Homemade MFT Worktop

[Dave Rudy]

New to the site and considering Festool.  :

Can someone post the link to the Jerry Work .pdf?

Thanks,

Chuck

Welcome Chuck.  By the way, in order to understand this thread completely, you actually have to read two of Jerry's manuals -- one on the MFT (table) and one on the MFS (rail, jig, squaring, routing system).

Two reads you will undoubtedlygreatly enjoy without a doubt!

Dave

 

[ByronBlack]

Hi Les - Yes, I have seen the jumbo MFT (courtesy of a link somewhere on this site recently.) But what my main question is at the moment is, if I don't decide to make my own base and large MFT but instead connect a couple together as and when I need the extra space, what is a good way of securing the spindly legs to make the MFT sturdy enough to withstand hand-planing and chopping mortices, because even my traditional bench sometimes racks with the forces and I have had to brace it a bit.

Any thoughts greatly received!

 

[Brian 57]

I have installed a full shelf, supported on the crossbars of the MFT legs, where I keep my Festool kit in systainers, (a similar shelf was shown on the old FOG site). I would suggest that a few bags of e.g. sand on such a shelf might provide some resistance to racking, but I doubt it would hold up against really strenuous planing.

Regards 

 

[Les]

Byron,

The reason I posted the link to Brian's bench, that is, IMO, your answer. The MFT just was not designed, or lends it's self to being redesigned, to with stand the forces you're wanting on it's present base. In Jerry Work's MFT manual, he does show a MFT mounted to cast iron legs. Maybe this would work. But if you're wanting the flexibility of the MFT top and the sturdiness of the a traditional work bench, Brian's bench does meet those needs.

Personally I've just kept my woodworking bench. I find I'm needing this bench less. With the Festool sanders, maybe I'll eliminate the need for hand planing.  ??? ;D

 

[ByronBlack]

Hi Les,

I hear what you're saying and will have to continue to think on this. The jumbo MFT seems fine, but you lose the flexability of adding a second MFT on an 'as and when' basis. Hmm, as I write this, I think i've come up with my own solution: Maybe two small Jumbo MFT's! Use each MFT worktop and side rails as the basis of the system and install on a heavy hardwood frame similar to a traditional workbench with drawers/cupboards for tools to add some more weight. Each smaller MFT can then have locking casters so they can be moved and mounted together or seperated so i'll have a seperate assembly and joinery tables.

I'll have to get to my drawing board on this one..

Thanks for all the input. I can feel the MFT Purchase imminent.

 

[Corwin]

On that idea, I have two 1080s and a 4'x4' (from stock MFT parts) that I will build a (mobile) base for once life settles down...  Currently the 4'x4' MFT works great between the two 1080's for use with a 118" guide rail -- with a loop hanging down from ceiling and eye-bolt mounted in rail's T-track for temp hold of rail off material.  Also, the two standard MFTs connected work well using the 75" guide rail -- the 75" guide works great in the MFT guide brackets, best if your ceiling is anything over the 8'-6" ceiling I have.  I like the flexibility of these reconfigurable tables!

So many choices!      
Corwin

 

[mysterium]

Byron,

Your question "what is a good way of securing the spindly legs to make the MFT sturdy enough to withstand hand-planing and chopping mortices, because even my traditional bench sometimes racks with the forces and I have had to brace it a bit."

In one word; triangulation.  Or a longer explanation to my one word answer...  If you take four boards & place a nail in each corner the "square" is not necessarily a square it can be moved into diamond or flop nearly flat...  However if you take 3 boards & 3 nails the triangle is ridged.  That's why when we frame a house ("light frame construction") that a wall is not ridge until it's cross braced.  Look at the metal grid high line poles that Alexander Gram Bell invented (he did something other then invent the "land line".... ), it's all triangles...  It's also at the heart of the geodesic dome the H. Buckmaster Fuller popularized.

Anyhow all that needs to be done to make the MFT ridge is a brace from the rail to the lower part of the leg.  Actually I'm thinking of using my out riggers from my vacuum's boom arm (I'm sick of tripping over them...)  to re-enforce my MFT....  But I haven't got around making a wedge block to "add" to the out rigger to make it match the 90 plus degrees that the table legs flare out.

jim

 

[Brian 57]

My guess would be that while triangulation or other forms of bracing might well help with structural rigidity, it will not cure the entirety of the problem. A part of a complete solution to the difficulty of planing on the MFT must address the tendency for the MFT to wander under effort, i.e. it is a bit on the light side for planing. A ply or MDF shelf attached to the legs, (maybe further up the legs than I currently have mine), could give the rigidity, a weight of sand on that shelf, (but not so close to the top as to hamper below-top clamping), might cure the wander.
Regards

 

[John Stevens]

Also, if your MFT is 2m long, you're limited in where you can put the angle unit if you still want to be able to use the side extrusion to fasten the left end of the fence.  Of course, you can solve that by using a shop-made clamping device

By the way, I have pics of the shop-made auxiliary fences and some other stuff for the MFT, but I can't post them until Monday...

