Making a MFT on my current bench

[Ned]

With the OF1400 comes an adapter to "PC" style guide bushes.  So all of the imperial sizes including 1" are available.  I decided to use the 1" OD ring with the Festool 20mm bit.

I think that combination wasn't available to me when I set up to drill the grid--1400 didn't exist.  I have an adapter (from Leigh, I think) to use PC guides with my 1010.  OK, I won't whine about the 30mm bushing's availability anymore.

I suspect that dust collection from the 20mm hinge bit would be better with the 30mm ring than with a 1" (25.4mm) ring, but I have no proof.

One question on the hole drilling system -- doesn't each row have to be separately aligned with care to keep the entire grid equidistant?  That is, where the hole drilling system will guarantee accurate spacing along a row, don't you have to precisely reset the guide rail each time to guarantee accurate spacing between rows?  If so, it seems to me that a template would be easier and more accurate.

Yep Dave, everything you're saying is correct.  I used the guide rail with holes to (carefully) make the template.

On the old group I showed some aluminum locating bushings I made to accurately position the rail for the next row.  I should move that info over here.  Gimme a day or two.

 

[Dave Rudy]

On the old group I showed some aluminum locating bushings I made to accurately position the rail for the next row.  I should move that info over here.  Gimme a day or two.

Thanks Ned.  I will look forward to it.  Not only would that be a pleasant solution (one among many) but it would provide the excuse to get the LRS 32!!

Dave

 

[greg mann]

...you could do all of the above with a 20mm Rockler Forstner and a 3/8 collet in, dare I say it, a Bosch plunger.

Do they have a carbide version? I wonder if you could bore that many holes in MDF with the same HS steel bit? Are those Forstner bits even HS?

Michael,

Rockler makes a carbide 20mm Forstner. Check that, Rocklers sells one, I don't know who makes it. Of course the Festool hinge bit is carbide. My original 'homemade MFT' was done with a Forstner carbide @ 3/4" on a measured 4 inch grid using a plunge router and trying to hit the crosshairs of the marked grid. I used a straightedge to keep one axis of movement straight. It worked pretty well but having a pre-esisting bushing plate like the MFT is much better. I like Greg B's method as well but I am not sure I would not let my mind stray just enough to bugger up the template. I suppose the same thing could be said about using my method and not waiting long enough for the router to stop before you try to reposition. OT: Those things really annoy me when I know the Euro 1400 has rapid stopping features that had to be stripped off for UL approval. If UL is primarily a safety assurrance organization they ought to be doing a lot of soul searching over that one. I wonder if they could be sued for recommending removal of a safety feature if someone gets hurt? Not that I would. I feel we do have personal responsibility when we pick up a tool and I suppose mixing fast stop and non-fast stop tools in your woodworking environment is problematic too. Is is me or have I been ranting alot the last few days. Got to get it out of my system.  :