I am unable to get TWO squared cuts in a row with the Festool system.

[Jack is Dusty]

First let me say that I have over 40 years making European cabinets and furniture running a successful business before retiring. Sold all of my extremely expensive equipment, $33,000 panel saw from Sweden, German edge bander along with multiple boring machines and left communist California behind to live in a free state. But I missed being able to go out in the shop and make a few cabinets and furniture pieces for myself so I thought I would try this Festool system. I bought the MFT table along with the fence system and the hinging guide rail system and all the other bells and whistles. No complaints about the table or the guide rail. But the fence system to say the least is clunky, technical word but nevertheless I am not happy with it. The punched out and stamped sheet metal pieces that make up the hinged part and landing part for the guide rail is not what I would call by any stretch of the imagination made with any quality in mind. I figured something coming from Germany would be perfect or at least close to it. This set up is not!. 
After a lot of research I took a chance and purchased several parts from Rod at DashBoard. All of it arrived today and I had it completely assembled in less than an hour and attached to the Festool MFT, dashBoard Products work absolutely perfect. All of his products are built with CNC machined aluminum heavy duty parts, not cheap stamped steel like the Festool products. Everything from dashboard company fit perfectly and lines up with repeated perfectly square cuts time after time. An American made product that frankly is as good and precise as any German or Swedish product ever made. On top of that the prices are extremely good for this quality of product. If I had to do it all over again and I had more room I would’ve also bought dashboard tables but like I said in the beginning I actually have no problem at all with the Festool MFT, for my very small shop it works extremely well for me. You can see Dashboard products on YouTube, I encourage you to look into these high-quality parts if you’re having problems also getting square cuts.  The best thing about all of this is I no longer have to be a Festool Whisper trying to readjust tooling every time I make a cut.

 

[Chainring]

The Festool MFT hinge definitely leaves a lot to be desired. From the terrible locating pin to the finicky locking levers, it's just not what I expect from Festool. I also have the Dashboard from Rob and that's the way it should have been from Festool.

Is your Dashboard black anodized aluminum where it mounts on the MFT and silver for the sliding part? I ask because I've seen it mentioned there would be a redesign or refinement at some point.

 

[dashboardpws]

Our current design is all-silver and greatly refined from the last version that included black anodizing.

 

[Birdhunter]

I just unpacked the Dash-Board hinge box and I am a little in awe of doing the assembly. I’ve been watching the assembly videos and they seem simple enough. I have two MFTs joined together with a large vise mounted at the end of one. The vise blocks access to the extrusion so I will have to disconnect the two MFTs to gain access to the extrusion.

Are there any assembly tricks I should know befipore I start?

 

[Birdhunter]

All my MFT cuts are set up using good bench dogs and a very large woodpeckers square. They call it a framing square. It’s damn big.I never have trusted the compass that came with the MFT. I also use a SlopStop the eliminate side play in the rail.

Always get perfect cuts.

 

[mattgam]

Our current design is all-silver and greatly refined from the last version that included black anodizing.

Oh sure Rob make me consider upgrading with that comment.  My OG Dashboard is great but the all aluminum is sure appealing.

 

[Birdhunter]

I've finished the assembly, but nearly wore out the "back" button on my iPad. The video is excellent, but would appreciate a printed manual with good pictures in addition to the videos.

I am extremely pleased with the quality of the parts. The machining is really top quality. No tool marks and the fits are very snug.

 

[dashboardpws]

I just unpacked the Dash-Board hinge box and I am a little in awe of doing the assembly. I’ve been watching the assembly videos and they seem simple enough. I have two MFTs joined together with a large vise mounted at the end of one. The vise blocks access to the extrusion so I will have to disconnect the two MFTs to gain access to the extrusion.

Are there any assembly tricks I should know before I start?

Regarding installing the brackets on your tables, you should not need to disconnect them and you can install the brackets where the tables meet. Since the T-bolts used for mounting are independent of each other, just rotate each bracket close to vertical, slip one
T-bolt into the track, slide it along until you can then rotate the bracket body down again and fit the second T-bolt into the track.

 

[dashboardpws]

I've finished the assembly, but nearly wore out the "back" button on my iPad. The video is excellent, but would appreciate a printed manual with good pictures in addition to the videos.

