MFK 700 for veneer edge trimming?

[EcoFurniture]

Hi,

Lately, I'm building a lot of plywood cabinets that require thin veneer edge taping. So far I was using a flush plane to trim the overhang off. This task can be very time consuming....
Now my question is:
Has anyone used the MFK 700 to trim down thin veneer edging? Usually edge tape is quite bridle and therefore I'm afraid that a router will be to rough for that task.  This will be a fairly big investment for just this one task, but I'm willing do buy that router if it will do the job better then I can.

Any recommendation/ feedback is welcome!

Thanks!

Andreas

 

[danrush]

The MFK works well for this task, but for this single task only could be a bit expensive.  I like using the Virutex edge band trimmer.  It's very simple to use and I think I may have paid 10-15USD for it.

 

[ForumMFG]

ECO,

Go to Youtube or TheWoodWhisperer.com and find the video of the woodwhisperer reviewing Festool Routers.  It includes the OF2000 and MFK700.  He talked about just how well this works for veneer edge tape.  He made the comment that he was scared to use laminate trimmers on veneer edge tape before but this router solved the problem.  It's a good review, take a look at it.

-Dave

 

[EcoFurniture]

Thanks for the feedback!
I was already aware of the video review Mark did, but in his video he is using way thicker veneer then I'm using. Maybe I have to ask him directly.
As for the Virutex edge band trimmer, I have several of them and I'm not happy the way they work... there is more ripping then cutting going on.
but you are right, the MFK is way to expensive for just this task... but still cheaper then a full blow edgebanding machine! I guess it all depends how you see it 

 

[Brice Burrell]

Andreas, that's pretty much what the MFK was made for. The first job my MFK was used for was several hundred feet of veneer edge tape for shelving. It was so easy I quickly passed the job off to a fairly inexperienced kid, he did the job with no problems.

While the MFK isn't the most versatile router it certainly does more than just edge trimming. It works for a lot of small routing jobs, I've been using mine for routing hinges lately. You really do need to be aware of its limitations, poor visibility of the cutter, limited size bits fit in it. This seems to be a love it or hate it tool. If you do a lot of edge trimming and don't mind not being able to see the cutter for small routing jobs the MFK could be your cup of tea could be the right tool for you, if you don't you might quickly grow frustrated by its limitations. Good luck with your decision.  

Edit: I just crossed out the line about cup of tea, you might not understand the saying, sorry.  ;D  

 

[sw1211]

You might check out Jerry Work's site and see how he uses this for other applications. (sliding dovetails)

 

[mike1967]

Andreas, that's pretty much what the MFK was made for. The first job my MFK was used for was several hundred feet of veneer edge tape for shelving. It was so easy I quickly passed the job off to a fairly inexperienced kid, he did the job with no problems.

Did you use the 1.5 degree offset base or the non-offset base?  I am considering getting an mfk 700 for trimming but am thinking that the 1.5 degree offset base will  mean that boards trimmed before joining will not match nicely in their corners where edging touches at, say, 90 degrees.

mike

 

[EcoFurniture]

Andreas, that's pretty much what the MFK was made for. The first job my MFK was used for was several hundred feet of veneer edge tape for shelving. It was so easy I quickly passed the job off to a fairly inexperienced kid, he did the job with no problems.

While the MFK isn't the most versatile router it certainly does more than just edge trimming. It works for a lot of small routing jobs, I've been using mine for routing hinges lately. You really do need to be aware of its limitations, poor visibility of the cutter, limited size bits fit in it. This seems to be a love it or hate it tool. If you do a lot of edge trimming and don't mind not being able to see the cutter for small routing jobs the MFK could be your cup of tea could be the right tool for you, if you don't you might quickly grow frustrated by its limitations. Good luck with your decision.  

Edit: I just crossed out the line about cup of tea, you might not understand the saying, sorry.  ;D  

Thank you sir, that is was I was looking for ;D  No worries about the tea.... I'm a coffee drinker --just kidding, got it  ;D
Another question:
Would you think that the Bosch laminate trimmer could be an alternative? I haven't used one in years as I do most router jobs on the table or with my OF1400. Just wondering....

 

[score0matic]

Andreas,

You may also want to consider the 1010  after getting mine I think I have had my PC trimmer out once.  Besides once you start using it your 1400 will get lonely cause you never give it the love and attention you used to ;D .

