MFT/3 - anything you'd wish you'd known?

[dpetrzelka]

Just picked up a new MFT/3 and will be setting it up in the coming days - My TS55 should be on the porch waiting for me when I get home.

I do plan to make a TS55 holder to mount on the side.

Any words of wisdom when first setting up the MFT/3?
Any must have mods/accessories?

 

[peter halle]

Welcome to the world of the MFT!  My suggestion would be to set it up and then experiment with it before jumping into the accessories and mods.  There are a ton of videos on Youtube - especially Festool USA's channel - showing how to set up and adjust.

Peter

 

[tjbnwi]

Check the saw depth, you don't want to cut into the side rail.

Tom

 

[wow]

Check the saw depth, you don't want to cut into the side rail.

Tom

Tom:

And you would know this....how?

[scared]

 

[RDMuller]

Leave the factory settings for the stops on the guide rail alone.  There is not reason to move them.  You'll land up with kerfs all over the place if you do

 

[Kev]

Get the extra leg stabilisers ... certainly improves the feel of the table. Get some dogs .. any dogs .. they help with setup and improve flexibility.

The quick clamps are so much less hassle than the manual crankers!

+1 on saw depth caution!!!

 

[Wooden Skye]

I have the cross braces that Kev mentions and they do help, but since mine doesn't leave the shop, I also built a shelf to keep things on which also helped.  I will be making a MFT sysport soon.  I like the clamping elements also.

 

[tjbnwi]

Check the saw depth, you don't want to cut into the side rail.

Tom

Tom:

And you would know this....how?

[scared]

Saw a damaged one at Festool when I took a class there.

Tom

 

[dpetrzelka]

I picked up one of the Festool Quick Clamps and ordered two of the Dewalt track saw clamps to try out as well.

For those who have added an adhesive rule to your fence, what have been the more precise tapes you've found? I've seen that some are not satisfied with the Kreg's accuracy, and Starret don't appear to come in right-to-left reading.

Oregon Rule makes an inch-metric in right-to-left that appears to be well regarded.

thoughts?

 

[mouppe]

When calibrating/ squaring the rail, tighten the plastic clamp on the side rail before the mitre gauge clamp. Doing it the other way round can move it out of square. Paolini's video on youtube has it in the wrong order IMO. There is a series of 3 videos by Festool's Steve or Brian showing the correct way to set it up.

Here is part 1:-

 

[nclemmons]

Try this for a tape that is right to left:

http://www.amazon.com/Starrett-SM412WRL-Adhesive-Graduation-Interval/dp/B003FWCSYG

 

[Rocky]

Fastcap makes a good tape.  Check their web site.  http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=45785&idcategory=0

 

[dpetrzelka]

Neilc - thanks you for the link. My hope is to set one up with inch/metric - my plan is switch over to metric with new projects ( but have inch to fall back on)

Try this for a tape that is right to left:

http://www.amazon.com/Starrett-SM412WRL-Adhesive-Graduation-Interval/dp/B003FWCSYG

 

[skids]

Yes, I wish I'd known that you really need two of them...Start putting some money aside.  [wink]