MFT-3
- Thread starter gmcooper
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pixelated
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If you deliberately shake it, it does wobble. But it's not really a problem for most uses, though I wouldn't want to use it for hand planing.
There are accessory brackets to make it more rigid.
The rail supports could be better, and there are some after-market products, but again, the rail is supported well enough to work fine. I think most of the stories of excessive play are internet hype.
The MFT is a very useful work table, meant to be somewhat portable, and be flexible enough to support work pieces in a variety of ways. It does that pretty well, but it's not unique, there are cheaper alternatives, however.
There are accessory brackets to make it more rigid.
The rail supports could be better, and there are some after-market products, but again, the rail is supported well enough to work fine. I think most of the stories of excessive play are internet hype.
The MFT is a very useful work table, meant to be somewhat portable, and be flexible enough to support work pieces in a variety of ways. It does that pretty well, but it's not unique, there are cheaper alternatives, however.
Birdhunter
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I found the braces to be useless in reducing wobble. I added an extension to one of my tables to mount a big vise. The extension had heavy steel legs thus making the table steady enough for planing and sawing. It’s not portable, but I didn’t need that.
Adding a SlopStop to the drop down rail eliminated all the unwanted rail movement in my setup. Pretty cheap.
I’d look at Dashboard’s alternative to the MFT. If I were to start over, that’s what I would buy. I bought their hinge and it is very high quality.
Adding a SlopStop to the drop down rail eliminated all the unwanted rail movement in my setup. Pretty cheap.
I’d look at Dashboard’s alternative to the MFT. If I were to start over, that’s what I would buy. I bought their hinge and it is very high quality.
Crazyraceguy
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gmcooper said:
The thing is essentially designed for "site-work": meaning, lightweight, easily portable, cutting surface replaceable, and it is "good enough" for that purpose.
That is not at all to say that it is perfect, but does effectively meet those requirements. There are improvements that can be made to add to it's precision, but that wasn't one of the original goals.
Addressing the concerns that you mention, can be easily rectified. There is a stabilizing kit available from Festool directly and several options for the rail fitment, from various other vendors.
I don't own one myself, because I don't need to be portable. I do however embrace the grid of holes and the fixtures that work with it, on a much larger self-made table.
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[member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] , do you have one or two sets of leg braces? When I first got my MFT I bought one set of braces and installed them on the far side away from where you would normally stand when cutting. But I too found them unsat for any type of work that placed horizontal force on the MFT. It did move, but mostly on the front side without the braces.
So I bought a second set of braces and with both sets installed the MFT is much more stable. I can use a hand plane for light to moderate planing but no you wouldn't want to try to flatten a large board with a #5-1/2 or larger plane. It just doesn't have enough mass to resist the amount of force you need to apply.
But two sets of braces is much better. I don't remember how much a set of braces was 6 years ago but it was worth it to me.
So I bought a second set of braces and with both sets installed the MFT is much more stable. I can use a hand plane for light to moderate planing but no you wouldn't want to try to flatten a large board with a #5-1/2 or larger plane. It just doesn't have enough mass to resist the amount of force you need to apply.
But two sets of braces is much better. I don't remember how much a set of braces was 6 years ago but it was worth it to me.
Birdhunter
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I have two MFT tables joined together. I bought two sets of the braces. Improvement was marginal at best. I really wanted a woodworking vise so the extension I made solved the vise problem and the wobble problem. Using my (too many) planes is very enjoyable so having a solid table was critical.
gmcooper said:
Mine doesn't wobble. But you need to keep in mind it's designed to be "mobile"... so if you are in the habit of doing work yourself instead of letting machines do it for you... it might not be the right table for you.
Also no guide rail play on mine. I've heard it can wear to more play, but that is also easily solved.
It's a nice size, nice weight, very universal, same height as CS-50, CMS, lots of nice accessories for it. Very nice for cutting small panels.
luvmytoolz
Member
I don't have any wobble issues with my MFT3, once you open the legs out it's as sturdy as I could require it for any work I do. It's not as hefty or solid as a solid timber workbench, but it is incredibly handy, far more useful to me than I originally thought it would be.
This was designed as a site table - a solution for precise cutting on a jobsite, so no comparison to a 'proper' bench. It does what it's designed for, very well. People have bought them for their home shops, as their main bench, and been disappointed, which is where most of the complaints seem to come from.
I had one, but sold it - not because of the quality, but I just didn't need the functions it offers, on site. A 'Walko' bench was the answer for me.
I had one, but sold it - not because of the quality, but I just didn't need the functions it offers, on site. A 'Walko' bench was the answer for me.
Cheese
Member
The local Woodcraft store had a Walko on display about 5-6 years ago. Can't remember the price but it was more than a MFT, not that a MFT is that great.
Yep and they don't charge extra for it. Kidding aside, yes it does all that but I find it to be an excellent workstation in my garage shop. Accessories and the Benchdog Quad Hinge all help make it an excellent assembly and cutting table. I would not be without it.
Holzhacker
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I wouldn't say the MFT wobbles but it could be better. Once I added the braces it was fine for what I needed. It's a good site or shop table in my opinion.
For lots of hand planing or that sort of work one of the larger, heavier type tables would be better.
On a related safety note, I grew up with a bad habit of using buckets and 2x's as supports for site work. Not exactly very safe numerous times. The MFT made my work habits much safer.
For lots of hand planing or that sort of work one of the larger, heavier type tables would be better.
On a related safety note, I grew up with a bad habit of using buckets and 2x's as supports for site work. Not exactly very safe numerous times. The MFT made my work habits much safer.
nclemmons
Member
I had a Walko and it was very sturdy, but much less working surface than the MFT. I don't know if they are still making them. Bought mine on closeout from Woodcraft as I recall - about 1/2 price at the time.
I have an MFT 3 with the braces and a piece of 2x4 ply on the bottom cross braces and then set Systainers on that and it gets pretty sturdy in that configuration. Not a planing bench across the wide dimension, but you can across the narrow dimension if you need to.
I have a a full woodworkers bench that is stable for any planing work I do.
I have an MFT 3 with the braces and a piece of 2x4 ply on the bottom cross braces and then set Systainers on that and it gets pretty sturdy in that configuration. Not a planing bench across the wide dimension, but you can across the narrow dimension if you need to.
I have a a full woodworkers bench that is stable for any planing work I do.
+1Birdhunter said:
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