MFS Adjustments

[Dan Clermont]

I've been perusing Gerry Works document on the MFS 700 and accessories. Using the MFS as a table saw fence really peaks my interest and I can see how that would be quite useful for cutting small parts, rails and stiles, etc

Hving never played with I am wondering how easy it is too adjust this jig to cut the parts? A tablesaw fence is pretty user friendly when it comes to moving the fence. How easy it is to make adjustments to the jig?

Thanks
Dan Clermont

 

[Eli]

I can sum it up in two words. It's fiddly.

When using the MFS rails all together, it takes some messing around to get everything right. It's great, no doubt. I love it. But I wouldn't call it fast unless using it for a lot of cuts, ie the time savings is greater the longer you use it in a single sitting. You wouldn't be adjusting as fast as something like a typical table saw fence. But it is dead nuts accurate after it's all set up.

The coolest thing I've done with it is to set it for the open width of a hinge, minus the width of the pivot, and clamp the door in an open position against the frame (shimmed off the floor for sweep clearance). This allowed me to use the MFS w/OF1400 horizontally to mortise the  hinges in door and jamb at the same time (one at a time of course), in place, which I'd never dream of doing with any other rig. Overall, the time to do one door was about the same as it would have been conventionally. But I did four doors once I was set up, and all the hinges came out beautifully. Only the Templaco stuff comes close to that experience.