MFT 3 Stability

[Per Swenson]

Folks,

I have a brand new MFT3.

Set up and operational for the last 4 days.

We are writing a review and its coming very soon.

I do not have the stabilizer bars.

I have no issue with the stability of this table.

Believe me, If I did I would be the first to moan the loudest.

Per

 

[Woodenfish]

Thanks Per,

Game on!! 

 

[robsw]

What I think is this: the video was created for the purpose of showing what type of difference the cross braces make.  NOT to demonstrate the amount of wobble from the MFT/3.  So, think of it like this.  Would the cross braces installed seem to have a significant effect on the stability of the table if it already looked rock solid at the beginning of the video.  Probably not.  I think that it what Rick was trying to convey.  Not that the table was wobbly out of the box.

I think most of you are now familiar with the quality of our products.  Safe to say?  Then do you really think our engineers would have overlooked something like 3-4" of lateral play in the table out of the box.  Uh, nope.  I now regret posting the video.  I think it has been taken out of context.  Like I said, looks like we will be shooting a new video tomorrow because I want the MFT/3 to be fairly represented.

Jim, yes. VERY little play.

Shane,

I suppose there are different ways of putting it but the message is still the same.

Could you explain why these supports are an optional accessory? Why am I given a choice of either having a kinda sturdy MFT/3 or a sturdy MFT/3?

Rob

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Could you explain why these supports are an optional accessory? Why am I given a choice of either having a kinda sturdy MFT/3 or a sturdy MFT/3?

Great question, Rob.  It's for newbies, kind of like training wheels. 

No, seriously.  To be honest, I would only be able to spectulate without consulting within someone else within Festool that knows for sure.  I believe that there had been some end user feedback about the generation 2 (800/1080) tables needing to be more rigid.  It's possible that these are for folks who just don't think 99% rigidity is enough (so to speak). 

IMO, to call the MFT/3 "kinda sturdy" out of the box is not an accurate statement.  I think a more accurate statement would be that the MFT/3 is more than rigid and sturdy enough for every probable (dare I say conceivable) application.  The support braces are for those applications that the MFT/3 may not necessarily be designed for out of the box. 

I think several of the most trusted and reputable contributors on the forum have now weighed in with their unbiased opinions.  I hope that this is enough to put the skepticism about the wobble in the video to bed.

 

[Bob Marino]

What I think is this: the video was created for the purpose of showing what type of difference the cross braces make.  NOT to demonstrate the amount of wobble from the MFT/3.  So, think of it like this.  Would the cross braces installed seem to have a significant effect on the stability of the table if it already looked rock solid at the beginning of the video.  Probably not.  I think that it what Rick was trying to convey.  Not that the table was wobbly out of the box.

I think most of you are now familiar with the quality of our products.  Safe to say?  Then do you really think our engineers would have overlooked something like 3-4" of lateral play in the table out of the box.  Uh, nope.  I now regret posting the video.  I think it has been taken out of context.  Like I said, looks like we will be shooting a new video tomorrow because I want the MFT/3 to be fairly represented.

Jim, yes. VERY little play.

Shane,

I suppose there are different ways of putting it but the message is still the same.

Could you explain why these supports are an optional accessory? Why am I given a choice of either having a kinda sturdy MFT/3 or a sturdy MFT/3?

Rob

Rob,

I don't mean to answer for Shane, but thougt I'd offer my opinion, and it's just MY opinion. The MFT's all of them - 1080, 800 and MFT/3 are stable by themselves. They were meant to be a good for tasks in which they were designed - sawing, sanding, routing, etc. AND be easily and quickly transportable; either to be easily taken down in the shop, moved against a wall or to be packed up and taken to the worksite. They will never be  as solid as a 300 lb bench. So, for those needing greater stability, for "heavier" tasks, Festool offers the additional stabilizers.

