how do you store your MFT "swivel unit"?

[ScooterX]

:-\
Most of the time I use my MFT without the swivel unit (the "top edge" guide, angle and stop). Does anybody have any good ideas for storing these clumsy things? I suppose I could -- gasp -- drill a hole in one end so I could hang it up... but maybe someone's found something more clever.

(I use 20mm bolts as bench dogs, and most of my cuts are 90 degrees, so the swivel thing just gets in my way. I also cut a lot of large plywood panels, and it just takes up space on the table. Most of my cutting is "measure, mark both ends, line up the edge guide, and cut.)

 

[Qwas]

I was storing mine in a corner of the shop. I would stand it on end and lean it into the corner. Sold it last week on eBay. I only got $40 for it, but now it's out of my way!

 

[Qwas]

As a side note, have you seen mhch's post on using an IncraTrack on the MFT? I think it would help you get the most space out of the table. From the sounds of it, the track can mount right on the rear table profile without the MDF that mhch used. The post is here if you want to review it.

 

[Dan Clermont]

Mine goes between the floor joist's above my MFT. Stores nicely out of the way up there.

Dan Clermont

 

[Qwas]

Mine goes between the floor joist's above my MFT. Stores nicely out of the way up there.

Dan Clermont

I was sitting here thinking of the same thing. If you don't have joists or rafters, you could get/make 2 U shaped hooks and screw them on the wall up high. Stick the whole unit on the hooks.

 

[Dan Clermont]

Mine goes between the floor joist's above my MFT. Stores nicely out of the way up there.

Dan Clermont

I was sitting here thinking of the same thing. If you don't have joists or rafters, you could get/make 2 U shaped hooks and screw them on the wall up high. Stick the whole unit on the hooks.

For me it works well. Out of the way, nothing can fall on it.... etc

Dan Clermont

 

[Corwin]

As a side note, have you seen mhch's post on using an IncraTrack on the MFT? I think it would help you get the most space out of the table. From the sounds of it, the track can mount right on the rear table profile without the MDF that mhch used. The post is here if you want to review it.

I used to attach my Incra Tracks to the profiles, but haven't for almost a year now.  The profiles on all my MFTs are not square with the top MDF surface, thus the Tracks do not sit square either...  Next I changed to mounting the Incra Track to a sub-base that was wider than the Track to allow for a series of holes along the backside that aligned with the holes in the MFT's top and bolted the works in place -- much better.  But now, I am working on exchanging those bolts with pins that will properly align with the holes, and therefor align the fence, bla, bla, bla...  

Short of finding the 'right' piece that fits snuggly within the holes, one can simply attach the Incra Brackets designed for these (either standard or Flip versions) Tracks.  Use your Dogs from the Clamping Elements, or whatever, and align your Track to them.  Tighten the Incra Brackets to the Track and clamp the Brackets to the table.  I would have reviewed the Incra Tracks awhile back if this worked better, but the act of clamping would often shift the setup off a touch -- I wanted to perfect a mounting method first because with the 'right' parts the setup is very slick.  So, I'm tooling up to make my own.  Simple little parts really, just not something I could find.  But that shouldn't stop you from clamping the Tracks in place using the Incra Brackets -- just check your setup and reclamp if needed.  This way, all parts are AINA now!

Corwin

On Edit:  Oops, almost forgot to discuss the real topic at hand.  Anyway, I have mine disassembled, with the head units in a drawer and the lengths of fence out with a bunch of Incra Track, T Track and mitre track -- all of which need a better place to hang. 

 

[CharlesWilson]

I just have the two black knobs screwed into it, and hang it by resting the top knob on a long bolt protruding from one of my steel shelving units.

 

[ScooterX]

ah, I didn't think to screw in the back knobs...

:

that's why i like this Group! 

 

[mhch]

As a side note, have you seen mhch's post on using an IncraTrack on the MFT? I think it would help you get the most space out of the table. From the sounds of it, the track can mount right on the rear table profile without the MDF that mhch used. The post is here if you want to review it.

A few extra comments

The Incra track can indeed be mounted directly on the side extrusion, and one can directly
use the bolts and rectangular nuts, part of the Incra package, to do that. There is enough
sloppyness to register the track against the 13mm table top side before bolting everything
up, so it gets perfectly aligned with the hole parttern

BUT: when directly mounting the Incra track on the side extrusion, the stop can't be
installed anymore. It needs at least a 12mm base (1/2") to be able to use it.

One of the big advantage of a base extending under the guide rail is  that it provides
a nice little fence to rest small workpiece against it. Else they tend to slide towards
the guide rail when being cut.

An the kerf I cut in it (see picture) in this little fence is extremely useful to align workpieces
(left or right of the guide rail) to be cut when a very accurate positionning is not required.
I found this to be quicker and more reliable than using the rail splinter guard.

 

[mhch]

Per the main topic of this thread:

My original Festool fence and all related parts are no longer used 
I  disassembled it to make other jigs using some of the parts 
More posts to come ...

 

[nickao]

In the garbage can ;D