Jumbo MFT with Incra Miter
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Corwin
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Well it is true, I have been spending all available shop time to prepare for a thread on, "Using Incra and Woodpecker Products with your Festool System." While I am only a home hobbyist, and a beginning one at that, I have seen Woodpecker's ads for the Incra position jigs for longer than I care to admit. More recently I learned of Festool, checked some articles including Jerry Work's fine article on the MFT, and in that learned way more than I had bargained for. By the end I figured that if he (a professional woodworker, and a rather fine one at that) liked the System, then this might just be a path I could take. Furthermore, I had spent far too many years trying to figure how I could accommodate a table saw and the other equipment I would want -- and this Festool system would easily fit into my not so easily accessable shop. So, even though it was a 'sight unseen' purchase, I made my first leap. That was just over two years ago, and I certainly have been happy with the choice. But my nice little shop does not resemble the shop I had envisioned for all those years -- no, I like this arrangement far better. Just for starters, it has more room to work and most items have a place to hide.
What about the Incra? Well, while that first Festool order was on the way, I looked at Woodpecker's site to check out the Incra positioners. But I quickly discovered that not only did Incra offer several items of interest, Woodpecker's also manufactured their own line of products that looked to go hand-in-hand with the Incra line. I went ahead and placed an order for several items, but that first order did not include one of the Incra positioners -- I did order the LS shortly there after, but the item of most interest to me is the incremental track that one would typically use for a scaled fence on a variety of machines (miter saw, drill press, RAS, etc.)
Along with the learning curve in using my Festool tools, I was also experimenting with these Incra products. The positioners are rather straight forward and can be useful on the MFT. They also work nicely on the cutting table too -- when mounted on a lipped base that enables it to index directly off a good edge of your material, it can assist to position the guide rail. But Incra's incremental track can also be used to accomplish those operations, and then some... I have attached these tracks in place to use as fences and used loose as story sticks and have spent much time experimenting. Adding a base and/or sub-fence is often advantageous, as is installing on jigs. There seems to be a multitude of ways one might use these tracks and other products to extend your Festool system's capabilities.
Sorry for the long post, but the FOG is often a type of escape for me -- and makes for a nice break for my back after working in the shop. Anyway, some things always seems to take longer to do that one initially thinks, and preparing for this topic has been so -- and time spent working on getting Steve's 'hole' other idea has been met with a few issues that I have spent too long on. But, progress is being made, and I'm thinking of starting the topic soon rather than have you wait until I am fully prepared (although that my prove to have been a better course of action). So, once I get the current project I'm working on for this completed (hope that will be tomorrow) I can begin the photo process. Hope this doesn't take too long before I can start posting.
What about the Incra? Well, while that first Festool order was on the way, I looked at Woodpecker's site to check out the Incra positioners. But I quickly discovered that not only did Incra offer several items of interest, Woodpecker's also manufactured their own line of products that looked to go hand-in-hand with the Incra line. I went ahead and placed an order for several items, but that first order did not include one of the Incra positioners -- I did order the LS shortly there after, but the item of most interest to me is the incremental track that one would typically use for a scaled fence on a variety of machines (miter saw, drill press, RAS, etc.)
Along with the learning curve in using my Festool tools, I was also experimenting with these Incra products. The positioners are rather straight forward and can be useful on the MFT. They also work nicely on the cutting table too -- when mounted on a lipped base that enables it to index directly off a good edge of your material, it can assist to position the guide rail. But Incra's incremental track can also be used to accomplish those operations, and then some... I have attached these tracks in place to use as fences and used loose as story sticks and have spent much time experimenting. Adding a base and/or sub-fence is often advantageous, as is installing on jigs. There seems to be a multitude of ways one might use these tracks and other products to extend your Festool system's capabilities.
Sorry for the long post, but the FOG is often a type of escape for me -- and makes for a nice break for my back after working in the shop. Anyway, some things always seems to take longer to do that one initially thinks, and preparing for this topic has been so -- and time spent working on getting Steve's 'hole' other idea has been met with a few issues that I have spent too long on. But, progress is being made, and I'm thinking of starting the topic soon rather than have you wait until I am fully prepared (although that my prove to have been a better course of action). So, once I get the current project I'm working on for this completed (hope that will be tomorrow) I can begin the photo process. Hope this doesn't take too long before I can start posting.
petiegolfer
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Funny you should post this....after following the mft alingement thread closely I have decided to have a crack at something myself... stuff is pitching up on Mon.
1) Incra 1000se.
2) some 3/4 track.
3) An OF1010 off the bay...very little use and 2/3rds the cost.
