MFT 1080 Mod

[Matt Worner]

Hi, Gang,

I posted a link to these photos some time ago, but wanted to get them on this version of the list.  Recently discussion centered on the MFTs and their respective useability.  I got my 1080 and after about the first trip in and out of the house (working on the deck to keep the sawdust off the rugs) I figured something was going to have to be done before serious medical intervention was required.  Heavy and bulky and my skinny butt were a bad combo.

I threw the following together in a couple of minutes, will be modifying to a real workmanlike job when the weather breaks.  Quick and dirty, but it works...
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/553007287UKrNTD

Matt

 

[Dan Clark]

Matt,

I love it.  That looks brain-dead simple to make. 

Are those pocket-screws?  What kind of changes do you think you'll make? 

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Matt Worner]

Hi, Dan,

Yes, they are pocket screws.  I had some.  Made out of plywood.  I had some.  Just bought a couple of fixed casters and bolted them to the legs, (two bolts per; I had four bolts and nuts)  and fiddled with wood until the whole thing stood more or less stable on its own.

Plan is to make an aluminum plate with wheels and legs that will bolt onto the t-slot and be more readily removable.  Then when I get more tables I can attach without the major nut roll of removing the wheels.

Proof of concept?  Yes, and it works.  Refined?  Not hardly.  Wait until it gets warm enough to work for more than a half hour in my barn...

Matt

 

[Dan Clark]

Matt,

Hi.  Thanks for the post.  Great work. 

Regarding "refined"...  I'll take function over form any day. 

Dan.

 

[Dan Lyke]

My solution to the wheels issue was lower-tech than yours, but didn't require the level of commitment that drilling holes in the metal of my brand new MFT did. I slapped together a dolly that I (and, more importantly, my shorter and less strong sweety) can tilt the MFT up on to.

I initially had some concerns about the 4 way castors on the base, and the stability of the table when it's on end, but it's worked wonderfully so far.

Little teeny tiny picture attached, larger one available as a zoom off my entry about this on my personal wiki athttp://www.flutterby.net/Festool_MFT_Dolly

 

[Cynric Williams]

Some great Ideas guys, my 1080 arrived today, it sure does weigh a lot! and one of the rails had been damaged in transit ( the dealer is replacing  it) anything that protects it and makes it more portable is good as I will end up taking it in and out houses etc

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Quote: "and one of the rails had been damaged in transit"

I just got my 1080; one of the short rails has been bent enough  that the stop will not go in one end. I guess I should tell the dealer and try to get a new rail.

 

[Corwin]

I had a little problem that I discovered when I first attempted to join two 1080s together.  The table connectors would not go into all the T slots.  I noticed that the problem seemed to be more pronounced with the longer profiles.  What I found was the corner pieces needed a slight adjustment.  I loosened the cheese head bolts that attach the profile and corner and held the two parts closer to the correct alignment.  Some required me to insert a connector to use to gain leverage and hold the profile in position as I tightened the bolts.  Once completed, everything was hunky dory.

Corwin