Craig

 

[ForumMFG]

I use my OF1400 obviously for larger routings and I have a Porter Cable 810 laminate router.  It's a very small and very nice router.  They stopped making them and came out with a newer model thats a lot larger.  I actually have it for sell on this forum.  Anyway, the PC 810 lamiante trimmer is built to last and can take on what you need to do plus other tasks.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Did you use the 1.5 degree offset base or the non-offset base?  I am considering getting an mfk 700 for trimming but am thinking that the 1.5 degree offset base will  mean that boards trimmed before joining will not match nicely in their corners where edging touches at, say, 90 degrees.

mike

Mike, I assume you are referring to edging with some thickness, if so, yes there will be a problem with alignment. The solution is to rout the pieces in place (if you can.) With edge veneer tape the 1.5 degree bevel cut it almost unnoticeable.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Thank you sir, that is was I was looking for ;D  No worries about the tea.... I'm a coffee drinker --just kidding, got it  ;D
Another question:
Would you think that the Bosch laminate trimmer could be an alternative? I haven't used one in years as I do most router jobs on the table or with my OF1400. Just wondering....

Almost any router could be an alternative, you'd have to buy or make an offset base and you'd be able to do the job. Another alternative are the Festool edge routing accessories, they'll fit your OF1400 but that are a little more graceful on the OF1010. Here's a link to my review of the Festool edge routing accessories.

 

[mike1967]

Did you use the 1.5 degree offset base or the non-offset base?  I am considering getting an mfk 700 for trimming but am thinking that the 1.5 degree offset base will  mean that boards trimmed before joining will not match nicely in their corners where edging touches at, say, 90 degrees.

mike

Mike, I assume you are referring to edging with some thickness, if so, yes there will be a problem with alignment. The solution is to rout the pieces in place (if you can.) With edge veneer tape the 1.5 degree bevel cut it almost unnoticeable.

Yes, I'll believe that the bevel with the tape is not noticeable.

Have you used the no-offset base at all with the 700?  I wonder if this tends to cause scratches in the surface of the material being edged.    I have read your OF 1010 review about edge routing.  Have you had this problem (edging bit scratches the case being edged) with the edging plate?

mike

 

[Brice Burrell]

Mike, I'm not sure I follow your questions. Do you mean the zero degree base with the MFK? And by scratching the surface do you mean the bit cutting into the surface of the material being edged since it's not being cut at 1.5 degrees?

I don't have the zero degree base for the MFK, the set comes with the 1.5 degree horizontal and 90 degree vertical bases, that's what I have. With the Festool edging plate and angle arm to rout edging I leave a very small amount of edging to make sure I don't cut into the surface of the material being edged. I then use a sanding block to quickly knock off the remaining edge flush them carefully one light pass to put on a very slight bevel. 

 

[mike1967]

Mike, I'm not sure I follow your questions. Do you mean the zero degree base with the MFK? And by scratching the surface do you mean the bit cutting into the surface of the material being edged since it's not being cut at 1.5 degrees?

I don't have the zero degree base for the MFK, the set comes with the 1.5 degree horizontal and 90 degree vertical bases, that's what I have. With the Festool edging plate and angle arm to rout edging I leave a very small amount of edging to make sure I don't cut into the surface of the material being edged. I then use a sanding block to quickly knock off the remaining edge flush them carefully one light pass to put on a very slight bevel. 

Yes, I mean the zero degree base that comes with the MFK.  And, yes, I was referring to the bit cutting into the material being edged.

You answered my questions.  Thanks.

mike

 

[EcoFurniture]

Update:

I got my new MFK 700 set this morning. Without reading the instructions.... it took me less then 10 minutes to figure out and set up the machine to do some edge trimming. The results are amazing! Crisp and clean edges. Trimming down 40' of edge tape would have taken me, if done with my flush plane, about an hour maybe more. With the MFK I was done in 10 minutes (including breaking the edges with sandpaper). At a shop rate of $50/hour I will have the cost for the router back in within no time!

I love it! Thank you Dan from Ultimate tools in Vancouver for really going out of his way to get the router to my shop within a very short time!!!!!

 

[Brice Burrell]

Update:

I got my new MFK 700 set this morning. Without reading the instructions.... it took me less then 10 minutes to figure out and set up the machine to do some edge trimming. The results are amazing! Crisp and clean edges. Trimming down 40' of edge tape would have taken me, if done with my flush plane, about an hour maybe more. With the MFK I was done in 10 minutes (including breaking the edges with sandpaper). At a shop rate of $50/hour I will have the cost for the router back in within no time!

I love it! Thank you Dan from Ultimate tools in Vancouver for really going out of his way to get the router to my shop within a very short time!!!!!

Everyone loves a story with a happy ending.  ;D Let us know how you like using the MFK for jobs other than edge trimming.

 

[EcoFurniture]

Ok, here we go:


I love that little machine!

P.S. please excuse the mess in the background... too busy to clean up and we are also moving into a different shop in a couple of weeks...

 

[Brice Burrell]

Andreas, that's a great video. Sometimes you tell someone how a tool works or you can show them. Your video really shows the MFK in its element. Nice job.

 

[mwhafner]

Andreas,

You did a great job of demonstrating just how effective the MFK is, for the job is was designed for.  Not a tool for everyone or every situation, but you nailed it.