MFT sacrificial top

[John1102]

Will festool clamps still work if you add 1/8" tempered hardboard to an MFT perforated top?  I am looking to have a more durable MFT top and didn't know if anyone had done that or does it hinder its clamping function?  Thanks!

 

[vkumar]

Assuming that the hardboard will have the appropriate holes for he clamps I dont see why not.  The 1/8 inch extra thickness is easily handled by the clamps.

 

[Roseland]

I think not unless you round over the undersides of the holes.  Easy enough to try in a corner of the top before doing them all!

You may need to relieve the edges of the top to get it back to the same height if you still want to use the fence and protractor.

Andrew

 

[Svar]

Holes in the sacrificial top will have to be either bigger or chamfered to let clamp elbow go through..

 

[Birdhunter]

I think of the MFT top as being sacrificial, but when I am doing something messy on my MFTs, I lay a sheet of cardboard on top.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I don’t like to make extra grooves in my MFT. When the work is small enough to fit there but too long for the fixed rail (or I just don’t want to reposition the fence for just a couple cuts) I slap a loose piece of 1/8” tempered board on top as the sacrificial backer, and make the cut with a loose rail.

I also use one or two as shims when cutting thin stuff and don’t want to lower the fixed rail.