Bob

 

[thewoodwhisperer]

I have to admit I was a bit shocked when I saw the video.  I have had the MFT3 for a couple weeks now and have used it for some of my normal shop tasks (cutting down ply, routing, and sanding).  It had never even occurred to me that the table would require more support.  I really didn't notice anything different when compared to my last few years of using an MFT1080.  After seeing the video and reading the thread, I went out to the shop to compare the two tables.  And honestly guys, they are about the same.  Obviously we should expect a certain amount of movement in a table like this:  its light, its portable, and there is nothing built-in to resist wracking.  Like Bob says, we can't expect it to be as solid as a 300lb bench.

From what I can see, if you are happy with the old tables, you will be happy with the new ones.  If it weren't for this video and subsequent thread, I seriously doubt this would have even been an issue.  My best guess is that these stabilizer bars are simply an incremental improvement that comes naturally with the maturation of a product line.  And those who may have found the old MFT's to be a little too wobbly for their work, might actually be able to use the new table with the help of the cross-supports. 

 

[monte]

One thing that hasn't (I believe) been mentioned is that when combining multiple units......

even just two, (when needing that extra room) ;D ;D ;D

the "rock solid" stability becomes very close to a "300 pound bench"

I've found that with the MFT1080's and I would bet the same goes for the MFT3's.

......and for the "MFT trivia knowledge bank"

for those who need more rigidity on your 1080's......

the new cross supports will work on them.

but you'll need to pull the corners to insert a captured nut in the t-channel.

 

[nickao]

monte I totally disagree with that. I have had two hooked up and it is nowhere near as stable as my brothers bench or my old bench that burned my house fire. I think when you load up the tables with some weight  you will find that the stability gets worse, not better with the double setup.

Try loading up the unit with some weight and see what happens. I tried putting a jet spindle sander on the table for kicks and the double unit swayed back and forth pretty bad. I know thats a lot of weight, but a a couple piece of hardwood I use weigh that and so does MDF. The tables seemed to sway less with ply or MDF, possibly because the weight is spread out. But again hand planing for me the tables were just to wobbly .

For their intended purposes I think the MFT's are great, but to me they do not and are not supposed to be compared to a 300 pound bench. I  just do not see how you can make that comparison.

nickao

 

[monte]

golly gosh Nick, ok let's say it was a "manor of speech"

(referring to as strong as a 300lb bench) ;D ;D ;D

I've made quite a few projects with the tables doubled up and tripled up.

(Long end to long end, leg sets pulled out and tight on a pretty even wooden floor.)

using them as a cutting, routing and assembly surface for some large assemblies that I put together
and then disassembled (modular units) for assembly on site.
hmmm, and yes they were spread out (but that was why I had three, at times, together)

swaying has never been an issue, ......................................................for me.

ps. sorry to hear about your fire.

 

[greg mann]

My $.02 on the stability issue can be summed up this way. If the 1080 wasn't stable enough for you then the MFT3 won't be either. If it was then it will be. If you covet more stability, then the brackets will help in either case. If that's not enough you gotta go a different way, but you can't have one thing without giving up something else, like portability.

 

[nickao]

monte you are so funny, golly gosh!

The fire happened a long time ago, but I still can not sleep at night. I am always walking the floors at night, nose in the air, smelling for smoke.

I think I tend to be rough on the table more so then most, that' a big problem right there and of course its my fault.

I think I am just concerned that so many people feel 575.00 for the new table is a good price. I must be poor because it just does  not seem like a good value at all. If you have to spend another 75.00, making it 650.00 to get the same stability as the 1080 the value seems even worse. I think that's what prompted my response more than your comparison.

I purchased a 1080 and two tops and the 72" profiles. That's 475.00 + 172.00 + 126.00 = 774.00. Then I sold the extra side rails I had for 60.00 leaving a total of 714.00. For 714.00 I now have a triple top set up which is only 64.00 more than one mft/3 with supports. That to me is a much better value with close to 3 times the surface of a single MFT/3.

I do not use the fence  and I also sold that so I spent even less. But I can use the money I got from selling it and buy the new fence and make an adapater to get it to work with the v groove.

I can also sell the legs because I replaced them with 4 x 4 's which will be about a wash for the cost. These 4x4's really do stiffen up the table and add weight and can be compared to a 300 lb bench.

