I suspect scrambling of part numbers for mfs bolts flyer included with mfs

[aafoote]

Festool includes a picture-page with 9 parts that commonly come with MFS profiles and with the extension pairs (the flyer comes, not all of the parts)  I want some of the metric capscrews - the short ones and the long ones. I tried the part numbers for a set of 4 capscrews (long) and triangular nuts #493 094 and the 'phone request to my Festool dealer resulted in non-matching descriptions and nonsensical (how's $80 for 4 capscrews strike you?) pricing.

I've got one tiny capscrew that came through defective and I'd like to buy some more of 'em. Also some of the other items on the flyer might work when experimenting with the profiles in different ways.

It seems that the small parts situation is dysfunctional. But I'll try again.

IDEA: take a flyer, and use it as an order blank, sending it to my dealer in an envelope or via fax. Then the dealer can match up the picture, part number, description, and get a rational price quote for me, and order the part, match it to the picture, charge me for it, and send it out to me.  Now, all I have to do is find a flyer that is not all marked up with contradictory notes......

 

[Frank-Jan]

What I do when I need spare parts, is go the festool ekat site, print out the parts table that contains the parts I want, sometimes even the drawing itself; and mark the stuff I want. It saves me time during the work day, because the shop assistants are mostly not so quick in finding part numbers.

The online parts diagram for the mfs isn't as detailed as most for entire tools though (several parts bundled to one number, in some cases I would find this handy, but they could have mentioned individual partnumbers aswell)

See my post in this thread for links: Link to spare parts diagrams forumthread

 

[tbellemare]

Is this the page you seek?

[attachthumb=#1]

Tom

 

[CharlesWilson]

Tom,

What are those 493095's? Are they the inserts that go into the ends of the MFS profiles that are used to hold corners together?

Charles

 

[aafoote]

replies: I'll followup on these 3 responses, and thanks! and yes, I am trying to get more of the mfs long fasteners that form the T. I'm guessing that "extras" might encourage me to innovate...

 

[tbellemare]

Charles:

I think it is the captured fastener. I'm not completely sure but here's the parts page from the Festool website:

[attachthumb=#1]

Tom

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Tom,

So, is Bolt Item 493095 what Charles W. thought it might be?  I cannot think what else it could be.

I am shocked at the price of one Lever with small slidable V-nut, Item 493094.   What is the intended purpose of that part?

Dave R.

 

[tbellemare]

I think Charles was correct, Dave. The part #493094 is the screw and v-nut that is used to put the profiles together and adjust them, as far as I can tell.

Tomorrow, I plan to talk to Mark or David to find out definitively.

Tom

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Thank you, Tom.  Please ask about the intended purpose of the Lever bolt and nut, too.  My guess is that this assembly is intended to be a substitute for the capscrews and v-nuts that require use of the Ball-end Hex driver supplied with an MFS kit, for operations requiring frequent adjustments and thus frequent use of the Hex driver, to save time.  But I have frequently been wrong before!

Dave R.

 

[tbellemare]

I just talked to Mark at Festool (service, spares). Apparently the 493095, Bolt, is for a template NAIA that works with this system. If you are looking for the bolts and v-nuts that hold things together, it is 493094 and it is a set of 4 each. The sleeves that insert into the profiles are not available.

If you want to make the MFS into any shape, all you have to do is tighten on one of the embedded cap screws. It pulls the profiles into a really accurate right angle. If you notice on the end of the profiles, there are little bumps that ride in the opposite profile's groove. When the cap screw is tightened, the whole thing becomes a rigid "T" or "L", depending on how you have it adjusted.

The little handle and v-nut comes with the Routing Slide that is used with the MFS for large area material removal. It is as you said, Dave, a quick-grip for when you are moving the slide along the MFS.

Tom

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Thanks, Tom.  You and all FOG members now know that I have never used my routing slide -- yet! 

I'm disappointed to learn that the sleeves that insert into the profiles are not available.  They are not needed if you arrange your MFS profiles into a rectangle, but if you want a large "try square" or T-square that you intend to leave setup and use for an extended period, addition of a second sleeve and v-nut/capscrew would make the assembly much stronger.  If I recall correctly, Jerry Work suggested getting a few of these sleeves and extra V-nuts and capscrews in his MFS manual, which was a major incentive to my purchase.

Dave R.

 

[tbellemare]

I'll have to reread Jerry Work's manual, it's a good one, like all his work.

I don't recall him mentioning the inserts. You get some of the other stuff when you get extra profiles as well. I don't normally open that type of packaging and it's been so long since I got mine, I don't remember what came with the MFS and what came with the extra profiles. I put it all in one place and mixed it up.

I think you'll find that the assembly is really rigid and square with the one side bolted down and the other "button" engaged in the opposite track. I'll try to take some pictures to show what I mean...

Tom

 

[aafoote]

when you buy a set of extensions (two lengths of the mfs) you get inline joiners only, but you get 4 of 'em, each with set screws.

when you buy a rectangle set, you get 4 corners worth of hardware. So with one rectangle, and two extra extensions bought as a pair, you are short of corner attachment bolts if you were trying for a 6-piece shape with all right angles. This was my original worry. I felt it limited versatility. Why have limits on mfs versatility! Someday I'll try again (to get more of these 90-degree attachers). I am not as interested in more of the self-tapping tubes that they run through however, and here's why:

Both kits have one of the self-tapping tubes in each end, on opposite sides. For accepting the 90-degree-enabling long capscrews that hide in the mfs's grooved edge. I'm thinking that trying to have two fasteners (one additional one added) holding a 90-degree joining together might cause problems with obstructing the edge groove. I think this opposite edge groove is needed unobstructed so a long capscrew can slide through there headed in the opposite direction. Putting dual 90-degree fasteners at the end of one of the mfs extrusions would change it to being a permanent t-square in my opinion, since these "tubes"  self-tap into the aluminum. People have mentioned moving these tubes around but I can't imagine touching them once they are installed. It seems that as long as the mfs is intended as an adaptable jig, that the user is limited to 90-degree joinings with only one capscrew and nut.

It seems illogical (ha ha I'm using "triggerwords on the Festool engineers") that a user could buy two pairs of mfs 1000 profiles for around $500- and get no 90-degree nuts and capscrews! Besides that, (and here's the smallest gripe I'll ever be able to think of) one of the teeny capscrews with the angle plates (2 plates with a rectangle kit) has no recess for the hexdriver. They're only giving two of the small fasteners with each angle plate. I was disappointed, a little.....