and make an indexing system that used the holes in the mft for mounting.

The VL is less expensive than the GE set but honestly IMO the GE makes much more sense for most users - including you.  Why?

1.  Ultimate in flexibility - Because the height matches the MFT/3's you can place them as outfeeds anywhere you want in any position you want.

2.  Size - Sometimes in a shop size matters.  If you are working on a box you don't need the same space as if you are working on a bookshelf.  With the VL you will always need to have a MFT/3 set up to use your CMS VL.  With the GE your MFT/3 can be folded up and leaning against the wall or set up or the second one could be set up as well.  You decide.  If you just need a little more space for outfeed?  Unfold the extension if you buy the GE set.  (IMO the GE set is the way to go - hands down)

3.  Adaptability - Maybe you are one of those who really needs to maximize space usage and would like to utilize the space below the VL.  Well, you could make a freestanding cabinet that fit in that space and if you had to move your VL you could move the cabinet, the MFT, and the cabinet individually.  With the CMS GE - just like the MFT/3 you have the option of folding the metal legs up and having a compact router table that sits on top of a rolling cabinet that can be customized as you wish.

Everyone's shop is different and some like to rock out their space for efficiency, for appearance, for whatever.  I had to think about all this before I got my CMS GE Set and the flexibility overcame the price difference in a hurry.  To me it ended up being a no-brainer.

Sorry if much of this is off topic to some degree.

Peter

 

[peter halle]

Good analysis Peter- In fact there's only a small price difference since with the GE you get the extension table as well. Seems like you're basically paying for the two extra legs. If it's going to live on the jobsite or spend time between shop/jobsite the GE is way more flexible.

From my research, you can also put the VL on a nice rolling cart setup as well, like MattFC did very nicely here (link below), so it seems like horses for courses here. If you were to mount the VL on a cart it looks like you have the advantage of using it docked to the MFT, or using it as a standalone. Along with the larger table size, the VL might be a better shop solution if you're willing to put some time into building it into a station. If you take it on the road infrequently, you could pop the legs back on and use it with the MFT.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/sysport-cms-mft-(work-in-progress)/

One application where the VL could appeal to some is if the user wants to put together an aftermarket fence like an Incra and make an indexing system that used the holes in the mft for mounting.

The VL is less expensive than the GE set but honestly IMO the GE makes much more sense for most users - including you.  Why?

1.  Ultimate in flexibility - Because the height matches the MFT/3's you can place them as outfeeds anywhere you want in any position you want.

2.  Size - Sometimes in a shop size matters.  If you are working on a box you don't need the same space as if you are working on a bookshelf.  With the VL you will always need to have a MFT/3 set up to use your CMS VL.  With the GE your MFT/3 can be folded up and leaning against the wall or set up or the second one could be set up as well.  You decide.  If you just need a little more space for outfeed?  Unfold the extension if you buy the GE set.  (IMO the GE set is the way to go - hands down)

3.  Adaptability - Maybe you are one of those who really needs to maximize space usage and would like to utilize the space below the VL.  Well, you could make a freestanding cabinet that fit in that space and if you had to move your VL you could move the cabinet, the MFT, and the cabinet individually.  With the CMS GE - just like the MFT/3 you have the option of folding the metal legs up and having a compact router table that sits on top of a rolling cabinet that can be customized as you wish.

Everyone's shop is different and some like to rock out their space for efficiency, for appearance, for whatever.  I had to think about all this before I got my CMS GE Set and the flexibility overcame the price difference in a hurry.  To me it ended up being a no-brainer.

Sorry if much of this is off topic to some degree.

Peter

I admit I had forgotten about that thread.  But I do want to point out that the GE is designed to allow for the router to be in most downward position and sit folded up on a surface.  If you look at the setup in that thread - which is really great - the corners of the table have to be elevated to allow for the router.  Not a big deal, but not as easy as dropping the GE on top of the floor or a table...

The differences between the full blown GE vs VL is GE SET has four legs, the leg mounting brackets are taller on the GE, the extension table for the GE, and the VL table is larger according to the catalog.  GE:  585 mm x 400 mm    VL:  775 mm x 480 mm.

I asked MacGyver my Golden Retriever about this.  His answer:  "Look,  every dog who only has two legs would like to have four.  No dog who has four would like to have just two."

Peter

 

[Runhard]

Can the CMS-VL be attached to any of the 4 sides of the MFT/3? Can the 2 legs be taken off and then attach the CMS-VL between 2 MFTs? Can the sliding table be attached to a MFT?

Thanks,

Daniel

Did you get the VL? How do you like it?

No, I'm still trying to decide if I want a CMS and if so, which one. It would never leave my shop and I'm still trying to figure out what my best options are. If all the modules where available it would make this decision much easier. How cool would it be to have 2 CMS's on either side of a MFT with different modules in them or a VL and GE? I just need to hurry up and move or build a house with my dream shop so that I can have all my stationary machines, but then again I would want/need the CMS to build the house and shop  ???  I wish that I could be happy with my current Kreg setup, but you all know how it is once you go Festool  ;D

 

[skids]

Can the CMS-VL be attached to any of the 4 sides of the MFT/3? Can the 2 legs be taken off and then attach the CMS-VL between 2 MFTs? Can the sliding table be attached to a MFT?

Thanks,

Daniel

Did you get the VL? How do you like it?

No, I'm still trying to decide if I want a CMS and if so, which one. It would never leave my shop and I'm still trying to figure out what my best options are. If all the modules where available it would make this decision much easier. How cool would it be to have 2 CMS's on either side of a MFT with different modules in them or a VL and GE? I just need to hurry up and move or build a house with my dream shop so that I can have all my stationary machines, but then again I would want/need the CMS to build the house and shop  ???  I wish that I could be happy with my current Kreg setup, but you all know how it is once you go Festool  ;D

Agreed...If they were both available I would go VL. But since they aren't I would go with the GE. It's on my list, but for 2014. First I need a few MORE thingys from Festool. The CMS is an amazing tool though, I think you should get it. Then taunt us with pictures!