I am extremely pleased with the quality of the parts. The machining is really top quality. No tool marks and the fits are very snug.

We've gone to excruciating lengths in refining the 6-year-old design over the past year and I'm glad that focus on quality is hitting the mark. About the videos vs printed instructions, I do my best on screen to explain the "why" as much as the "how," as well as the very few nuances that need attention during assembly. We've gone to great lengths making assembly as simple as possible but the feeling here is that we'd have a pretty thick set of instructions if it were all put down in print. Even so, we'll give some thought to how we might offer something minimal but accurate in the fullness of time.

 

[MikeGE]

Our current design is all-silver and greatly refined from the last version that included black anodizing.

Well this is just great!  My computer desk is in my shop about six feet from my MFT-style workbench and Dashboard rail hinge.  Upon reading this news, my Dashboard stopped working and my guide rail now wants the updated version.  [big grin]

 

[Birdhunter]

I aligned the Rail on the Dash-Board a little differently from the video.

When I use my TS55 on the MFT using the drop down rail, I insert two dogs along the top (far side) of the MFT, place a Woodpecker framing square against the two dogs, and align the rail against the long edge of the square. Once aligned, I tighten everything up. I then butt the wood against the two dogs, drop the rail, adjust for height, and cut. Always perfect squares.

I used this technique on the Dash-Board. Worked beautifully.

 

[squall_line]

The title of this thread and the formatting of the post disguises the fact that the solution for the poster was to buy the Dashboard rail hinge set.  I only mention this in case people skimmed the post and interpreted the title as meaning that the Dashboard hinge didn't work, either; there isn't really anything to troubleshoot for this.

 

[mino]

The punched out and stamped sheet metal pieces that make up the hinged part and landing part for the guide rail is not what I would call by any stretch of the imagination made with any quality in mind. I figured something coming from Germany would be perfect or at least close to it. This set up is not!.

... 
After a lot of research I took a chance and purchased several parts from Rod at DashBoard. All of it arrived today and I had it completely assembled in less than an hour and attached to the Festool MFT, dashBoard Products work absolutely perfect.

Well, I am not sure if the OP will return but I guess he missed a critical aspect - price.

The Festool hinge and the included fence are VERY cheap when purchased with the MFT/3 and even standalone are like half the Dashboard cost.

At 2x the cost, they better be a higher quality product - which they are.

This is not to diss on DashBoard in any way. From what I saw, they created an excellent portfolio based on the ideas Festool reaserched and developed. IMO these products are complementary, not really competing in a way.

For some Dashboard MFT approach is better, but they would be fine with Festool hinges at 1/2 the cost.
For some the Festool MFT approach is better, but they would want the more refined Dashboard hinge/fence setup.

As it should be on a healthy market.

 

[Vondawg]

When has cost Been a factor here with our Festools being one of the most pricey out there lol

 

[mino]

When has cost Been a factor here with our Festools being one of the most pricey out there lol

Heh, every other day there is an argument that XYZ product is "almost as good" but it costs 1/2 the Festool price ...

This goes both ways. An aftermarket for accessories was always about the added quality/premium/look they can provide compared to the OEM version. It is actually a testament to Festool that a whole market for hinges for their work table concept seems to be popping up.

I would raise an eyebrow when the Dashboard accessories will be at the same cost and still significantly better. Even then Festool would get my sympathy for reaserching up the concept to begin.

ADD: Like your signature. Gonna note it, if you do not mind ..

 

[Ebuwan]

I've had issues like the original poster when using MFT's for square cuts, 99.99% for cabinet panels.

I've found following a stringent process helped to get great results; but I HAVE to do it the same very time, lol.

I have the slop stop from toolnut (I don't know how you can use it without this).

I square it up with the Woodpecker MFT setup square; I do not rely on dog holes at all; had a huge time/material wasting experience when I tried that when I first got it.

The biggest thing I found with the process:

I rip the 4x8 sheets down to width with parallel guides, so I end up with a bunch of correct width pieces that are 8ft long.

I have 2 or 3 MFT's linked together, and I found if i would take the 8ft piece, square an end of it, then slide it along the fence to the stop for the lenght needed, it would always come out a little wonky.

