Man, the MFT is HEAVY!

[onocoffee]

I've always been thinking about getting an MFT - even though I don't really have the space, I've rationalized that I could use one for those nicer days when I want to set up outside and do some power carving (because I do power carving "all the time" - more like twice in the past year).

Recently, my friend bought a whole MFT/Dashboard setup from a seller on Marketplace and it arrived today. The seller had two MFTs, an MW1000 extension, two Dashboard Outriggers and lots of Dashboard hardware. My first time seeing the Dashboard stuff and it's quite robust. As I was helping him set it up, I was a bit surprised by how heavy the MFTs are. Definitely much heavier than I would like to haul in and out of the garage for all those times I like to do power carving.

For those of you who setup MFTs on the regular at jobsites: Respect. I might just end up getting that Klein portable that Lowes has on special for $99.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Because my shed space is so extremely tight, I rely on lugging my MFT outside everyday it's not raining to do work. It is a little heavy, but you get used to manhandling it pretty quickly so it's second nature.

I sometimes use the workbench for my SCS 50, but that's a little wider at the base than needed and hence more cumbersome. So I've often thought about building a folding MFT with a narrow wheel base that takes up very little floor space and is easy to manoeuvre, but will give me a 1.5m long work surface. I reckon that would be perfect for "backyard" workers like myself.

In lieu of making a custom rolling workbench, the MFT is incredibly handy and well worth getting in my book. You could always leave the legs folded and sit it on a frame with wheels to make it more mobile.

 

[bwehman]

Ah yep yep. I remember the first time I started using them on the regular and I too was pretty surprised how beastly they are. I will say, they're still heavy, but you get better at moving them around more mindlessly the more you use them.

 

[Coen]

Bare MFT/3 with legs should be 28 kg according to Festool. I don't move mine that often. But it's easily doable if you are big enough to hold it the easy way. I'm slightly above average length, but being Dutch... that distorts that picture a bit in the worldwide perspective. Lets just say I was very happy Festool raised the height of it compared to the previous line of Basis Plus and MFT that were only 820mm instead of 900.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Is it the leg bracket/corner castings? or the MDF itself? They make an "Ultralight" version that might shave a Kg or 2.
I have never tried to lift/carry one.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I work out of my garage. For many years I have been using two ceiling cable lifts. On one lift I have three 32"x48" MFT style MDF slabs with 20mm holes to make a 4'x8' worktable. I put Domino connectors between the slabs to snug them up. I used to put these on SpeedHorses and track tubes but recently bought an STM1800 and in about 3-minutes I can setup or break down this table. The STM 1800 allows me to move the worktable around the garage so I can easily pull out my large machines. I can even pull it out in the driveway if needed. This just makes woodworking much more enjoyable in a small space.

I'm pretty sure they now sell light weight MDF if that will help you?

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

I've found that replacing the MDF tops with plywood tops helps with the weight somewhat. I carry a pair of MFT/3 tables in my van for daily use, if I need to get into a basement of 2nd/3rd story I have four MFT/3 Kapex tables that come in handy. All have the original MDF tops removed, replaced with birch plywood tops. Connecting two tables together dramatically increases stability....

 

[onocoffee]

Is it the leg bracket/corner castings? or the MDF itself? They make an "Ultralight" version that might shave a Kg or 2.
I have never tried to lift/carry one.

I attributed the weight of those two MFT/3s (and the 1000 extension) to the MDF tops. Surprisingly heavy. Though @Tom the Remodeler 's mod with birch plywood sounds like it would reduce the weight a bit.

There's a guy on Marketplace offering an older MFT in Virginia. If it's still there in January when I'm in that part of the country, I might hit him up and see if we can come to a deal. My intended use really is for when I want to set up outside, so stable is good, but easy is better.

 

[MacBoy]

As @onocoffee roams, keep an eye for the Kreg ACS table.

I love the rectangle format of it.

Just fold up the legs and it rolls into the tool shed.

Although it has 3/4” holes (19mm) spaced out on 96mm centers.

Via the China markets, one can get any hold-down accessory for the 19mm holes. Even the Fence Dogs.

 

[jeffinsgf]

My niggle with the MFT/3 is that it has all that weight, and still wiggles like a bowl of Jello.

 

[Imemiter]

As @onocoffee roams, keep an eye for the Kreg ACS table.

That's the way I went. I bought the legs and built my own top using a 2x4 edge to carry the C-channels. The wheels kind of got in the way so I repurposed them on a miter saw stand. It might be heavier than an MFT, but maybe not!

 

[bwehman]

My niggle with the MFT/3 is that it has all that weight, and still wiggles like a bowl of Jello.

I was fully expecting this when switching over the MFTs this last winter but for my use I've never had an issue with wiggling. They're super solid and I'm not using the corner braces either. Wonder why the different experience for a product that's in theory all made identical.

 

[johnmpf]

On the used MFT That I bought the connection of the leg tube to the pivot brackets were loose. They are attached using four dimples pressed into the pivot that loosen up with use. I drilled these out and put bolts in. Now the table is much more stable.

 

[Dutchfest00ler]

I have an (old but good) mft 1080. And yes it is quite heavy. I put 2 wheels on 2 corners gew years back. When it is folded I can easily move it around.

Nice upgrade in my humble opinion.

 

[Coen]

On the used MFT That I bought the connection of the leg tube to the pivot brackets were loose. They are attached using four dimples pressed into the pivot that loosen up with use. I drilled these out and put bolts in. Now the table is much more stable.

Yeah same with CS 50 here.

 

[PaulMarcel]

I have an (old but good) mft 1080. And yes it is quite heavy. I put 2 wheels on 2 corners gew years back. When it is folded I can easily move it around.

Nice upgrade in my humble opinion.

This is what I'd do if I had to move it often. On the back rail, it wouldn't get in the way of anything unless you want to shove it up against a wall

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I have an (old but good) mft 1080. And yes it is quite heavy. I put 2 wheels on 2 corners gew years back. When it is folded I can easily move it around.

Nice upgrade in my humble opinion.

I have the same MFT1080...and yea, it's heavy. I didn't do wheels but I did do leg extentions to raise it to the current 900mm level. But it lives in the garage, not the shop, and it's leaning against the wall most of the time so I rarely move it unless I'm doing something in the house and need additional work surface nearby.

 

[morts10n]

I've always been thinking about getting an MFT - even though I don't really have the space, I've rationalized that I could use one for those nicer days when I want to set up outside and do some power carving (because I do power carving "all the time" - more like twice in the past year).

Recently, my friend bought a whole MFT/Dashboard setup from a seller on Marketplace and it arrived today. The seller had two MFTs, an MW1000 extension, two Dashboard Outriggers and lots of Dashboard hardware. My first time seeing the Dashboard stuff and it's quite robust. As I was helping him set it up, I was a bit surprised by how heavy the MFTs are. Definitely much heavier than I would like to haul in and out of the garage for all those times I like to do power carving.

For those of you who setup MFTs on the regular at jobsites: Respect. I might just end up getting that Klein portable that Lowes has on special for $99.

Years ago, I had an MFT that was only used for my mitersaw. Because it was so heavy, I installed wheels on it. It was very simple to just use a proper sized bolt with washers on either side of wheel as an axle and installed two of them through the lower unused hole in adjacent corner brackets.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I was fully expecting this when switching over the MFTs this last winter but for my use I've never had an issue with wiggling. They're super solid and I'm not using the corner braces either. Wonder why the different experience for a product that's in theory all made identical.

I'll take another look. It's possible it isn't assembled correctly and/or someone here has taken it apart to look at a component and put it back together sloppily.