MFT-3 and Extension Table 203457

[Pompeio]

I have one MFT-3.  I am getting tired of setting up a 4x8 sheet (cut into two 4x4 pieces) of foam board on top of a pair of sawhorses when I have to rip a 4x8 sheet of plywood.  I cannot afford the STM-1800 and am wondering if Festool’s 203457 Extension Table when connected to the MFT-3 will give me sufficient support to rip a full sheet or should I try something different.
Has anyone tried this with success? Suggestions other than the STM-1800 or another MFT-3?

 

[nclemmons]

I have the MW-1000 with the extension table as well as an MFT.  The width might be a bit narrow for cutting down a full 4x8 sheet of plywood. 

I use the MW-1000 and extension table as an out feed table on my Sawstop Jobsite Pro saw and like it a lot.  I also use them for assembly tasks.  With an MFT it does give you more support.

What you might consider is getting a four pieces of 80/20 1 1/2 square stock about 4’ long.  I have four and attached sacrificial strips to them.  They are attached through the holes of the MFT table with four carriage bolts that slide into the tracks on the 80/20.  I can easily cut a 4x8 sheet of material with these four extending off the four corners of a 2x4’ rolling stand I made.  Works great in a small shop.  You could take the same approach with your MFT.  You can find 80/20 on eBay or contact the company directly.

I used this approach for several years and recently purchased the STM-1800 and really like that setup.

Good luck -

 

[Pompeio]

I thought the extension table might be too small so thank you for confirming it.

 

[sancho57]

[member=65710]Pompeio[/member]

It worked for me. I took some scrap ply 4' long and set them on the MFT and extension and it worked fine for me. Im pretty sure you can use it as a out feed for your CMS GE if you have one. Ive set my Kapex on mine to and the holes lined up to where It would mount just like it does on the Kapex MFT

 

[Pompeio]

Hi Ron!
Thank you for the response.
I might give it a try as I have both the CMS GE and a Kapex (not the stand) so I feel certain it can get multiple use.

 

[Grev]

I have one MFT-3.  I am getting tired of setting up a 4x8 sheet (cut into two 4x4 pieces) of foam board on top of a pair of sawhorses when I have to rip a 4x8 sheet of plywood.  I cannot afford the STM-1800 and am wondering if Festool’s 203457 Extension Table when connected to the MFT-3 will give me sufficient support to rip a full sheet or should I try something different.
Has anyone tried this with success? Suggestions other than the STM-1800 or another MFT-3?

Here's another option .. you can make a couple simple wood brackets to hold aluminum extrusions (TSlots, TrackTubes or even 2x4's) to extend the surface area of your MFT.  Here I show them being used with the TrackTubes aluminum extrusion.  You can incorporate a panel lift/swing to easily get your full sheet goods up on the table.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

You can do it with that setup...and make it better by creating a few wider supports that index into the grid so they stay in place so the full sheet is supported for width better. Some 2x material and some dowel material that will slip into the holes is all you need. The dowels can be .75" as they don't have to fit tight...it's just to keep the supports from sliding. The material is sacrificial so it also keeps the sheet goods up off your MFT setup without using the foam board, too.

Honestly, I use a couple of Bora Centipede  folding supports and some 2x4 stock to do this same thing currently so that's also an alternative. But it doesn't have the additional value that the MFT setup brings to the table, pardon the expression...

 

[Pompeio]

Thank you to Jim, Ron, Grev and Neil for your responses.
I am going to try the aluminum extrusion set up but am still likely to get the extension.

 

[Coen]

Does the 203457 attach to the CMS / CS-50 too?