MFT/3 must haves

[bigarm]

I am going to purchase an MFT/3.  I have 2 screw clamps and 1 quick clamp that I use with my tracks. I also have an Anderson square for setting the table up.  What else do I need to start?  I know there are clamping elements from Festool, but those are really expensive.  I have seen parf dogs and qwas dogs.  Let me know.

 

[Elmar50]

I also have pretty much what you have except for the Anderson square. The clamping elements are worth the scratch- they come in very handy when routing and sanding. Being a master of the obvious, I also assume that you have the track saw and router along with enough tracks to join together for a nine foot travel. Also, a great accessory for a MFT/3 is- another MFT.

 

[waho6o9]

I love my rail dogs

 

[AndyUK]

Festool Fixed Clamps MFT-SP
Bench & Parf Dogs or Qwas Dogs etc. (definitely)
Rail Dogs (maybe)
Festool Guide Rail Limit Stops (maybe)

 

[Birdhunter]

I suggest buying the leg braces... For all 4 legs. They do increase the table's stability.

I like the Qwas dogs. I believe the minimum number is 4. I have 8 and often have them all in use.

I use the MFT rail with the TS55, but have never needed the protractor. There is something called a Slopstop that greatly improves the accuracy of the rail. It's not expensive. I think Festool should make it part of the rail.

 

[TealaG]

I have RipDogs parallel guides and it really has helped me get better cuts.  I also have rail dogs and can't wait to try them out (need to route out my holes on my MDF top).

If you're considering parf dogs, you might want to watch Peter Parfitt's video on Parf Hats.  I really liked that idea and I want to try it out.  I'm also trying to make a straightedge/square guide with some rail dogs and some 80/20 extrusions that I found on ebay. 

 

[squarecut]

I have a varied collection of accessories for my mft that I find indispensable. It consists of a selection of clamps & dogs that I rely on to help support, stabilize and clamp work pieces on my mft surface while working on them.

They consist of a wide range of manufacturers offerings, each suited to a specific use but complementing each other as the need arises. I would suggest you consider some of these choices, if not all. Of course there are many other options out there, but I have found this group works well for me.

As shown in photo they are
Festool screw clamps (2)
Festool quick clamps (2)
Festool clamping elements (2)
Bessey auto-adjust toggle clamps (2) 
Qwas Dogs (Eight)
Qwas Rail Dogs (2)
Lee Valley Veritas 12" low profile stop (1)
Lee Valley Veritas short Parf Dogs (2)
Lee Valley Veritas long Parf Dogs (2,
Custom made Parf Dog Hats (2) .... credits to [member=11196]Peter Parfitt[/member] ....I copied his idea.

 

[sancho57]

I also have pretty much what you have except for the Anderson square. The clamping elements are worth the scratch- they come in very handy when routing and sanding. Being a master of the obvious, I also assume that you have the track saw and router along with enough tracks to join together for a nine foot travel. Also, a great accessory for a MFT/3 is- another MFT.

Slop stop and about 3-4 more flag stops, 2 is the least you should have. That way you can set up for cuts of multiple lengths with out moving the flag stop after setting it up. Plus they make good story poles

 

[bigarm]

Thanks for the suggestions.  What is a Slopstop?

 

[rvieceli]

Here you go on the slop stop:
http://www.festoolproducts.com/Tool-Improvements-Slop-Stop-for-Festool-MFT-Tables-p/ti-ss.htm

 

[grbmds]

All of the suggested accessories are, in fact, very useful, but it depends on what you end up mostly using the MFT for. I've bought dogs, Rip Dogs, Festool quick and screw clamps, Festool clamping elements, and other accessories. I've found some to be a waste of my money for what I mostly do. The accessories I do use a lot are the Screw Clamps, Quick Clamps, Clamping Elements (without the anchoring knobs) since you almost always need to hold things in place while assembling or Dominoing or routing. I use my MFT3 a lot for crosscutting with the fence/guide rail and, for this, I usually don't need anything else. For sanding, I mostly use the clamps or clamping elements.

I'd recommend that you wait to buy a lot of add-ons until you find out what you really do with the table and what is lacking when you use it. Could save you some money.

 

[Coen]

Definitely the MFT-SP, I would say 2 sets, but they are rather expensive.

The Festool FS-HZ 160; at least two.

I don't have a 2nd MFT-SP set yet, but I recently regretted not buying it a long time ago.

Besides that I have 6 more FS screw clamps; two long ones, and four from the FS and LR32 systainers.

I think some patent lapsed on the FS-HZ 160 clamps; all kinds of ripoffs pop up now, some better than others. Like there are Taiwanese rip-offs that are of a much lower price, but also lower quality. But there are also the Bessey GTRH 160 clamps, which are, as far as I can see, just the exact same thing as the Festools, but with different color details and 25% cheaper.

Bessey auto-adjust toggle clamps (2) 

How do you make them stick to the table??

 

[squarecut]

How do you make them stick to the table??
[/quote]

Sorry, should have included this info in my post.

Used Lee Valley mounting plate-see link (http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=70864&cat=1,43838,70865)
& knob from Festool clamping elements

See photo

 

[sancho57]

grdmds really has the best suggestion. Wait until y get some projects under your belt then start making decisions as to what you should buy. With all the great suggestions you got now y know what's out there and can get them as you need them/ if you need them.

I learned a few new this here myself.

 

[Coen]

How do you make them stick to the table??

Sorry, should have included this info in my post.

Used Lee Valley mounting plate-see link (http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=70864&cat=1,43838,70865)
& knob from Festool clamping elements

See photo

I guess those are NAIEU  [unsure]

 

[neeleman]

Hi Coen,

Our own Dutch woodworker shop Baptist sells these Lee Valley mounting plates.

 

[bertv]

Hi Coen,
Baptist sells these Lee Valley mounting plates.

As does Dieter Schmid (http://www.fine-tools.com)…

 

[ear3]

One suggestion that hasn't been raised yet are the Kreg automaxx bench clamps.  They function essentially the same as the Bessey toggle clamps, but offer a longer reach and a taller maximum clamping capacity.  They are more expensive, though, as is thesure the bench mounting plate you would have to get from Seneca Woodworking (does anyone else make one?).  Available in 6" and 3":
http://www.amazon.com/Kreg-KKS1140-...2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453132828&sr=8-2&keywords=kreg+automaxx+clamp
http://www.amazon.com/Kreg-KKS1120-...4?ie=UTF8&qid=1453132828&sr=8-4&keywords=kreg+automaxx+clamp

And the clamping plate from Seneca:
http://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/clamp-dog

EDIT: I should also mention the clamping options from Armor tool.  I got these over the summer, but I ended up returning them, because I didn't like how you couldn't lock them down -- this meant that the workpiece lifted off the table with anything more than moderate clamping pressure, and I was also worried about how the pressure generated each time you engaged the clamps would degrade the dog holes over time.  You also have to buy the 20mm dog pegs separately for some of their tools, like the dog fence
http://www.rockler.com/search/go?w=armor&asug=&sli_uuid=&sli_sid=

There is also the veritas bench blades, though they are of limited utility since they only have a 1/4" jaw travel, and so usually require some sort of wood spacer when the workpiece size falls in  between the hole pattern:
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,41637&p=64685 

 

[Discap]

I am surprised there is only one mention of the Slop Stop. I think it is biggest bang for the buck for MFT.

Bill

 

[mike_aa]

[member=8352]erock[/member]  posted a a nice video and thread here about mounting Kreg Automaxx and Bessey clamps to the MFT/3.

Mike