MFT Extensions and other bits

[TahoeTwoBears]

I'd been looking at the extensions over time and finally ordered one to see if it would be a help. I haven't received it yet, but I'm wondering if they are adjustable in terms of height. If not, depending on the new extrusions on the MFT3 they may not work there. If they are adjustable, no problem, if not, maybe I ought to order more now (or wait, hmmmmm).

Can anyone let me know about the adjustability?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Brice Burrell]

  Mike they have very little adjustment, just enough to fine tune them to be coplanar with the MFT top. You can see in the pic that the support arm sit on the cross member of the MFT legs, no adjustability there either.

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Brice,

So I'm gathering that you can't adjust the length of the leg? This probably won't bode well with the new table height being raised 4 inches, unless the cross brace moves up 4 inches as well.

Mike

 

[Daviddubya]

The MFT Table Extension, 489575, has some adjustment.  The leg mounts on a plate that is bolted to two slots on the bottom side of the extension.  The bolts are loosened and the plate slides in the slots, allowing the end of the extension to rise or fall.  The other end of the extension leg rests on the crossbar of the MFT leg.  There is no adjustment to the length of the extension leg itself.

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Thanks guys for responding so quickly. Looks like I need to make up my mind in terms of now vs. future purchases. 

 

[semenza]

Hi,

    You could build your own extensions for the current table. Then see what the future holds.  I am sure that a couple ideas for this are already on the FOG.  Also I am inclined to think that older accessories would be available until they run out even after the new table comes out. 
    BTW I see from another thread that the height is supposed to change. But do we know that it is four inches?  I think that an improvement in the height would be more likely adjustable, not just a different fixed height. ???

Seth

 

[Tinker]

Tahoe TB,
thanks for that question.
I have ben thinking of getting one or two more of those extensions.  I had not thought about them being discontinued when new MFT come out.

I hope somebody can come up with correct info to the questions asked.
Tinker

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Tinker,

I'm guessing that until the new table gets designed, no one will know for sure. Looks like it'll give us something fun to contemplate between now and spring.

Mike

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Brice,

BTW, is that picture taken in your shop? All I can say is WOW! What kind of flooring is that? I'm thinking this must really be a living room. Looks way too neat, clean, organized, and nice for a shop. ;D

Mike

 

[Brice Burrell]

Brice,

BTW, is that picture taken in your shop? All I can say is WOW! What kind of flooring is that? I'm thinking this must really be a living room. Looks way too neat, clean, organized, and nice for a shop. ;D

Mike

  It's a back room in my house that I've turned into my work space for the civilized tools (Festool). I keep the dust producing tools (read table saw, spindle sander, planer and the like) in the basement. Since I'm used to working in my client's homes, I tend to keep my work area pretty clean, so its not hard to do it at home too. Staying organized is a key component to productively. Plus at 6:15 am when I'm loading my truck, I don't want to be trying to find to stuff I need for the day's job. It's an oak floor and for being over 90 years old, its pretty level.

  Anyone that has see the projects page one my site you know that is were all of the work happens, on my MFT and thats about it. It is a small space, but as you guys know the Festool system works very well in small shops. Its nice to be able to store "a whole shop" on a few shelves right behind my MFT.

 

[Ned]

Looking at this photo on Brice's site...

[attachthumb=#]

...it seems to me that the bracket between the diagonal prop and the underside could either be replaced or a thick shim installed for an MFT3.  In the same way, either a shim or a replacement bracket to attach the extension to the table.

I don't know any more about the MFT3 than anyone else here, but I think odds are good the current extension could be adapted to the new design.

[edit]  Whoops.  I'm assuming there will be a horizontal leg brace on the MFT for the prop rod to connect to.  There's no reason to believe that...

Ned

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Hi everybody! I spoke with the manager of my local Woodcraft store and he told me that Festool will be releasing the newer MFT sometime in the first quarter of 2008. Is there a thread that deals more in depth with the newer iteration of the MFT? Oh, by the way, I believe he also said they'd be releasing their Laminate Trimmer in the 1st quarter as well?

 

[Eli]

That sounds really optimistic for release dates. Do a search for MFT3, we have two or three threads about it.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Yeah, I know, they were talking about releasing Kapex 1st quarter as well, my guess is we'll be seeing one closer to next Fall, I can't wait to hook one up to my Sawhelper! Thanks Eli!

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Does anyone in Australia know about this yet (Eli, Anthony ??) I can't see any mention on the AU festool site.

 

[Eli]

It's still news for MFT3, no release announced. US won't get Kapex for awhile, they are filling wait lists steadily here in AU, so even when official approvals are granted, US will be subject to production capacity...

 

[Anthony]

Does anyone in Australia know about this yet (Eli, Anthony ??) I can't see any mention on the AU festool site.

Hi LF, No news yet on MFT3 release dates for Oz. No news on them at all actually. But I have to say I am very very very keen to see what any MFT replacement will be like, and really really really hopeful there will be a whole stack of accessories to go with it. But I am probably not alone there eh?

Did I mention I am very very very keen to see what any MFT replacement will be like?

As for the current FMT extension (or technically its a BASIS extension), it's a brilliant add-on for the MFT. I config I worked out with a customer a few weeks ago involved the extension on the right (waste) side of the MFT 1080, and MFT800 on the left. Move the MFT800 close to or further away from the 1080 depending on the length of material you are tackling. In his case, 3.6m lengths of MDF and hardwood. He reports its a great combo for cross cutting, ripping, and routing.

The images below is the set-up he went for.

 

[Tinker]

Looking at this photo on Brice's site...

[attachthumb=#]

...it seems to me that the bracket between the diagonal prop and the underside could either be replaced or a thick shim installed for an MFT3.  In the same way, either a shim or a replacement bracket to attach the extension to the table.

I don't know any more about the MFT3 than anyone else here, but I think odds are good the current extension could be adapted to the new design.

[edit]  Whoops.  I'm assuming there will be a horizontal leg brace on the MFT for the prop rod to connect to.  There's no reason to believe that...

Ned

The extension is really not adjustable for all practicallity at table end.

The extension is very adjustable at the outer end.  That bracket in Bryce's pic can be slid in or out to whatever is needed to level with the MFT table top.  If the new MFT3 has different dimensions at the table side pieces, a simple adjustment would be to just replace the bracket at table end.  There is a lot of adjustment possible for the leg by simply changing triangulation by moving that plate in or out.

Tinker

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Regarding the MFT3, I spoke with a Festool rep this afternoon and he said that the die Festool was using to made the aluminum extrusions wore out, and that rather than just replace them with a new copy they are re-tooling the machines to produce a new extrusion, he said it would be compatible with more accessories. BTW, he also indicated we in the USA most likely won't see the Kapex until late in 2008  :'(