MFS 400 and MFS 700 Multi-Routing Template System.

Thanks, Ned, for your description of the router slide, including some of its limitations.  If you look again in my earlier post, you'll see that I ordered one.

Dave R.
 
Dave Ronyak said:
Thanks, Ned, for your description of the router slide, including some of its limitations.  If you look again in my earlier post, you'll see that I ordered one.

Dave R.
Click to expand...

Whoops.  Oh well...(tap dancing)...at least now the other readers of this thread will know what you're talking about.

Ned
 
Ned,
Thanks for posting those photos.  Over the years, I have toyed with numerous shop-made jigs for sliding a router over a surface to level it (I'm a big fan of using routers as much as possible).  The MFS/router slide combination seems like the best solution I've ever seen for leveling surfaces and even for cutting at various places in a surface for inlays and other ideas we could dream up.  I'm imagining more possibilities as I write this...

How large a surface do you think could be surfaced and handled with the MFS?

This is getting more interesting by the day!

Matthew
 
Matthew Schenker said:
How large a surface do you think could be surfaced and handled with the MFS?
Click to expand...

The length of the slide limits one direction to about 590mm (~23").  You might be able to get a bit more with a wide planer bit. 

The slide in the pic is mounted on an MFS 700 kit at max size, so you see that 700's are the longest rails you need parallel to the router's movement.  The other rails could be of any length-- 1m, 2m, 2m joined, doesn't matter.

With scaffolding underneath to support the MFS, the setup could handle oddly shaped things like tree stumps.

Using the idea of the router slide, but not the part itself, you could set up a rectangle as if you were using it to cut a circle, and then use it as a router slide traveling on two flat surfaces on either side of the work.  I don't know how big this would have to be before the extrusions sagged too much.  I'm guessing 1m would be fine, but 2?  Stiffening might be added.

While the 1010 would work for this, the 1400 with a 1/2"-shank planer bit would be a better choice.

For the really big stuff, the 2000/2200 would be the ticket.  I don't think the 2000 or 2200 will fit in the router slide.  Anyone know?

Ned

 
The routing slide is a very simple, versatile gizmo.  I usually take off the lock lever and do not engage the tabs into the MFS groves.  Instead, I let the slide be free to move across the gap while moving the router up and down over the gap.  I find that much faster if you have a large area to evacuate.  The large flat areas on the routing slide make it easy to control this way, just don't let one end fall off the MFS while routing or you can imagine the damage that would follow in addition to a very unsafe situation developing rapidly all around you.  With the routing slide locked to the top of the MFS that risk is not present so that is a good alternative while getting familiar with using it free from the MFS.

Jerry
 
Brice, I finally got around to reading this thread and I spent a very enjoyable and worthwhile couple of hours doing so.  Very well done indeed!

But, I am not sure that I should thank you because now an MFS is on my 'I Want this Tool and I Think that I can Justify it' list.  Most tools that I want (such as the Kapex) I can not justify so it is not easy for a tool to make the list.
 
I am currently building an entertainment center - based somewhat on a "design as you proceed" approach.  Among the mistakes I made and had to correct was not allowing sufficient clearance for the middle section of the full extension drawer slides; the drawers were completely finished before I realized my error!  (Always buy the hardware you intend to use BEFORE you finalize the design.)  MFS 400 to the rescue!  I set up the MFS, referencing off the bottom edges of the drawers and routed into the sides of the drawers a slight groove to accept the slides.  I used my OF 1400 router with PC bushing adapter and a brass bushing from a set I purchased from Woodcraft.  To set up the width of the MFS, I simply marked the side of the drawer with a pencil and then eyeballed the point of contact of the 3/8 inch straight bit with the workpiece.  The angle brackets supplied with the MFS made it very easy to setup the MFS relative to the bottom edge of each of the drawer sides that needed to be routed.  To avoid wearing the scales on the MFS, after setting the width of the opening, I flipped the MFS and then attached the angle brackets.  Thus the router was moved over the back surfaces of the MFS.  This was my first use of my MFS; it saved me a lot of time and more cumbersome rework.

Dave R.
 
Frank Pellow said:
Brice, I finally got around to reading this thread and I spent a very enjoyable and worthwhile couple of hours doing so.  Very well done indeed!

But, I am not sure that I should thank you because now an MFS is on my 'I Want this Tool and I Think that I can Justify it' list.  Most tools that I want (such as the Kapex) I can not justify so it is not easy for a tool to make the list.
Click to expand...
Well I was lucky!  ;D Festool USA sent me a MFS/700 as the prize for "winning" the September contest.  It arrived two days ago and I am about to try it out.  ;D
 
Well, Frank, have you tried out your MFS 700 yet?  I think you'll like it more the more you use it.

Dave R.
 
Dave Ronyak said:
Well, Frank, have you tried out your MFS 700 yet?  I think you'll like it more the more you use it.

Dave R.
Click to expand...
Yes Dave, I have tried it out and I like it.

But, all I have done it to copy some of the things that  Brice showed us how to do.  I have not yet used it on a real project.
 
Just a bump to see if Brice might be able to update the photos on this. I just picked up one of these and I'd like to start using it for our remodel and I'm looking for as much info as I can find before I dive in.

Gregor
 
Jerry Work wrote quite a paper on the MFS some years ago:
Jerry Work MFS

While looking for it I also found this:
Jerry Work MFS 2

I'm building a Kapex fence myself. Wouldn't dream of using the MFS for fence. It's expensive and not as good as an Incra fence in my opinion.

//Michael
 
Brice,

Thanks for the pdf.  I have another post asking festool to have all the reviews converted to pdf (if the owner of the pictures agree, first of all not copyright infringement ).

This way it will be always there.

Thanks,
 
Thanks Brice and Michael. I found Jerry's first guide and am midway through it but I'm a big researcher so I like to read as much as I can before I jump in with a new tool. Looking forward to using this.

Gregor
 
Did anyone every make a PDF of this? It would be awesome to read it AND see the photos.
 
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