Connect diy router table to mft 1080

[Dutchfest00ler]

Hi,

I am a hobby woodworker from the Netherlands. Like making furniture for my kids etc.

Most of my tools are festool. Most are bought second hand through the years.

Like my MFT 1080. Which I have upgraded 2 years ago with a hinge system (made it from Peter Millard plans).

I am considering making a router table that I can attach to the side of the table. And I am looking for an easy way to attach it. So it can be installed and removed easily. Mft 1080 has 2 T-tracks on the side frame. 1 facing up and 1 facing out.

Does anyone have an good idea I can use?

Much appreciatied

Michel

 

[peter halle]

Would a table with bolt heads (perhaps what we here call toilet mounting bolts) in the end of the table to slide into the tee slot and a pair of fold down legs be a sensible start to an idea?

Peter

 

[Dutchfest00ler]

Would a table with bolt heads (perhaps what we here call toilet mounting bolts) in the end of the table to slide into the tee slot and a pair of fold down legs be a sensible start to an idea?

Peter

Thanks for the quick reply Peter. Am thinking about T-bolts. On the side facing T-track it will work. On the top facing T-track the nuts will be above the table surface. Prefferably I would like to have an flat surface so nothing is in the way of any workpiece or fence.

 

[luvmytoolz]

And for inspiration, here's the TSO one, I do like the bracket idea:

Router Table Extension for MFT/3

Transform your MFT/3 into a precision router table. Professional-grade extension with integrated fence system. Compatible with most routers.

tsoproducts.com

 

[onocoffee]

This is something my friend and I were discussing yesterday. He just got an MFT/3 with Dashboard Outriggers. We're thinking about creating a new top for the Outrigger and then mounting either a router plate or router lift into it.

The Outrigger is that little top attached to the MW1000 extension that the Kapex is sitting on. Not sure though what the availability on that is in the Netherlands. And it is a bit pricier than the TSO option.

 

[Vondawg]

TSO has lot of options ….cheap and expensive but what about using these expanding dogs (and maybe Peters idea with bolts) to secure the home made router table
That Dashboard stuff is big money… but we are here on our Festool board and anything is po$$ible lol

 

[luvmytoolz]

@onocoffee That's a sweet setup there!

 

[Dutchfest00ler]

And for inspiration, here's the TSO one, I do like the bracket idea:

Router Table Extension for MFT/3

Transform your MFT/3 into a precision router table. Professional-grade extension with integrated fence system. Compatible with most routers.

tsoproducts.com

Thanks,

Saw this video and really like the idea of easy attach/removable. But this is on an mft-3. The top of the siderail is different on the mft 1080. On the mft 1080 it is a t-track. This system won't fit.

Also considered bench dogs to make the connection. But would like to keep the router table at same hight as mft 1080. So it could also be used as an extension.

 

[Dutchfest00ler]

This is something my friend and I were discussing yesterday. He just got an MFT/3 with Dashboard Outriggers. We're thinking about creating a new top for the Outrigger and then mounting either a router plate or router lift into it.

The Outrigger is that little top attached to the MW1000 extension that the Kapex is sitting on. Not sure though what the availability on that is in the Netherlands. And it is a bit pricier than the TSO option.

Nice setup!

The siderail on the mft-3 is different then on the onder mft 1080. See photo above.

 

[luvmytoolz]

@Dutchfest00ler Sorry about that, I didn't know the MFT1080 is a different profile, I always just assumed they were the same!

I do still like the bracket idea though, sturdy!

 

[Dutchfest00ler]

I might use regular t bolts and knobs underneath the table (to connect to the side rail). And brackets would be a smart add-on for stability.

And these bolts (photo below) for the top t slot. Think I could get the to sit flush with the surface. And be abble to tighten them with a hex key (placing a washer underneath to prefent it from screwing itself into the wood.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I might use regular t bolts and knobs underneath the table (to connect to the side rail). And brackets would be a smart add-on for stability.

And these bolts (photo below) for the top t slot. Think I could get the to sit flush with the surface. And be abble to tighten them with a hex key (placing a washer underneath to prefent it from screwing itself into the wood.

Instead of bolts, I'd suggest considering clamping lever handles:

Big Horn 19729B-5PK Ratchet Lever - Bolt 1/4-20 (5/PK) : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement

Big Horn 19729B-5PK Ratchet Lever - Bolt 1/4-20 (5/PK) : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement

www.amazon.com.au

 

[P_K]

Might be easiest to add a router plate thing to either the existing top or just make a separate one from MDF instead of trying to hang one off of the side of the 1080. It'd be difficult to get an extension absolutely level with the main top and you'd be limited to lightweight palm-sized routers as with the TSO system.
https://www.tuneon-design.com/3468-...ultifunction-table-festool-of-2200-router.jpg

 

[onocoffee]

@onocoffee That's a sweet setup there!

He got it all (minus the KS120) for around $2K. The seller bought a TON of Dashboard stuff to add to the MFT. There are six of the support brackets alone - and two fences. First time seeing the Dashboard stuff. It's expensive but the hardware is robust. My friend calculated it out and I think there's nearly $6K in MFT stuff going on there.

 

[Dutchfest00ler]

Been breaking my head over how to make a easy detachable router table for my mft 1080.

And yesterday my eye caught 2 u-profile steal parts I had laying around (used to be under a tabletop to keep it level).

With a little help from gemini I figured pit the best way to add these profiles and an mdf top to my mft.

Had a fey problems:
- height of mdf was 18mm, height from t-track to table top only 15mm
- peace of mdf was not wide enough
- How to attach these u-profiles to the t track.

First I was looking to attach to the top t track (old mft has 1 side t track and 1 upward t track). But my u-profile was to high. And how was I going to connect my mdf to my u profile. Then gemini suggested using the side t tracks.

And so I did
Had some aluminum plates 8mm and steel plates 4mm laying around.

Used the aluminum plates to attach the u profile to the side t-track and be able to adjust height.
Used the steel plates to make my (to narrow) mdf plate fit the u profiles.

Project is not finnished yet. All the metal needs a sanding and paintjob. And table needs to be levelled and attached to the frame. Also needs to make a router lift and fence (parts underway).

But the idea seens to work. And the mft is not about to tip over. Otherways I will add some detachable legs