If I was in need I would get a demo MFT and make a triple top, it just seems like a better value for the guy that does not need to lug the table around.

I have already said in other threads I do not care about the V groove so I will not get into that point about its pros and cons.

 

[RDMuller]

This video IS NOT representative of the MFT3 table I have worked on over the last couple of weeks

 

[Woodenfish]

Thanks Per,

Game on!! 

Today I ventured to my local Festool emporium (WoodCraft) to witness the new MFT/3 in person. Their demo model showed only a slight wiggle only when pushed hard unlike the example in the YouTube video. Although the table is very solid on it's own and is probably perfect for many who need a light weight portable table, I felt it still could use some extra buttressing for heavier-duty shop usage. Nonetheless, I believe that the cross members should have been included as are the outriggers with the boom arm. The store was sold out on their initial MFT and cross member inventory but was expecting more in two days. I was somewhat surprised that none of these were spoken for already so I guess I'm at the front of the line?

 

[TomCrawford]

On Thursday I went to my local Festool store (if 55 miles one way is local)  They had a MFT 1080 and MFT/3 side by side.  I could not see any difference in the stability between the two.

 

[Programmergeek]

I looked at the MFT3 and have one showing up in about a week.  I they redesigned the legs so they are straight 90 deg to the table and made them longer this in turn makes the table a bit more wobbly than the old one.  The table is also lighter, that doesn't help.  Compared to the old model, which also wobbled a bit this is worse BUT with that being said it is fine for most stuff and with the stability bars it is even stiffer than the old table and the legs don't stick out as far. 

I only looked at it for a short period but that was my impression.  I will get one for the added height and reduced weight. 

 

[Per Swenson]

Folks,

I have the privilege of having both the 1080 and the MFT3 side by side

less then 12 feet away from me.  You betcha there is a review 99% completed,

be here on the fog very, very, shortly. Just a little poo polishing.

I will say this though, remember this is as it pertains to my work methods,

and how I scrounge a dollar.  But the bottom line, the MFT3 surpasses the

1080 just about everywhere.

Per

 

[nickao]

It's a new improved version and cost more money. I am glad to hear it is better, it should be.
I may get one to play with.

Nickao

 

[Woodenfish]

Per,

Are you going to cover assembly and set-up in your review?

I don't want to steal any of your thunder by posting my quick-made comments.

Woodenfish

 

[Per Swenson]

 

  Thunda!

  Thunda!

I was caught
In the middle of a railroad track (Thunder)

And I knew there was no turning back (Thunder)
My mind raced
And I thought what could I do (Thunder)
And I knew
(Thunder)

Sound of the drums
Beatin' in my heart
The thunder of guns
Tore me apart
You've been - thunderstruck

AC/DC  THUNDERSTRUCK

Wooden my Man,
By all means post away, this is a knowledge based community
and there should be no shortage of it.
Thanks for asking.

I just had to throw those lyrics up there, see that song was going through my speakers
when I read your post.

Per

 

[monte]

I looked at the MFT3 and have one showing up in about a week.  I they redesigned the legs so they are straight 90 deg to the table and made them longer this in turn makes the table a bit more wobbly than the old one.  The table is also lighter, that doesn't help.  Compared to the old model, which also wobbled a bit this is worse BUT with that being said it is fine for most stuff and with the stability bars it is even stiffer than the old table and the legs don't stick out as far. 
I only looked at it for a short period but that was my impression.  I will get one for the added height and reduced weight. 

hmmm, you might want to look carefully at the those brackets that hold the legs........

A little while back I was at Anderson Plywood in Los Angeles and Allen from Festool for the Southern California area

(the same Allen in the photo on the tallgrass thread on "Festool Food") was in town with some "preview goodies"

The two new routers and the MFT3. Well of course I helped him unload and set up the table.

After we set it up we both looked at each other and said, "what the _______" ??? ??? ???

That doesn't look right! It ended up being that the insets were backwards from the factory and we had to flip them around.

(after he dug up the right wench from his car) You might have gotten the same batch.

I'm not trying to start any nasty rumors, it's just the the darn truth of what I saw.

Monte