MFS vs "regular" aluminum extrusions

[NuggyBuggy]

I was looking at the MFS videos out there as I've been considering a purchase.  It seems nifty, but it also seems like one could get a lot of that functionality with some generic extrusion, 90 degree connectors, and adhesive tape measures.

Since the price difference between the two routes is significant - especially when one starts looking at the longer extrusions, what functionalities and other pieces of the picture am I missing here ?

 

[Eli]

I have the 700 set and some longer ones. Like everything green, you sink the time into the setup instead of the fix after the cut/route. I've used them a bit, not a lot, as I don't have a call for them often. but when I do, they're good to have.

I'd say the main difference between them and a chunk of extrusion is the measurement accuracy. Dead easy to get something perfectly square or rectangular.

With a lot of care you could replicate them, but that's the sort of thing I don't really have time to make. It would take me more time than it's worth to make my own. I'd rather spend time on work than on making jigs. My own preference, YMMV. Anything specific you want them for?

 

[MrToolJunkie]

The MFS is very well designed -- the connection hardware and scales are the two biggest things to me as well as the hockey puck to keep the router balanced when routing the inside.  There is a post on here of someone using 80/20 as an alternative for less, but it did not seem like it was substantially different in cost, at least for the MFS400 and I opted for the Festool.  The MFS 400 is very useful and I added a couple of the 1000 profiles to it for more flexibility.

Scot

 

[Eli]

Sorry, I'm wrong. I have what Scot has, not the 700

 

[Tinker]

I got sucked in to something else at a WW show.  The demonstrator had made up an adjustable jig on job site and realized he had a good idea.  He fiddled with it and eventually, put it together into a saleable package.  He was very good with his demo, as so many of those guys are.  I was, at the time, thinking seriously of getting my own MFS, but that rig was less then half of what i would have spent on the MFS 400 and it could handle jobs larger than the 700.

I got the thing home and set it up right away.  I found I could not set it up to be repeatable perfectly square without considerable fiddling.  I guess it would have been fine for rough carpentry work, but it just took too much adjusting from set up to setup for me.  I tried it just once and it is now residing in the box it came in, buried under my scrap wood pile.  I am now a happy owner of an MFS 400.  I soon discovered the size limitations of the 400 and put in a call to Bob Marino.  A couple of days later, I got a package containing the 700 as well.  I don't use the 700 often, but when I do, it is ready to go.  The 400 I use all the time for lining up cuts on my MFT's.  Either one of them can use parts from the other to adjust to larger/smaller sized projects and they are not only repeatable for size but you have to be half asleep to not adjust to square >>> perfectly square >>> every time. 
Tinker

 

[woodwreck]

Nuggy, I made one a year or two ago with 8020 and its lengthy thread is on here...   it does square up perfectly but it lacks the inscribed measurements, mounting an adhesive tape is not feasible IMO, and it is one inch thick v. 3/4" for the real thing. Accordingly, it is appreciably heavier. 8020 requires the 1" extrusion in order to get the T-slot on the edge.

Personally, I don't care for the concept of rotating a large aluminum polyhedron frame to route an arc with either, and use a a long arm and pin on a router instead.

If you use it occasionally in the stationary shop, the cost savings is well worth it, but if you have to take out in the field on a real job, I wouldn't recommend it. If time is money, the absence of markings is a drawback. If you want all the details let me know.

Steve

P.S. See "Return to Economical alternative to the Multi Purpose Routing MFS CONCLUSION ," 3-18-2010

 

[mparka]

how about something like UniRac for solar panel mounting?  I have salvaged 6 cutoffs (5' long each) after getting it installed at my house thinking I can use it for making jigs and as a fence for miter station.. but this thread has me thinking other plans.

It looks like this.. UniRac

 

[woodie]

I think there are advantages to the MFS as a package; extrusions milled with 90' ends, calibrated scales, profiles accept Festool clamps, and they're easy to use and setup. The MFS 400 kit is a pretty good value too, when you look at what it includes; clamping flanges, tilt protector, circle routing insert, pivot point and the tool to connect the profiles. The MFS 400 and 200 profiles purchased separately are $283 with the kit is priced at $289.00, that's only $6 more. Unfortunately the MFS 700 kit doesn't offer quite the same value.  The MFS 700 and 400 profiles cost $367 with the kit priced at $435. Thats $68 for the same kit components?  So if possible, start with the MFS 400 set and just buy the profiles you need for different configurations. 

 

[woodwreck]

how about something like UniRac for solar panel mounting?  I have salvaged 6 cutoffs (5' long each) after getting it installed at my house thinking I can use it for making jigs and as a fence for miter station.. but this thread has me thinking other plans.

It looks like this.. UniRac

What's that telling us? - Packed as 8 - ten footers for $395? What is the width? looks like ~3 1/2"; weight per foot?

 

[NuggyBuggy]

Thanks guys.  I see the squareness of the ends being an advantage, but if you have connector brackets or plates which are at 90, then absolute squareness may not be important.  However, I do understand that sometimes one spends more time re-engineering than it would be worth. 

I guess it's just that although there are a couple of lengthy  documents out there, I am having trouble grokking them.  I certainly don't want to use it to cut circles. Perhaps it's one of those "you have to use it to understand" situations.

Woodwreck - thanks for the pointer, I'll check out your other thread.

 

[Tinker]

I think there are advantages to the MFS as a package; extrusions milled with 90' ends, calibrated scales, profiles accept Festool clamps, and they're easy to use and setup. The MFS 400 kit is a pretty good value too, when you look at what it includes; clamping flanges, tilt protector, circle routing insert, pivot point and the tool to connect the profiles. The MFS 400 and 200 profiles purchased separately are $283 with the kit is priced at $289.00, that's only $6 more. Unfortunately the MFS 700 kit doesn't offer quite the same value.  The MFS 700 and 400 profiles cost $367 with the kit priced at $435. Thats $68 for the same kit components?  So if possible, start with the MFS 400 set and just buy the profiles you need for different configurations. 

When I ordered to 700 kit, i was told i could save $$$ by getting only the 4 extrusions.  with te kit, i got all of the accessories that I already had with the 400 kit.  i elected to get the kit so all of the accessories were duplicated.  i am NOT sorry I did it that way.
Tinker

 

[tbellemare]

It's a better deal to get the MFS 400 and add the 700 profiles than to get the MFS 700 and add the 200 profile. Either way you do it, you end up with the functionality of both systems. The MFS 700 has 2 each - 400mm profiles and 2 each - 700mm profiles. The MFS 400 has 2 each - 200mm profiles and 2 each - 400mm profiles.

Tom