Face Vise on the MFT/3

[David Rips]

Sometimes you just need a vise.

Recently we moved/downsized and I had to choose between my MFT/3 and traditional workbench. Considering how much Festool I own/use, I chose the MFT/3. It’s a great tool for working on faces, but falls short with edges and ends. I missed the vises and clamping options of my traditional workbench.
My research for an aftermarket product produced the Sjoberg bench-top vise and a traditional Moxon vise. The Sjoberg is a very small vise with small clamping capacity. The Moxon vise also wouldn’t work for my needs as I do my dovetailing on my router table and they aren’t suited for traditional tail-vise functionality.

In the end, I decided to cannibalize my old Veritas Face Vise from my old bench and modify it for use with the MFT/3. This was a lengthy process of trial and error (mostly error), but I eventually got it to work. The vise is actually mounted onto my MFT “cart” then snugged up against the MFT using t-track nuts and the side t-track slot on the MFT profile. It serves both traditional face vise functionality as well as tail vise functionality in conjunction with the normal dog holes on the MFT/3.

I’ve been using it for the last 3 weeks on a large furniture project. It works great and I wonder how I ever got along without a vise on my MFT/3. I don’t miss my old workbench as much anymore.

I’ve been thinking about trying the same thing for traditional leg vise functionality. Any thoughts?

 

[waho6o9]

Pictures please as there are 0 KB when I try to down load.

Thank you

 

[David Rips]

Here's another picture.

View attachment 1

I'm struggling with the web site.

 

[suds]

That is very interesting.  I'm trying to do the same thing but my 1080 tables have the legs extended so there's no "shelf" to rest the vise on.  I have every inch under the tables spoken for so I can't build a cart for the tables to sit on.  I have the Moxon and the Sjoberg but would like a vise like this on one of my tables.  Nice set up.

 

[David Rips]

Unfortunately, without a surface to mount and support the weight of the vice, it won't work. I tried that. Obviously, the MFT/3 was not designed with a vice in mind. The profiles are too weak to support a traditional vice. Sorry your setup won't allow it. I had to make some changes to my setup as well, but it was worth it. I can't believe how much easier it is to clamp things now.

 

[waho6o9]

Great idea, thanks for the pictures!

 

[suds]

I was also thinking of mounting a "support brace" across the legs to support a vise and may play with some kind of setup like that.

 

[David Rips]

I did try to use the legs as a mounting platform for the vise. A traditional face vise has to be mounted to the "underside" of a bench, thus you have to create a false underside to mount one on the MFT/3. I thought that the weight (which is significant for a good vise) and lateral, inward "pull" force on the legs might strengthen and stabilize them. Unfortunately, I found that the opposite was true.

The vise platform, mounted to the legs, made the legs bounce when the vise was used and created a distinct vibration in the whole table. In addition, the weight of the platform, and the bouncing, seemed to put a strain on the legs where they are leveraged against the underside of the table. I became concerned that I might be doing irrevocable damage to the legs.

I've found that the legs of the MFT/3 are less stable than I need, and aren't mobile. That's why I built a cart. I've seen numerous excellent examples, on this site, of shop carts for the MFT/3 ranging from very elaborate to simple and utilitarian (like mine). If you are dependent on the portability of the MFT/3 and its legs, then I wouldn't suggest trying to install a vise at all. Otherwise, I obviously recommend a cart. Good luck!

 

[suds]

No room for a cart but appreciate your insight on the legs...back to the drawing board