MFK 700 Guide Bushings

[Jonathanerrrm]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if there are guide bushings available for the MFK 700 in the UK. I believe they are available for the US version, though as I understand it not in the UK for some reason.  I've seen Brice's detailed review where he uses the MFK700 with the MFS 400 and Shane's new competition has got me thinking I would like to make more use of the tool for small routing tasks.

Hope you can help,

Jonathan

 

[Brice Burrell]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if there are guide bushings available for the MFK 700 in the UK. I believe they are available for the US version, though as I understand it not in the UK for some reason.  I've seen Brice's detailed review where he uses the MFK700 with the MFS 400 and Shane's new competition has got me thinking I would like to make more use of the tool for small routing tasks.

Hope you can help,

Jonathan

That would be too bad.  The MFK is a nice router for for template routing.  It has its limitations like depth of cut and the last of visibility of the bit.  However, it's light weight and super easy to handle.

 

[Jonathanerrrm]

Hi Brice,

Thanks for the reply. The UK version has the thread in the base to accept guide bushings, I believe I read somewhere that other brands are available in the US to fit the base, I don't know if the US version comes with a guide bushing included in the set. I do allot of veneering so I still get plenty of use out of it but it would be nice to be able to use it for other tasks. It was a great review by the way.

 

[tbellemare]

Jonathan:

The guide bushings are sold lots of places.

Tom

 

[Brice Burrell]

Hi Brice,

Thanks for the reply. The UK version has the thread in the base to accept guide bushings, I believe I read somewhere that other brands are available in the US to fit the base, I don't know if the US version comes with a guide bushing included in the set. I do allot of veneering so I still get plenty of use out of it but it would be nice to be able to use it for other tasks. It was a great review by the way.

Yes, the thread in our version is made to fit a Porter Cable (PC) style bushing, these are commonplace here in the US.  (I see Tom has already posted a link.)

 

[Jonathanerrrm]

That's great thanks guys. I'll see if I can track some down in the UK.

 

[bedvin15]

I have a UK version MFK700 (2017) which definitely does not have a threaded horizontal base.  Don't know if this is a new model.

Paul Bedwell

 

[Llap Goch]

Hi Brice,

Thanks for the reply. The UK version has the thread in the base to accept guide bushings, I believe I read somewhere that other brands are available in the US to fit the base, I don't know if the US version comes with a guide bushing included in the set. I do allot of veneering so I still get plenty of use out of it but it would be nice to be able to use it for other tasks. It was a great review by the way.

Jonathan

Axminster sell a guide bush set,
http://www.axminster.co.uk/ujk-technology-metric-threaded-guidebush-set-502571

which I bought for my OF1400 and MFS setup. It is excellent and though I do not yet have an MFK700, I am considering one and it would be great if the guide bushes fit.

Having seen Paul's post though I will have to have a close look at the latest MFK700 and check whether Festool have re-designed the base and removed the thread facility.

 

[Tukston]

I have the European (Netherlands) version from 2022 and there is no bushing guide thread in the base.
Can anyone tell me why they seem to have done away with the threading and if there is a work around for this?

My thanks for any info/replies!

My version: MFK 700 EQ/B-Plus

 

[Alanbach]

Are you looking at the vertical / upright base? In my US version there are no threads on either of the horizontal bases (which makes sense), only on the vertical base. Make sure that you have (and are looking at) the correct base.

 

[Coen]

Are you looking at the vertical / upright base? In my US version there are no threads on either of the horizontal bases (which makes sense), only on the vertical base. Make sure that you have (and are looking at) the correct base.

His version only has a vertical base.

 

[Alanbach]

[member=8955]Coen[/member] - Understood! Thank you!

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I have the European (Netherlands) version from 2022 and there is no bushing guide thread in the base.
Can anyone tell me why they seem to have done away with the threading and if there is a work around for this?

My thanks for any info/replies!

My version: MFK 700 EQ/B-Plus

The EQ/B hass the edgebander base, which is different from the standard vertical base. That could possibly explain it, though I have never seen an actual EB base in person.

 

[Tukston]

I have the basic model so there is only 1 vertical base included in the kit - see pic.
Really odd that there no threading.

 

[Coen]

I've read before that the threaded base is USA only.

 

[Euclid]

I have the UK 'Set' version of the MFK700; it did not come with threaded base.
I remember feeling a bit hard-done-by when i saw one of Sedge's videos in which he showed the threaded base.
It's a rather more verastile machine than many appear to imagine, but having the ability to just screw a bushing straight in would add a load more function.
I can't think of any good reason for the UK (or European?) version not having that feature: those screw in bushings are readily available here.

 

[Coen]

I have the basic model so there is only 1 vertical base included in the kit - see pic.
Really odd that there no threading.

I captured this from the Festool.nl page of the MFK 700, yesterday;
[attachimg=1]

I think they kinda screwed up with the pictures of what comes with what set, because even the EQ/B version doesn't show the extra layer of pertinax underneath the base in the overview picture.

And that base with copy ring... only USA?

I'm just pondering for myself if that vertical base with the extra layer is a benefit or a drag from simple radius routing. I'm think a drag. But is the extra layer separate...?

[member=78241]Tukston[/member] ; which base came with your model?

 

[tobiaskurz]

I found a Blog-post in German that tells that the thread is for the US version only. It although shows a workaround how to retrofit this feature with available Festool spare parts.
https://blog.massimo-fritz.de/festool-mfk-700-mit-kopierringen-nutzen/

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I have the basic model so there is only 1 vertical base included in the kit - see pic.
Really odd that there no threading.

I captured this from the Festool.nl page of the MFK 700, yesterday;
[attachimg=1]

I think they kinda screwed up with the pictures of what comes with what set, because even the EQ/B version doesn't show the extra layer of pertinax underneath the base in the overview picture.

And that base with copy ring... only USA?

I'm just pondering for myself if that vertical base with the extra layer is a benefit or a drag from simple radius routing. I'm think a drag. But is the extra layer separate...?

[member=78241]Tukston[/member] ; which base came with your model?

The point of the second layer on the base plate is to hold the main base plate above the surface at the point where the edgebanding would overhang the surface. I am not particularly a fan of using the machine vertically for trimming edges, but it is a thing.

I'm not 100% sure about the functional use of a bushing on a fixed base though? How often is it actually used for the off-set in an exterior application? For me, bushings are mostly a plunge router situation.

 

[Coen]

Yes, but why would they put a picture of a USA-only part on the NL website?

Yeah, routing edge banding vertically... weird. The required bit is also quite pricey. But I think that type of base is a negative for normal edge routing.

Thanks for the link to the German blog. Nice find.