MFT Hole Pattern Measurements?

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gemorris

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Joined
Oct 31, 2007
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Hi, I'm currently trying to build my own jumbo MFT and I was wondering if anyone had the hole size and spacing for the MFT?  I will be making my own torsion box table with the MFT hole pattern, but I can not find anywhere what the measurements are!  I have found that the holes are 20mm (please confirm) but I can not find what the spacing (center to center) of the holes is.  If you have an MFT could you please take a rule or a micrometer over to it and measure?  Thanks!

 
gemorris said:
Hi, I'm currently trying to build my own jumbo MFT and I was wondering if anyone had the hole size and spacing for the MFT?  I will be making my own torsion box table with the MFT hole pattern, but I can not find anywhere what the measurements are!  I have found that the holes are 20mm (please confirm) but I can not find what the spacing (center to center) of the holes is.  If you have an MFT could you please take a rule or a micrometer over to it and measure? 
Click to expand...

As regards my UK MFT1080, bought in the UK in 2007, the holes are 19.9mm diameter, and are spaced at 95.6mm to 96mm between centres in the x and y directions.

Forrest

 
I have an MFT 1080.  The surface is 46" x 28 1/2" with 12 holes across the long dimension and 7 across the short (84 total holes).  If you imagine a square laid out with a hole at each corner, the distances between holes (center-to-center) along the perimeter are 3-3/4".  The diagonals measure 5-3/8".  (Sorry, but my imperial tape measure was closest to hand--just let me know if you'd like me to remeasure in mm.)

Hope this helps, and happy holiday greetings to all,
Fred
 
The holes in a MFT are 20 mm in diameter, and are spaced 96 mm center to center.  The spacing does not seem to be really important, but the diameter is critical if you plan to use the Festool clamps that fit snugly into the holes.
 
If your holes are reliably in a 96x96 grid, then jigs or fixtures that attach at two or more points, like my router table guard, will work in any position.

Ned
 
Ned Young said:
If your holes are reliably in a 96x96 grid, then jigs or fixtures that attach at two or more points, like my router table guard, will work in any position.

Ned
Click to expand...

Thanks Ned.  I spaced jigs and fixtures that use two adjacent holes.  The MFT fence attachment is another example.  So the 96 mm spacing is important.
 
Forrest Anderson said:
As regards my UK MFT1080, bought in the UK in 2007, the holes are 19.9mm diameter, and are spaced at 95.6mm to 96mm between centres in the x and y directions.

Forrest
Click to expand...

I appreciate the exactness of your measurements Forrest, but, is the humidity low there?
The spacing should be 96mm even. The 32mm guide rail will help in drilling a panel.
 
Michael Kellough said:
I appreciate the exactness of your measurements Forrest, but, is the humidity low there?
The spacing should be 96mm even. The 32mm guide rail will help in drilling a panel.
Click to expand...

82% relative humidity here in Edinburgh, if the BBC weather page is to be believed, so I don't think it could be classed as low!

The holes vary very slightly in their distance apart, so it's not a case of them all being nearer to each other which might indicate the board has shrunk. I just put it down to manufacturing tolerances. The 0.4mm difference in spacing that I saw when checking random pairs of holes is approx 1/64", so I'm not fussed about it, and won't be returning it under guarantee!  ;)

Forrest

 
I expanded my MFT length to use for a break down table so I went to my local dealer and we looked up the hole size.  The rep called it 20mm so thats what I used.  I also figured out the the spacing was based of our 32 mm rail pattern, however, it was a year ago so I don't recall the spacing.  That being said 96mm makes sense.  The hdf deck that the table had originally was way to heavy so I dropped a lot of weight switching to birch ply, the downside is that my birch is 11/16.  I'm going to build a new top so I'll find some true 3/4.  Merry Christmas Everyone 
 
Those of you who took measurements, thank you for your time and info.  I'll post pictures of my 8020/Torsion Box MFT as soon as it's done.
 
Daviddubya said:
The holes in a MFT are 20 mm in diameter, and are spaced 96 mm center to center.  The spacing does not seem to be really important, but the diameter is critical if you plan to use the Festool clamps that fit snugly into the holes.
Click to expand...

Exactly.  The hole diameter is the important thing.
 
Is it critical to drill all those holes right away?  Couldn't he just drill a few on the RH side to catch dogs to act as a stop and any other holes for jigs he may actually have?

Steve
 
gemorris said:
Those of you who took measurements, thank you for your time and info.  I'll post pictures of my 8020/Torsion Box MFT as soon as it's done.
Click to expand...

Gee Morris, I would love to see your design and how you plan to build the torsion box so it won't interfear with any of the clamp when you stick um in the holes.
Do you have any drawings you can share?

Thanks!

Mike
 
Dixon Peer said:
Daviddubya said:
The holes in a MFT are 20 mm in diameter, and are spaced 96 mm center to center.  The spacing does not seem to be really important, but the diameter is critical if you plan to use the Festool clamps that fit snugly into the holes.
Click to expand...

Exactly.  The hole diameter is the important thing.
Click to expand...

Check Steve Adams' MFT and Guide Rail Alignment thread.  Depending on your application, the spacing may be as critical as the diameter.

If you're not sure if the spacing will matter to you, act as if it does.  There's no harm in locating the holes accurately, other than a little more effort, but if you don't you've precluded ever using that field of holes in the way that Steve suggests.

Ned
 
chughes said:
I expanded my MFT length to use for a break down table so I went to my local dealer and we looked up the hole size.  The rep called it 20mm so thats what I used.  I also figured out the the spacing was based of our 32 mm rail pattern, however, it was a year ago so I don't recall the spacing.  That being said 96mm makes sense.  The hdf deck that the table had originally was way to heavy so I dropped a lot of weight switching to birch ply, the downside is that my birch is 11/16.  I'm going to build a new top so I'll find some true 3/4.  Merry Christmas Everyone   
Click to expand...

have you ever used the ~1/2 weight version of mdf I think that it seems to be quite strong.  The supplier that I baught it from had both regular and 1/2 with regular being dark brownish and the other looking much more like the festool table color. I wonder if they use the lighter version.

JJ
 
I found a 20MM brad point today at Woodcraft's, $17 so not a bad price and I don't have to wait until it gets ordered and shipped from Festool parts.  I did a quick test and it fit like a glove to the holes in the display MFT.  Tonight I get to drill holes and finish getting everything set back up.
 
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