MFS: Notes on the MFS

[womackdesign]

HI. I am looking for more information on the geat system then the wood depot site. Can somebody advise the web site that the router insert plate came from.  I have bought the MFS 400,MFS 700, and the 1000 ext rails. Festool issued a product sheet with the jig "parts" that illustrate the various componets that make up the system. One item is a mystery part #493 318 looks like a keyhole slot, anybody know what this is for. The Festool German web site also sells the 400mm rail as a separate componet which should be done in the states. Any of you guys in europe have any information on the geat system before festool bought the rights? I have read Jerry Work great work on the subject but there must be more information of this system. Thanks 

 

[Ned]

I got a personal email asking a question about the MFS--a question that I'd thought of also.  I think this may be of general interest:

My question is there any reason you see why I can't buy the longest 2000 mm rails & cut to  shorter lengths?  In other words why couldn't I simply get the 2000 mm rails & cut one rail in half, and one in 3 pieces.

Would I need additional hardware/parts to do this like threaded jointers etc.?

1.  The 2m rail does not have graduations on it.  The graduations are really important to the use of the MFS, unless you're making a production jig that won't ever be changed.

2.  If you cut a rail to make several rails, you will need joiner slot bushings, screws, right angle nuts, and alignment pins for one end of each of your "new" rails.  See the callouts on one of the photos in my Notes on the MFS post.

3.  If you cut a graduated rail, the "new" rails won't start at zero.  Worse, they won't start exactly on a useful graduation, because of the saw kerf.

[quote author=this used to say]4.  In Europe, 200, 400, and 700 rails are sold separately.  We should encourage Festool USA to make them available in NA.[/quote]

4.  [As of 4/1/2008] Festool USA lists all rails (properly, Extension Profiles) as standard stock items, sold in pairs.

 

[mysterium]

Ned,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Since we exchanged PM's I've ordered a MFS 700 set & 1000 rails.  Although based on your comments I am very tempted to order a MFS 400 also.... to get the short rails in the MFS 400 set since Festool USA unlike Europe won't stock them separately....  Or offer a "super set" that would include both the MFS 400 & MFS 700 rails...  Are you listening Festool USA....???

Your posts about the MFS system has been very helpful... 

And again "Thank You"

jim

 

[Dave Rudy]

Jim,

Since the 400 rails are listed as parts on the parts diagram and have parts numbers, have you tried Festool parts to see if they will sell them separately?

Might be worth a shot.

Dave

 

[mysterium]

Hi Dave,

I like your idea about ordering the MFS rails as "parts", but in a prior conversation with Mark on the Festool USA desk he had indicated the rails where not available as far as he knew....  But Mark suggested I speak to David McGibbon the Festool Service manager directly.    I left a message late last week (before I received Neds feedback about cutting down larger rails would lose the index marks) for David about the availability of individual 2000 mm rails but haven't heard back from him...

Fortunately Festool USA is stocking MFT rails, legs, corners... etc. as "parts" making it easier to create a larger shop built MFT.

Thanks, jim

 

[Dave Rudy]

Jim,

From the Festool parts website:

http//ekat.festool.com/EKAT_USA/jsp/main.jsp?doAction=start&partLang=en&docuLang=en&locale=en_EN&viewerType=6&verticalLayout=1&HOOK_URL=&currency=USD&filter_F_Typ1=on&filterValues_F_Typ1=US&currencyKey=US

I got the MFS 400 as part number 492610.  Maybe Mark can find it to order that way.  Maybe not, but worth a shot.

Dave

 

[Ned]

Included information on circle cutting.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Ned,
Excellent discussion, with great details.  I'd be interested in seeing even more on the MFS -- more in-use shots for specific projects.  How do other people use the MFS?
Matthew

 

[Ned]

Just converted the images to inline thumbnails.  The first image isn't a thumbnail, and that's intentional.

No change to the text.

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Storage of anything that doesn't fit in a Systainer is an issue. Are the extrusions drilled so that I might hang them like the guide rails? If not, would it be possible to drill them in a manner that wouldn't harm them or their functionality?

