finally joining the club

[neoshed]

I'm about to get my first festool. I found a mft1080 for sale on CL and I'm picking it up tomorrow so I'm now officially a "owner"

Unfortunately I dont have anything else to use with it but I saved $150 off the price new so hopefully I'll be able to get a ts55 soon.

 

[Eli]

Congratulations. Watch that first step, it's a little slippery....

 

[Corwin]

One (or more) of the Festool Clamping Elements will work wonders.  While these may seem a little pricey, they are a must have item.  And so are the FSZ 120 Clamps and/or the larger FSZ 300 Clamps.  The addition of these accessories will allow you to put your new 1080 to work.  

Enjoy,
Corwin

 

[Qwas]

I agree with the clamp suggestion. I have 4 of the clamping elements and that seems to be plenty. These clamping elements are great and the stationary portion makes for a great bench dog when used by itself.

And you can never have enough of the FSZ clamps! They work on the table holes, the table side rails, and the guide rails.

Once you have all these clamps, you can put all them table holes to working for you.

 

[Tinker]

Admittedly, i do not have anywhere near enough clamps in my shop.  Of the supply I do have, those FSZ clamps and the clamping ellements (MFT-SP) are far and away, the most used clamps in my shop.  When used with the MFT tables, there is almost no limit to the uses you can put them to.

i have a WoodRat and I almost never set up there without using the FSZ's.  they are extremely strong of grip, yet can be setup to just slide underneath the bits as I slide by for rabbets, dovetails, etc.  But when used with the MFT tables, they can be used for everything from first rough cut alignment for ATF sawing all the way thru every operation including sanding and even final assembly.

The FSZ's get used at my flat router table, my bandsaw, drill press and even out in my equipment (landscaping equipment) area upon (very)rare ocasions.

When i consider i use those clamps with nearly every tool and tool station in my shop, i think they are the most used of all of my Festool toys.  definitely more than any of my other toys, no matter who made them.
Tinker

 

[Eli]

I'm with you Tinker. I use the FSZ's a lot on the face of the front MFT rail to hold shelves and drawers vertical. There's a tricky way to hold the workpiece with one hand, sink the clamp with the other, and lock it with a sideways sweep of the leg that actually my wife would probably laugh out loud and make me stop if she caught me doing it.

Clamping elements same.

And if you get good with the clamping elements you'll be accustomed to the Kapex hold-down clamp when you get it. 

(It's saturday night, I'm at the computer, and I haven't teased you guys in like at least a week. I could have ten Kapexes. Kapox? Kypaxees? and that would still be really pathetic ;D)

 

[neoshed]

Thanks for the clamp suggestions. The bloke I'm picking it up from in a couple of hours has a pair of the sliding clamps that sit in the holes so I'll probably make him an offer on those while I'm there.