Is the MFT3 for me?

[DANIELKARL]

I have been thinking about getting a MFT3. But each time I go to Woodcraft and look at it I am a little worried. I love the idea of a saw integrated work table and I find my TS 55 and guide rails the most labor and effort saving of all my festools. But, when it comes right down to it the MFT3 looks like kind of a contraption to me. So if you love your MTF3 let me know, if you have problems with it and parts are aways falling off and it is never square or it take an hour to set it up let me know that too.
Thanks, Dan

 

[peter halle]

I debated for a long time before getting my MFT3.  After all it's just a table with holes in the top.  Everything that I do requires me to be portable and go to my clients.  Got the table, spent maybe half an hour hour setting it up initially, and then tried it out.  Now I wonder why I waited to get it.  Accurate, sets up quickly, and gives so much more flexibility in use.

Recently I was at a Gary Katz Roadshow production and a Festool rep was there.  Of course he attracted many browsers - mainly carpenters like myself.  Most people seemd skeptical around the Mft3 especially when they heard the price, but then I showed them some of the things that it would do.  I uirged the rep to demo how quickly you could go from "in the truck" to first cut - accurately - but he didn't bother to do it.  He could have easily generated a sale or two for the dealer right then but oh well.  Since I got mine I have stopped carrying my miterbox stand and also my portable table saw for most jobs.  Wouldn't trade mine for the world.

Peter

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Dan,

Go for it...  A very useful item and part of the overall system.  I will likely add another one or two to my workshop in the next year.

Best,
Todd

 

[Daviddubya]

I have two of the older version of the MFT in my home-based shop.  These tables are amazingly useful.  Accurate crosscuting is just the start.  I do not use the MFT for angled cuts - I set the fence and guide rail square and leave it that way, although with the ikmproved fence on the MFT3, angled cuts are probably easier to set up.  Cutting dados in sheet goods is easy.  Clamping and gluing is much simpler than a work table. because of the clamping alternatives.  Read Jerry Work's supplemental manual on the MFT and you will see many uses.  My MFTs have become an essential part of my shop.

 

[Holzhacker]

It's another pricey piece of equipment to have and haul. However ...
If you are going to use it in a shop/home/garage like I do mine most of the time. It really helps promote a clean, consistent, reliable workspace and saves a lot of time. If using on a jobsite, which I do sometimes still, it's even better. No more packing sawhorses that wiggle, making sure there's a decent sheet of plywood to use for a top. The mft saves a lot of time and effort for me. I don't use it's capabilities as much as a lot of guys seem too, maybe some day. I put out the big bucks because I was tired of screwing around with oddball work surfaces.
My rec ... buy it.