Just getting around to it.  The auxiliary fences are posted here:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=238.0

Several clamping ideas have been posted recently on this thread:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=686.0

Hope this helps you in deciding whether to build a 2m MFT, or in deciding how to build it.

Regards,

John

 

[ByronBlack]

HI everyone.

Just wanted to thank you all for the help/tips and feedback. I've decided to go ahead and purchase the standard 1080 kit and some clamps and will develop some bracing or a new more heavier base for it. I'll add another 1080 to it as and when I need the extra support.

I'm looking forward to receiving the MFT and putting it to use.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Byron,
Make sure to post photos if you make anything yourself, such as a heavier base.  This topic of creating bigger, stronger, more versatile MFTs is a popular one, for good reason.  Make sure to let us know what you create.
Thanks,
Matthew

 

[ByronBlack]

Hi Matthew. I will certainly post my progress. I'm currently in the middle of a couple of projects for my lovely lady, but once they are out the way i'll be making a nice heavy base.

 

[ByronBlack]

So, I got my MFT today, took about 20mins to setup and adjusted to square, within 5 mins I cut 4 perfect mitres with a quality i've never got from my Mitre saw (which I've not given away). Really impressed with it. I can handplane on it aswell despite a bit of racking - which isn't much worse than my current 'traditional' workbench which this will be replacing.

I'm fitting a kitchen over the next week or two, so this will be great for cutting solid backs for my cabinets (euro style, I am in the UK afterall).

Next month i'll be purchasing some beech or oak to make a nice strong base (with some drawers etc..).

I'm not sure if its the same for any of you americans, but with my purchase of the MFT, I also got a pair of Sortainers for free (worth £70 each!) so i'm well chuffed with it all. Just need to find some cash for the router now (I have a triton in a table).

 

[Dan Clark]

Byron,

As the old saying goes, "No pics.  Didn't happen!"  ;D

We need pics!  We need pics!  We need...

Regards,

Dan.

 

[ByronBlack]

Hi Dan,

I can post pics if you really want, but it just the basic MFT at the moment, didn't think it would be that interesting to anyone at the moment until I make the new base.

I know - i'll do a mini shop tour seeing as i'm new around these parts

 

[Corwin]

No, we want to see pics of those Sortainers that came with your MFT!  Hmmm, I would have a nice collection of Sortainers if we also were so lucky.  But no, the Sortainers are still on my wish list. 

Corwin

 

[bermuda]

Hi
One way to get the holes is to take the mdf part from Festool and screw it to a piece of plywood or whatever and predrill each hole with a 1/2 bit and then finish up with a top guide router flush bit. I made a large top like easily and of course it's just as square as a Festool top since it comes from one.  The Incra guide also works well with a top and long rails. A large worktop is great especially by making the height in the 40" area, I don't have to bend over so far.

 

[ByronBlack]

So, here are a couple of pics. The two sortainers, and the MFT after I cut some perfect mitres on scrap - very  impressed with the accuracy!

If anyone is more interested in my workshop. I have a slideshow of the build starting from complete scratch all the way through to semi-completion. I'm further down the line than the end of the slideshow, but I havn't had time to upload the photo's and organise it.

Here's the link for those who are nosey

http://www.flickr.com/photos/byronblack/sets/72157594275997779/show/

And finally, for those who just want to browse my Flickr account to see some past projects, tooling and general workshop photo's, you can see them here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/byronblack/

 

[Jerry Work]

Hi Byran,

Somehow it looks like you have posted six of my pictures on yourhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/byronblack/ site.  They are labled "Picure 1.png through Picture 6.png".  Those are pictures I took in my studio of my work so they should either be removed from your site or you need to clearly identify them as being my photos taken by me in my studio of my work.  All of my photos are copyright protected.  Thanks for taking care of this as soon as you can.

Jerry

If anyone is more interested in my workshop. I have a slideshow of the build starting from complete scratch all the way through to semi-completion. I'm further down the line than the end of the slideshow, but I havn't had time to upload the photo's and organise it.

Here's the link for those who are nosey
http://www.flickr.com/photos/byronblack/sets/72157594275997779/show/

And finally, for those who just want to browse my Flickr account to see some past projects, tooling and general workshop photo's, you can see them here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/byronblack/

So, here are a couple of pics. The two sortainers, and the MFT after I cut some perfect mitres on scrap - very  impressed with the accuracy!

If anyone is more interested in my workshop. I have a slideshow of the build starting from complete scratch all the way through to semi-completion. I'm further down the line than the end of the slideshow, but I havn't had time to upload the photo's and organise it.

Here's the link for those who are nosey

http://www.flickr.com/photos/byronblack/sets/72157594275997779/show/

And finally, for those who just want to browse my Flickr account to see some past projects, tooling and general workshop photo's, you can see them here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/byronblack/

 

[ByronBlack]

Hi Jerry,

Sorry about that, the pics have now been deleted. For what it's worth I thought your article is superb and it's what finally made me decide to buy the MFT. The reason why I had pics on the site was to show my partner - to try and convince her that I was justified spending my cash on it to build the new kitchen we are currently fitting. It worked and I have the table, so I have you to thank really!