Festools VacSys and MDF

[Carrara]

Hey guys, just wondering if you´ve ever tried the VacSys from Festool? I´ve seen lots of videos online but I can't recall I've ever seen MDF being vacuum clamped.. And thats the material I primarily use. So, does it hold on to MDF good or is the material to porous?

Maybe you could upload a video on YouTube or something just to show that it really holds on to that MDF?

Thanks for now..

 

[GarryMartin]

To quote the below;

"To operate efficiently, the Vac Sys relies on your timber being planed smooth. It won't work on sawn timber and has a fairly tenuous grip on MDF which, it may surprise you to know, is highly porous. In fact, you can put a piece of MDF on the vacuum pas and feel the suction coming through it if you place your hand on top."

http://www.festool.co.uk/Press/Workplace-organisation/Documents/vacsys_2009-05_tww1.pdf

But people have posted on the FOG about the Vac Sys and mentioned they use it with MDF, so I guess your mileage would vary depending on what you were actually doing.

 

[Carrara]

Yeah but thats why I posted here and asked if somebody could upload a video on say YouTube to check it out..
One of my dealers told me that the VacSys had an excellent grip on MDF.. But online I've read that it doesn't..
I would use it for routing and sanding MDF sheets of about 600 x 600mm..

 

[bellchippy]

I use mine with MDF all the time, it is porous but still a good grip.

 

[Carrara]

So there is no risk the VacSys will loose the grip and my workpiece fall down? How big pieces of MDF do you usually work with?

 

[rst]

How well your suction will work probably will depend on circumstance, after all, CNC vacuum tables use MDF as the base/backer board for the hold down system and the air is suctioned through it to the material being machined.

 

[ccarrolladams]

I own 2 sophisticated 5' x 12' CNC router which we use a minimum of 2 shifts daily and sometimes on a third shift. Each has 40 hp of vacuum available for hold down.

Yes, MDF is somewhat porous. However, we use the even more porous and smoother MDO as our sacrificial surface, MDO is commonly used in the sign making business. We buy it in lifts of 48 sheets at about the same price point as MDF, from the same vendor which supplies 90+% of the cabinet grade plywoods we use.

 

[tbellemare]

I have the Schmalz vacuum clamps, both compressed air operated and vacuum pump operated.

They both hold MDF VERY strongly. I can put a 2' x 4' x 3/4" slab on the clamp, turn it vertical and can't pull it off. I suspect the Festool version is identical in holding.

Tom

 

[PaulMarcel]

A bit of a tangent question: A local guy has a CNC and machines a lot of MDF. He buys it by pallet and it is made in Canada.  There's a stark quality difference between that MDF and the stuff at the box stores.  You'd almost think it is Medex or HDF.  Does the porosity of MDF change with the manufacture quality?  I don't know what actually makes the quality difference between his MDF and box-store MDF, but his doesn't chip, flake, etc.

Still hate the stuff; a necessary evil for jigs unless I want to buy a big sheet of waferboard.

 

[greg mann]

A bit of a tangent question: A local guy has a CNC and machines a lot of MDF. He buys it by pallet and it is made in Canada.  There's a stark quality difference between that MDF and the stuff at the box stores.  You'd almost think it is Medex or HDF.  Does the porosity of MDF change with the manufacture quality?  I don't know what actually makes the quality difference between his MDF and box-store MDF, but his doesn't chip, flake, etc.

Still hate the stuff; a necessary evil for jigs unless I want to buy a big sheet of waferboard.

Density, or lack of porosity, is abput the only thing that could be different. That and the type of glue, IMO. Does it weigh more?

 

[PaulMarcel]

Off the top of my head, I dunno if it weighs more.  I have a large piece of it made as a new benchtop. I'd have to pull it out, weight it then scale the number for a full sheet.  Might be able to get to that today.

 

[tbellemare]

The 2' x 4' x 3/4" piece that I referenced above was from the BORG. It sticks to the vac' clamp like superglue.

Tom

 

[Brice Burrell]

Several years back at a Festool class Brian was showing us the sys-vac.  He put a piece of mdf on and then put a second piece on top of the first.  Mdf is so porous both pieces held.   

 

[tjbnwi]

Several years back at a Festool class Brian was showing us the sys-vac.  He put a piece of mdf on and then put a second piece on top of the first.  Mdf is so porous both pieces held.    

I thought that was just the Sedge magic. [laughing]

As long as the pump delivers more volume than what is lost through the product air pressure will push it against the vacuum clamp.

Tom

 

[gkaiseril]

A bit of a tangent question: A local guy has a CNC and machines a lot of MDF. He buys it by pallet and it is made in Canada.  There's a stark quality difference between that MDF and the stuff at the box stores.  You'd almost think it is Medex or HDF.  Does the porosity of MDF change with the manufacture quality?  I don't know what actually makes the quality difference between his MDF and box-store MDF, but his doesn't chip, flake, etc.

Still hate the stuff; a necessary evil for jigs unless I want to buy a big sheet of waferboard.

There are many factors involved with MDF. The type of wood used, the type of glue, the pressure and temperature used while curing, and the finishing of the sheet.

I expect the big box stores go for the cheap stuff and different industries go for more specialized variations.

 

[gkaiseril]

One could use some photo mount spray to attach a piece of paper or use double sided tape to attach some plywood to the back of the MDF.