I found that if i "rough" cross cut to length, creating much shorter pieces to square, it came out perfect.

I think for me, what was happening, the long heavy piece was acting almost like a pry bar against the fence, causing slight deflection.

I've been on the fence about the dashboard gear for the MFT's, i'm wondering if it would help me overcome this issue, cuz when cutting a lot of pieces, it's a bunch of time wasted with the rough length breakdown.

 

[sancho57]

The title of this thread and the formatting of the post disguises the fact that the solution for the poster was to buy the Dashboard rail hinge set.  I only mention this in case people skimmed the post and interpreted the title as meaning that the Dashboard hinge didn't work, either; there isn't really anything to troubleshoot for this.

Looks to me like this is a back door sales pitch , someone hawking their products under a assumed name...

considering this is the OPs first post

Jus saying

 

[mino]

The title of this thread and the formatting of the post disguises the fact that the solution for the poster was to buy the Dashboard rail hinge set.  I only mention this in case people skimmed the post and interpreted the title as meaning that the Dashboard hinge didn't work, either; there isn't really anything to troubleshoot for this.

Looks to me like this is a back door sales pitch , someone hawking their products under a assumed name...

considering this is the OPs first post

Jus saying

Sounds about right.

Considering pretty much all the "MFT solutions" are mostly equal in accuracy and the biggest differences are in the skill of the user. There is definitely nothing /fundamentqally/ wrong with the DB MFT the same way there is none with the Festool MFT. As long as they are used right.

Like not using (clamping) holes with dogs when you need 0.1mm and better accuracy ... heh.

 

[jeh]

First let me say that I have over 40 years making European cabinets and furniture running a successful business before retiring. Sold all of my extremely expensive equipment, $33,000 panel saw from Sweden, German edge bander along with multiple boring machines and left communist California behind to live in a free state. But I missed being able to go out in the shop and make a few cabinets and furniture pieces for myself so I thought I would try this Festool system. I bought the MFT table along with the fence system and the hinging guide rail system and all the other bells and whistles. No complaints about the table or the guide rail. But the fence system to say the least is clunky, technical word but nevertheless I am not happy with it. The punched out and stamped sheet metal pieces that make up the hinged part and landing part for the guide rail is not what I would call by any stretch of the imagination made with any quality in mind. I figured something coming from Germany would be perfect or at least close to it. This set up is not!. 
After a lot of research I took a chance and purchased several parts from Rod at DashBoard. All of it arrived today and I had it completely assembled in less than an hour and attached to the Festool MFT, dashBoard Products work absolutely perfect. All of his products are built with CNC machined aluminum heavy duty parts, not cheap stamped steel like the Festool products. Everything from dashboard company fit perfectly and lines up with repeated perfectly square cuts time after time. An American made product that frankly is as good and precise as any German or Swedish product ever made. On top of that the prices are extremely good for this quality of product. If I had to do it all over again and I had more room I would’ve also bought dashboard tables but like I said in the beginning I actually have no problem at all with the Festool MFT, for my very small shop it works extremely well for me. You can see Dashboard products on YouTube, I encourage you to look into these high-quality parts if you’re having problems also getting square cuts.  The best thing about all of this is I no longer have to be a Festool Whisper trying to readjust tooling every time I make a cut.

This post is the sketchiest I have seen on FOG in some time. No one ditches high end woodworking equipment, buys "cheap" substitutes and expects the same outcome. Stationary tools, even the most marginal, will beat the Festool system hands down with the exception of things they cannot do (cut diagonals, cut directly on surfaces (like a floor) and in all but the biggest saws cut plywood panels from large sheets).

This is obviously a product placement. Someone please pull it.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I’ve no idea who the OP is or what his motivation might be.

But what he says “The punched out and stamped sheet metal pieces that make up the hinged part and landing part for the guide rail is not what I would call by any stretch of the imagination made with any quality in mind.” is too true.

That tech and those parts are the oldest and crudest in Festool’s line and are absolute the weak link in the MFT. This is not to say you can’t do accurate work with the stock MFT but if you have to change the height of the rail frequently you’ll spend significant time maintaining accuracy.

Festool should seek a licensing deal with Dashboard like they have with TSO.