MFT rundown

3

3cpq

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Joined
Dec 2, 2009
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14
Can somebody give me a run down on the MFT?  What I want to hear about, is what you use it for, what it shines at.  Does it replace a router table?  Is it more or less convenient.  Does it replace a cabinet saw?  Is it good for a furniture maker or a cabinet maker? '

How do you adjust for different stock thicknesses? 
 
Two areas it shines (at least for me) are as an assembly/work table and ease of making repeatable cuts.  IMO, it does not replace a router table, it can but I wouldn't use mine that way.  If you have the MFT3, the CMS router table will attach to it, when the CMS finds it's way to the US.  The bracket that attaches the rail to the table slides up and down to account for various thicknesses of material. 

I suggest spending some time on YouTube and look and some videos that have been done for the MFT, there are many.

Also, check out Jerry Work's MFT manual
 
Jerry's manual is definitely a great place to start.  Keep in mind that he is featuring the older generation MFT.  The newer MFT/3 offers some improvements over the previous model while still providing all of the same functionality.  I'm sure other will chime in with their own take.  Some people have trouble seeing the benefit until they own it and then regret not getting it sooner.  But I'll let others tell that story.
 
3cpq said:
Can somebody give me a run down on the MFT?  What I want to hear about, is what you use it for, what it shines at.  Does it replace a router table?  Is it more or less convenient.  Does it replace a cabinet saw?  Is it good for a furniture maker or a cabinet maker? '

How do you adjust for different stock thicknesses? 
Click to expand...

IMHO, it really shines as a cross cut device.  Kind of a cross cut sled on steroids.  Since I purchased the mft3 I find myself using it more and more.   I still find my cabinet saw a great tool and if you need some power and long rips you can't beat the old cabinet saw.  Will it replace a router table, no.  Can it do some neat things with a rourter yes.  I have the PC7518 in my table with the incra fence.  I am using the mft/3 to route parallel dado's in my wine cabinet and with the stops built in, it beats the router table.  If you are cutting panels it's awsome! finally I jusut use it more and more as a bench.  Quick clams are great and the table is very versitile, but I'm keeping the router table and TS.  
 
Buy it, really just buy it. I originally bought the MFT/3 to use with my TS75 and still use them together. I would have to say that I probably don't use it for as many festool purposes as others here do. That is not to say that eventually I won't, I know I will. My MFT generally gets used as a 'safe' work, clamping, cutting, drilling, assembling, sanding station. I am the first one to set whatever on top of a mud bucket or edge of stairs to cut or do whatever. The MFT provides a dedicated platform to do all those things safely, conveniently and with portability. Sure there are cheaper but those items aren't part of a system. That of course is another key plus factor.
 
First of all, welcome to the FOG.

I think the strength of Festool is not as an individual tool, but as the whole system of tools working in tandem.  I believe that the MFT/3 is one of the keystones (if not the keystone) of that system.

You have gotten some good information from other posters already.  Time to do a little research on your own.

Neill
 
I am a traveling carpenter.  Thought that the MFT/3 was a waste of money.  Then I started thinking about what it could replace - if not totally, at least some of the time.:
1.  Saw horses for some projects
2.  Miterbox stand
3.  Work table
4.  With the TS55, it can replace the miterbox on many outdoor projects
5.  With the TS55, it additional rails, it can replace a table saw for many uses
6.  With a Festool router it can accurately cut dados at virtually any angle on stock eliminating a router table for some functions

Some things that it can do better than the dedicated tools:

1.  Cross cut 24" boards
2.  Cut dados or stopped mortises or flutes across wide boards
3.  Miter 16" wide flat stock 10' long

I am one of those who openly admits that I wish I had bought it sooner.  But I had to justify it based on what I would use it for, just like are trying to do now.  I wish you luck.

Peter
 
Portable work table for me.  Clamping, assembly, sanding, followed by some cutting here latley.

It makes for a dang nice portable work table, way mare useful than my old 2'x4' fold up plastic table.

Adds some safety measures as well.  Remember, all ways wear your protection.
 