The incra and track is going onto the MFT in a way that hopefully peeps will find interesting. It will use the principal of the hole system being perfectly square.
I will try to get things done as soon as poss and get some pics posted.
Piers
1) Incra 1000se.
2) some 3/4 track.
3) An OF1010 off the bay...very little use and 2/3rds the cost.
The incra and track is going onto the MFT in a way that hopefully peeps will find interesting. It will use the principal of the hole system being perfectly square.
I will try to get things done as soon as poss and get some pics posted.
Piers
I am quite interested in your ideas, Corwin. One thing that escapes me:
"I did order the LS shortly there after, but the item of most interest to me is the incremental track that one would typically use for a scaled fence on a variety of machines (miter saw, drill press, RAS, etc.)"
I'm not sure I know which product you refer to as the "incremental track". I am familiar with a Kreg product for precision positioning, but you are talking about an Incra or Woodpecker part? If you have a moment, let me know the specifics so I can look it up.
Kevin
"I did order the LS shortly there after, but the item of most interest to me is the incremental track that one would typically use for a scaled fence on a variety of machines (miter saw, drill press, RAS, etc.)"
I'm not sure I know which product you refer to as the "incremental track". I am familiar with a Kreg product for precision positioning, but you are talking about an Incra or Woodpecker part? If you have a moment, let me know the specifics so I can look it up.
Kevin
nickao
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Here is the link to the Woodpecker page you can purchase it at. Scott's link is better to show how the system works, though.
Incremantal track at Woodpeckers
Nickao
Incremantal track at Woodpeckers
Nickao
petiegolfer
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Ahhh...wont be messing around with the MFT...got the OF1010 which was great. Saw a Domino in the flesh and demoed on Mon and brought one today! 
Wonderful piece of kit! Im not buying another thing this year!
Piers
Wonderful piece of kit! Im not buying another thing this year!
Piers
Per Swenson
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John Stevens said:[
Not impressed. I mean, don't the very best trim carpenters set it by eye alone and get gap-free miters every time?
Regards,
John
Best of 'em use a chop saw and soon a Kapex. ;D
Per
nickao
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Per Swenson said:John Stevens said:[
Not impressed. I mean, don't the very best trim carpenters set it by eye alone and get gap-free miters every time?
Regards,
John
Best of 'em use a chop saw and soon a Kapex. ;D
Per
I don't know how to respond to "the very best trim carpenters"
Do you mean the fastest, the tightest joints. I don't care what technique is used if they make me money and the client loves the work. That is the "best to me" .
I knew older guy that could install crown really really fast and accurately with little measuring. But it did not look any better then the apprentice that struggled for two days running the same linear footage the older guy ran in 4 hours.. You know I made more money with the apprentice.
I am no slouch with miters or making any angles tight to their connecting piece. Just because someone can eye it(which I suspect is not many) does not make them "the best" at all if the miters are nice, but the entire piece of trim is out of plumb or has so many trim holes in it the painters go crazy.
As I get older I find their is always someone better, so I do no use the word the best very often, especially based on someone eying stuff. Actually, that could be a red flag. That being said while trimming, the angles are rarely exact and an experienced worker can develop an eye for it. Those guys that develop a knack are thinking the angles, you just do not see them measuring, but they are, in their head.
I think the very best make sure the final work is representative of what the client wants and still makes money on the job.
Nickao
Per Swenson
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nickao said:
nickao
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Okay the apprentice was making 10.00 bucks and hour thats 160.00. The trim carpenter was from a company that charged 55.00 a man hour that's 220.00
And the apprentice was staying with me and would make me much more money over time, even after 2 years when he was up to 25.00 - he moved as fast as the old man in the end.
My main point was no one is the "best:". I can always find someone better than me a a particular thing. Thats how I learned to make money.
My issue was with Johns statement "the very best" nothing you said at all and all my tools are an extension of my hands, when I can get them in my hands. I have been on this dang forum so much lately!
Nick
And the apprentice was staying with me and would make me much more money over time, even after 2 years when he was up to 25.00 - he moved as fast as the old man in the end.
My main point was no one is the "best:". I can always find someone better than me a a particular thing. Thats how I learned to make money.
My issue was with Johns statement "the very best" nothing you said at all and all my tools are an extension of my hands, when I can get them in my hands. I have been on this dang forum so much lately!
Nick
KevinColo said:
Kevin,
My $.02: my uniform experience is that next generation Festools are always a major improvement over the original. That's why I have the MFT3 on order. Just the difference in the fence alone makes the MFT3 worth it, IMHO.
HTH
Dave
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