Mike

 

[semenza]

Storage of anything that doesn't fit in a Systainer is an issue. Are the extrusions drilled so that I might hang them like the guide rails? If not, would it be possible to drill them in a manner that wouldn't harm them or their functionality?

Mike

        I don't know much about the MFS, but maybe it would be possible to hang them from a clamp or connector that fits into them. Or leave them connected in the rectangle use form and just hang the whole rectangle unit.

Seth

 

[Dan Uhlir]

  i don't have a mfs yet but it is on the wish list... having said that, i think the mfs 400 would easily fit in a systainer. If and when i do get an mfs i would keep it low to the ground so if it did fall, it wouldn't fall far, and i don't think i'd drill any  holes in it.dan

 

[Ned]

Mike,

There are no hanging holes drilled in the extrusions.  If you have only 4 of them, leave them assembled the way you used them last, hanging on the wall like all those templates the MFS replaced.  They also stack up neatly.

If you insist on drilling hanging holes:  I've got a 200mm profile in front of me.  Looks like you could drill through the area identified as the clamp slot in the first image above.  The worst that could happen if you drilled straight down in the clamp slot is that you could hit the label (not the graduations).  The hole could be as large as 8mm (5/16").

Ned

 

[woodshopdemos]

Today, Elena and I will be making some faux raised panel doors for the Cabinetmaking DVD. I used the MFS  for this application a year or more ago  (Beth was here) and it worked very well. Actually today, Elena and I will make one of the faux doors and one with standard rail and stile using the new router table built-in to one of my MFT's. Will have that story up by the weekend.

The rounded corner of the faux raised panel doors...

Beth sets MFS frame in place...

Andrea inspecting the router plate cut out in MFT

 

[Eli]

John-
How do you weigh in as to best config for MFS. Sounds like many consider the 700 plus a pair of 1000 rails the best starter. What's in the demos shop?

And how many rails do we have to buy before we can start pulling in assistants like yours? ;D

 

[woodshopdemos]

John-
How do you weigh in as to best config for MFS. Sounds like many consider the 700 plus a pair of 1000 rails the best starter. What's in the demos shop?

And how many rails do we have to buy before we can start pulling in assistants like yours? ;D

You have to buy one each of everything in Festool catalog.

MFS:  one 400 and 0ne 700

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Good morning Ned,

It sounds as if drilling a hole wouldn't be the best option. Once I make the jump, I suppose I'll figure a way to store them. I always have.

Okay to start off with the MFS 400? or is the best bang for the buck the 700?

Mike

 

[Ned]

You have to buy one each of everything in Festool catalog.

MFS:  one 400 and 0ne 700

While you can never have too many "profiles", you can save a bit by buying one of the kits (say, the MFS 400) and the profiles not included in that kit (MFS-VP 700, 492724).

And you'll need some things not in the catalog...

As soon as you have more than 4 MFS profiles, you need to get a set of 4 MFS "joiners" (493235, a spare part, ~25USD).  Two joiners are used to link the profiles end-to-end.  If you have both MFS 400 and MFS 700 sets, you can join the pairs of 400mm profiles to make two 800mm units.  Those in a rectangle with the 700s allow squares over 600mm (~24 inches).

The joiners could also be used for large circles or arcs.  Joining each 700 to a 400 gives you two 1100mm units.  Make a circle cutting jig with these and your 200mm's, and you've got the ability to do a 1m (39 inch) radius.

When you compare the cost of the joiners with the 1m profiles, they seem cheap...but you'll want to get the meter-length profiles anyway. 

Ned

 

[Ned]

Okay to start off with the MFS 400? or is the best bang for the buck the 700?

Morning Mike,

What size templates do you want to start out with?  That determines whether a 400 or a 700 kit would be better.

Please see the second point in the first post.

Ned

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Howdy,

Truth be told, I have no idea which templates would be handier for me at this point. I this point I'm only a woodworker wannabe, who does projects around the house. Once caught up (does that ever happen?) I'd love to build a few cabinets and smaller projects (small boxes). I'm assuming that I should start with the small set, which would allow me to experiment at less cost. On the other hand, perhaps that would impose limits too quickly. I have a problem visualizing much of what's been written since I've not physically seen the templates. The dealers I've been to haven't carried them. Thanks for the help.