Here's a quick look around my small shop:

portable table, layout table, glue up table, clamping table, miter saw infeed and outfeed tables, infeed/outfeed table for the oscilliating spindle sander, cross cut and rip cut station, outfeed for the bandsaw, router table...INTEGRAL part of my workshop system.

I like the MFTs so much, I bought the company  ;D. Well, maybe I didn't buy the company, but my six-table investment felt like I was buying the company  [laughing].

Rey
 
I bought it because it was portable but I've never taken it out of the shop and I still love it.  I use it literally 6 or 7 days a week.  I use it all the time even though I have a traditional bench with a woodworking vice and dogs.  I'm the kind that considers the worktop sacrificial and I do things on it that I won't do on my work bench, like drill right into the top.  The side rails, the holes, the guide rail bridge, the fence, just a fabulous piece of equipment.  I have the old model, one of these days I'm going to talk myself into the new one. 

One time I asked myself if I really needed it or if I just bought it because it was Festool.  So I started inventorying everything I'd done on it that day and that week.  Didn't need to finish the exercise, it was almost self-evident.

I second the idea of the system.  The clamping options are made to order for the Domino.
 
I'm primarely a "site" carpenter as well.  The MFT brings some pretty serious capabilities to bare.  With the saw it works as a 2d miter saw or cut-off for panels.  With the routers rabbits and mortises are a snap.  I've put a router lift into mine so I make panels and mouldings on site as needed.  But if nothing else it is a great table for assembly.  I have ironed clothes on it once so yeah it could also replace my ironing board.
 
Sounds like what I want is 4 MFT3's, one for portability, three connected together for clamping, a portable router table at same height.
I'll probably just buy one MTF3, a TS 75, and a router table for now. 

As for router tables, what is the best system for use with the CT22 for maximum dust collection? 

 
3cpq said:
Sounds like what I want is 4 MFT3's, one for portability, three connected together for clamping, a portable router table at same height.
I'll probably just buy one MTF3, a TS 75, and a router table for now.  

As for router tables, what is the best system for use with the CT22 for maximum dust collection?  
Click to expand...

Now, if you have 2 MFTs, you could setup a table table as the 'bridge' between the two tables. I have a bridge between two MFTs, but not for the router table.

Rey
 
I have a Freud fence which has a large port.  I don't use my ct22 for chip removal.  I use a large "shop vac" mostly because I don't need fine dust removal for routing operations.  I use bag and filtered machines for sanding, dominoing, routing on solid surface and clean-up.

I like the Incra miter slide fence for my set-up.
 
Since a few weeks I'm using the MFT/3. I'm in the middle of a small project, drawers for the kitchen. In Holland I was used to the CMS-table. That table really spoiled me. I have to learn a lot of new tricks with the MFT. I really miss the almost brainless way of working with the CMS. If Festool USA is not importing the CMS, I will bring it with me on my next visit to the USA.
But the MFT is a nice stable workbench, using the saw with the rail is very precise. It took me 15 minutes to get ready to dig the saw in the virgin tabletop. In the end I realized it was part of the system and I could live with the groove.
In the coming weeks I'm sure I will discover more useful tricks of the table. I'm glad I have it.
 
Thanks Peter, I'm well aware of the supportive attitude of this brotherhood of woodworkers.
 
Here I go again.  I added a MFT 3 to my shop today.  I have been thinking about the MFT for a few years, ever since I bought my TS55 saw, just always thought the MFT was too expensive.  After studying it for the past few weeks I pulled the trigger today.  Now off to the garage to assemble my new toy.  [big grin]
 
sl_1800 said:
Here I go again.  I added a MFT 3 to my shop today.  I have been thinking about the MFT for a few years, ever since I bought my TS55 saw, just always thought the MFT was too expensive.  After studying it for the past few weeks I pulled the trigger today.  Now off to the garage to assemble my new toy.   [big grin]
Click to expand...

Wow, you have a lot of self control, I could never last a few years between thinking about getting something and actually getting it.  You won't regret your purchase.
 
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