MFK 700 - again

[Meisterwood]

I bought an MFK 700 set a while back when I intended to do more cabinet work--built ins, murphy bed, etc.  I love the look and feel of the MFK 700 and I have the edge guide as well.  It is a lovely piece.  However, my work changed and I have never used the MFK, but want to find a use in my shop where I am now making smaller pieces and using solid wood almost exclusively. I might be able to use it when doing veneer work which would mean buying a zero degree base.  I have searched the site and found some help such as Jerry's track and MFT enhancements.  One disadvantage in my thinking is that the bit is not visible if I want to freehand something.  Perhaps I have missed something in my forum search or have not been clever enough in my thinking.  If I can't find a use in my work I'll put it in classifieds and someone will get a never used MFK 700 set.  I'd appreciate help on this.

 

[afish]

Sorry, I cant help with the other uses.  The MFK is a one trick pony to me.  Trimming edge banding is its sole purpose in life and its claim to fame.  Its the only reason I have one.  I feel Festool tried to make it more than it is with all the extras.  If a person needs to do more traditional routing Im reaching for a different and most likely a much cheaper router.  If you dont see yourself doing a bunch of edge banding then I would say sell it and get something else that you will get more use out of. 

 

[Meisterwood]

I do believe you are correct afish.  Thanks for your directness. 

 

[grobkuschelig]

For me the MFK700 is still a godsend.
It handles most of my routing needs, mainly all edge stuff. Not just edge banding. Roundovers, chamfers etc.

Why? Because it is the easiest and most accurate router to setup that I know.
I usually run the normal base (the one with the hole for the bit).
For edgebanding, you obviously need the 0 or 1.5 degree bases.

If it got lost or I would need to start over, it would be the first router to come back into the shop.

Interesting how different the experiences are.

 

[afish]

yep, everyone has there own way I guess.  For quick roundover or edge treatments I love a D-handle router. Very easy to hold, switch on/off and grip/control with one handed. 

 

[Birdhunter]

I have the MFK and all the attachments. Never use it. I use a LN block plane and a Festool sander. I don’t do huge amounts of edge banding and I like the control the block plane gives me.

I recently did a large reception desk (about 25 feet of edging) and it went quickly with the plane and sander. That’s the upper limit of my banding.

 

[jcrowe1950]

Sorry, I cant help with the other uses.  The MFK is a one trick pony to me.  Trimming edge banding is its sole purpose in life and its claim to fame.  Its the only reason I have one.  I feel Festool tried to make it more than it is with all the extras.  If a person needs to do more traditional routing Im reaching for a different and most likely a much cheaper router.  If you dont see yourself doing a bunch of edge banding then I would say sell it and get something else that you will get more use out of.

  Interesting. To me besides edge banding trimming, the MFK 700 excels at template routing because it offers a screw in mount for template bushings which result in a dead center  functionality. While I don't own one, I get to use the one from work and intend to use it for doing inlays which I have never enjoyed with my Dewalt trim router. One other thing that I found on Jerry Work's site was how to use the MFK 700 as a micro adjustable horizontal router....he used it for creating the male side of sliding dovetails. That's a definitely great application in my opinion, but then Jerry Work is an exceptionally talented woodworker. As always, YMMV and the potential of the tool is up to the user.

P.S. - if you are interested in the document by Jerry Work, here is the link...
Jerry Work's MFK 700 document

 

[tjbnwi]

I have multiple MFK 700's. It is definetly not a one trick pony.

It will accept any 1/4" or 8mm shank bit you have up to about 1.125". Round overs, ogees, rebates all very easy.

The bit is highly visible, probably the most visible of a "palm" router.

Only thing I wish is Festool would sell just the motor.

I did make my own track guide.

I believe, the tools are limited only by our imagination.

The 700 is my second favorite Festool router, the 2200 is my favorite.


Tom

 

[jcrowe1950]

Very nice application.....also a very accurate exposition on the versatility of the MFK 700.

 

[afish]

Ok, so one trick pony might have been an oversimplification. Since you are correct the tools are only limited by our imagination.  However, the MFK doesn't do anything more than a normal router can.  The Horizontal base is what sets it apart.  I cant see justifying $600 for a small trim style router unless you are utilizing the horizontal base heavily.  I haven't seen one other task pointed out that couldn't be easily handled by just about any other router ever made for one third of the price.  Inlays, template guides (can use centering cone to get it perfect), dados, rabbits, almost any type of edge treatment often up to 1/2" shank and everything in between not just limited to 1/4 or 8mm collet or 1.125 bit diameter. 

I do agree that I wish Festool would sell just the motor unit so I could have both the Horz. base setup for trimming the edge banding and then have another one set up with a 1, 1.5, 2mm roundover.  Since I do like the handle and offset base of the vertical base.  However if they want anything more than $300 for the motor ( and even that's pushing it) they can keep it. Since I will just use a 8mm collet and a cordless trim router or D-handle router for the roundover.  It does slightly trigger my OCD having basically half the kit sitting in a case NEVER used.

 

[Cheese]

Slick application Tom...I like the inset door tracks.  [big grin]

 

[Kevin D.]

I use mine solely for edge banding also.  I've owned it for ten years now.  I use other small routers for other tasks.

 

[cider]

I hate flushing edge trim so much that the MFK 700 is worth it to me solely for that, but I've also found the (strangely expensive) 500368 bit useful at times.