Longitudinal Stop

[clintholeman]

In the recent past, there have been some posts about using the Longitudinal Stop [Item # 488564] or rather how it isn't all that useful.

I work by myself and find that it is really helpful - almost invaluable for securing pieces while I cut or route them. 

Here a a couple of pix showing the Stop used in both routing and sawing - and yes the saw is cutting at and angle - 15 degrees in fact - which is why it looks a little funny.

I think this is one of the unsung accessories - it is a huge time saver for me.

 

[woodshopdemos]

Clint,
  You got me. I don't think I have ever used them but I sure see how you do. I am going to give them a try. Thanks.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Clint,
I think this is one of those accessories whose benefits are difficult to visualize until someone illustrates it, as you did.  I've tried all sorts of things for indexing off the side of the MFT, and this seems like a good possibility.

But look at the top of your poor MFT!!

Matthew

 

[clintholeman]

But look at the top of your poor MFT!!

I use the heck out of my MFTs - I look at the tops as "consumable".  I did flip this one a couple of days after I took the last photo. 

I think the stop works best as a "stop".  It has, or mine does, sort of an over center lock as you push it down - makes for a nice tight, but not too much for sawing, lock on the work piece.  Even with a chewed up MFT top.

 

[Mirko]

When I trim Doors to length I use the Longitudinal stop a fair bit.
I make my doors the same size as my cabinets, when I size them I remove 1/16" of each side, this is where the stop comes into play.
the stop is setup in the out board end of the MFT, when I make my first trim cut I push the door up-to the stop and cut, (don't forget to lift it out of the way)
I set the flag stop on the mft fence to my finished length, flip the door over and trim to final length, done!

Mirko

 

[clintholeman]

You know, I do mine the same way.  I was going to trim some doors next week and take some pix to post.  And you have saved me the time!!!

It is a fast and easy way to cut/trim two opposite ends to size - even if you aren't using inset doors.

There are a multitude of ways to use this stop - I wonder how many more there are lurking out there?