How portable is the MFT3 ?

[Kristian]

Hi

I've been considering buying the MFT3 for quite a while now but I've been a little hesitant too. I will mainly be using it as a worktable without the accessories - as a replacement for a couple of old sawhorses and plywood/MDF tops.

My question is: How portable do you find the MFT3 to be?

I live in a two-story apartment on the 4th. floor and I will mainly be using it here. I have read all the specs like size and weight but would you carry it up and down stairs, stow it under your bed, take it out for smaller projects and so on or would you just not bother? Mind you, I don't have a built-in shop in my flat (unfortunately) so it will be stowed away when not used.

I considered the MFT 800 due to it's smaller size but I need the extra height in the MFT3 and would prefer not to bother with putting scraps of wood under the MFT 800 to adjust the height. The thing I like about the MFT3 is that as soon as you have unfolded it you're ready to go.

Thanks guys and happy new year.  [smile]

- Kristian

 

[tiralie]

Kirstian:
The MFT3 is relatively heavy but once you have it where you want it you are glad you carried it.
4 flights of stairs will be a workout.
Because of it's size it can be awkward to carry up and down stairs (I am 6ft. 1") but I do it a lot.
Tim

 

[Holzhacker]

My understanding is that the MFT3 is considered to be built as 'portable'. I consider mine portable, it doesn't move to jobsites much but it can and does. I don't take it with for small 1-2 day jobs unless it is specifically needed.
Under your circumstances, I'm not sure if anything is really portable. 4 flights of stairs is a bit much for daily transfer. If it were me, I would think about an MFT or sawhorse set-up that I could leave in my vehicle. I'd also think about a custom dolly or wheeled cart to roll it around on for the amount of moving you are talking about.  I've spent too many years hauling tools. I absolutely hate moving tools around. Whatever I can do to make it less cumbersome I do.
The MFT3 is a great work table and I would highly recommend it. Not sure if it is the best tool for you tough. Can you get a Jawhorse in your part of the world? Might be easier and could stay in the car.
Good luck.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

I can't respond directly about the MFT3's portability.

But regarding the MFT800, it is very compact and could even be in the 'light weight' category.  They certainly are less expensive here.. But you'd be giving up compatibility with the CMS stuff, if that's a consideration for you.

Here's a great solution for raising the height:  http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?sku=12106769&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping

These are 5" lifts, and many thanks to Roger Savatteri for first posting these BB&B lifts on FOG.  [smile]
I'm about 6'1" and these make working (especially assembly!) on the MFT800/1080 much, much more comfortable.

 

[Alan m]

i think 4 flights of stairs will kill you [eek]. you could leave the mft in the car and make another one for upstairs. what i have done is put an mft top on top of my dewalt chop saw stand on its own brackets. this would allow it to go under your bed. if you make the mft top yourself from the new one downstairs all you would need is a stand

 

[tbellemare]

When I read the OP, it seemed to me that he was planning on just folding it up and sliding it under a bed. That is very easy.

Carrying it up and down several flights of stairs is something that can be done but isn't real easy for most people. The only Danes I know would find it tiring but they'd certainly be capable of the task. If you can drag it, like on carpeted stairs, it becomes pretty easy. I don't remember seeing carpeted stairs in Europe.

Tom

 

[Kristian]

Hi guys, thank's for your replies. Sorry for not being clear but I plan on only using and storing the MFT in my apartment. After doing a complete remodelling of the apartment I have lost that special corner where it's acceptable to be messy  so now I'm looking for an alternative that's flexible and still stows away easily.

It's a two-story apartment and I have my own roof terrace so when the weather permits I'm doing most of my work out there. So I'll be carrying it up a single flight of winding stairs to my roof terrace and back again for storage. In many aspects the MFT3 is ideal, I'm just wondering if it's too "big" for my apartment and if the MFT is a bit overkill for my projects at home - but I guess that's a question only I can answer really.

Thanks again.

- Kristian

 

[Frans]

Perhaps you could build some kind of storage on the roof terrace? Sooner or later you'll damage your stairs when lugging an MFT3 up and down. Not to mention your back.

Frans

 

[Corwin]

You might consider getting one of the remaining MFT 800's on closeout and make some leg extensions like these that Mark Carlson made:

Mark described this in a reply in the Wish the MFT had... thread.

  On Edit:  That is if you can still get the MFT 800 in Denmark.

.

 

[Kristian]

Just an update:

I bought the MFT/3 yesterday and I'm glad I did. Got it together with a couple of quick clamps and the combination of the clamps and MFT is a real pleasure to work with.

I think it has the perfect size when it comes to the work area and it's weight is reasonable. It will probably be a little awkward carrying it up the narrow flight of winding stairs to my second floor but when I'm done remodeling the first floor I'll store it permanently upstairs and then mainly use it on the roof terrace which is on the same level.

So Tim, you were absolutely right: "once you have it where you want it you are glad you carried it"  [smile]

- Kristian

 

[tiralie]

So Tim, you were absolutely right: "once you have it where you want it you are glad you carried it"  [smile]

Kristian:
Thanks for the update, I am glad you like the table. I am sorry to have to tell you that you will be getting a whole lot more Festools.
Tim

 

[Kristian]

Yeah, tell me about it... The green addiction is a strong one!  [big grin]

I have quite a few Festools already but I am considering buying the Clamping Elements (488030) for the MFT.

Do you have those? Are they useful?

- Kristian

 

[jonny round boy]

Yeah, tell me about it... The green addiction is a strong one!  [big grin]

I have quite a few Festools already but I am considering buying the Clamping Elements (488030) for the MFT.

Do you have those? Are they useful?

- Kristian

The clamping elements are great, you'll love them. They aren't cheap, but they are worthwhile having. I now have 4 pairs, and I don't even have a proper MFT yet!!!

 

[tiralie]

I have quite a few Festools already but I am considering buying the Clamping Elements (488030) for the MFT.
Do you have those? Are they useful?

Kristian:
Yes I have them and I like them but I really haven't used them as much as I thought. I am mostly working on sheet goods plywood and melamine.
They are handy for holding rail and stiles in place for planing etc.
I would have rather had the  MFS 400 and 700 sets. I have the 700.
Tim

 

[Kristian]

I would prefer the MFS 700 before the clamps as well. I have 2 regular clamps and 2 quick clamps so I think I should be okay for most situations. But the MFS could be handy 'cause you can clamp it down over the entire table and use it as a guide, stop and more (and of couse also routing...).

Just a shame it's $550 here in DK - that's some expensive aluminum...  [sad]

- Kristian

 

[tiralie]

I hear you on the prices.
Canada isn't much better either.

Tim