Hand Planing on MFT1080s

cahudson42

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2010
Messages
15
While a single MFT may not seem rack-resistant enough for hand planing, two of them in-line, connected with the Festool connector bars, do seem to be rigid enough for me.

I use this setup all the time for hand planing, with the 'face vise' of dimensional 2 x 6 for clamping boards vertically and for shorter boards horizontally (with a spacer underneath the clamps).

For longer boards on edge I use two Jorgensen #2 wood vise clamps, held down with Festool F clamps. These clamp the board on edge very well.

Chris - new FOG member
 
Any chance you could show us the join of the two mfts?

This is great news. I would have never thought the mfts were plane proof. Thanks for the advice!
 
I'll try to get a shot later - but the two short sides are joined by 2 connector bars - very similar to the bars w/setscrews that join TS-55 (and other) aluminum tracks. But they are longer and thicker - 'verbindingers' - or something like that..:>)

You get the tables very close together by raising one set of legs. So in the end the two tables are supported by three pairs of legs - with the two outer legs splayed outward a bit.

Before I got my second MFT, I toyed with the idea of buying the rails, the 'verbindingers' (whatever) and making my own - but then the 1080's went on sale - plus I then could use the addditional rail clamp and end positioner/guide lengthwise as well as crosswise (as I did with the original MFT rail clamp/guide) - for long (almost 8') rips with my TS-55

I got my 'verbindingers'  thru Bob Marino. As usual, they are not cheap. I think about $40 for the pair.

Chris

Added photo of the joined tables. The rectangular joining bar is shown under the MDF.
 
Welcome to the FOG Chris.  That is one sweet setup.  Its really amazing how many ways there are to trick out an MFT! [cool]
 
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