Is this a good use of 2 MFT3's

SFAVGUY

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Apr 22, 2012
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Hey Guys,

I just picked up 2 of the MFT/3's and my first project includes cutting a lot of Dado's for the 30 or so kitchen cabinets I'm making, the bigger cabinets are 48 inches and that wouldn't work with the included guiderail, I got a longer guide rail and set it up like this...Am I missing something or is there a downside to using the 2 tables in this way? Thanks for the Help.
 
Just be super carefull with your plunge depth when working this way with the aluminum profiles in the middle.

I guess its not an issue for dadoes, but if you do any cuts in between you forget the plunge depth setting really easily...
 
Awesome - I'm now visualising a long line of them with an FS3000 [wink]
 
Joining two MFTs like that has been my favorite setup.  Rather than having to flip that longer 1900mm up and down, I keep a piece of plywood (about 6" x 16" of 1/2") with a strip of stick-on foam weather stripping on one end to hold the rail up while placing cuts.  I keep it handy by placing on top of a short stack of systainer on a rolling cart beneath the MFTs. 
 
Nice shop! Just remember to pull the protractors profile back under the rail when you mill out your dados! Also when cross cutting materials it is a good idea to have the profile about a quarter of an inch away from the cutline.
 
TomGadwa1 said:
Just remember to pull the protractors profile back under the rail when you mill out your dados!

Also put the profile clamp on the end of the Fence so that it stays square. The fence will flex if the clamp is not attached.

Steve Bace shows how to adjust the clamp at min. 3:44 in this video.


If I had 30 kitchen cabinets to do, I think I would spring for the Saw Stop dado brake and cut the dado's with your Saw stop.

 
Looks good, I had mine set up like that briefly but now I just prefer to keep them separate. Is their a reason you're not just doing your dados on a tablesaw?
 
I really like making dados on the MFT.  But most dados are for partitions and fixed shelves.  Partitions and fixed shelves are front to back generally so the standard MFT config will work. 

But when I'm making rabbets to join the sides to the deck and top I use the edge guide.  The length of the cabinet doesn't matter and I think you'll be happier doing that way.

So I don't see why you'd need the configuration you're showing.

Is that a box drawer glides with the yellow straps?  You are using Tandems with Blumotion right?  Course Salice and Grass are just about as good.  But it's worth every penny.  And forget those $35 per pair.  You can get the Tandems with Blumotion for 22" drawers for $18 at A&H Turf.

One more thing.  Do you have a domino?  If not then this is the justification.  Dominos and butt joints.  Forget the rabbets and dados.  No mechanical fasteners at all, just tenons and glue.  Assembly is super fast and super easy.  I think that assembly speed more than makes up for time spent punching mortises on both sides of the joint. 
 
I don't have a domino yet, this could be done on the TableSaw but I want to explore this route, may be more work but I just feel
Like I can be a bit more accurate. Thanks.
 
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