MFT setup

[Mickfb]

Now this was a moment of inspiration or stupidity for not thinking of it sooner. Never been 100% happy getting the guide rail square to the fence. All the squares I have are accurate but too small or large but not accurate. Been looking online for a decent one, then a "light bulb moment" the holes on the MFT are cut on a cnc ! So with the help of 4 Veritas Parf Dogs I  now have a nice square piece of mdf to set it up.
Mick

 

[DrD]

Do you have any pictures to post? 

DrD

 

[Mickfb]

Hi DrD
Will try tomorrow.

 

[adsjoin]

Hi DrD
Will try tomorrow.

ive literally just watched Peter Halle on utube setting the table up this way. Very simple/effective method

 

[Mickfb]

Cut board square

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Second set up

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Then cut

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[tallgrass]

Yup, the way I do it.

 

[paulhtremblay]

Where do you get those taller dogs? I have two sets of Qwas dogs, which will not rise above a standard piece of 19mm MDF. I suppose I could use my pair of rail dogs, but they have a bit of slop in them.

 

[Mickfb]

Where do you get those taller dogs? I have two sets of Qwas dogs, which will not rise above a standard piece of 19mm MDF. I suppose I could use my pair of rail dogs, but they have a bit of slop in them.

They are Veritas dogs got from a company called Axminster Tools here in the Uk

 

[sancho57]

Now this was a moment of inspiration or stupidity for not thinking of it sooner. Never been 100% happy getting the guide rail square to the fence. All the squares I have are accurate but too small or large but not accurate. Been looking online for a decent one, then a "light bulb moment" the holes on the MFT are cut on a cnc ! So with the help of 4 Veritas Parf Dogs I  now have a nice square piece of mdf to set it up.
Mick

What type of squares do you have? How do you know they are square?
The squares and set up technique seem to be the most common issues with MFT set up.
Please do a search here and you will find multiple threads for the same thing.
They all boil down to 2 issues
1) Square not being square
2) Set up technique.

I got tis booked marked because it is such a common issue

 

[Roseland]

I can set my track perfectly square but if I then unclamp the rail to adjust it to a different thickness (as in switching between cutting 1/2" and 3/4" ply) it can be out of square by a millimetre or so over the 650mm.

I got some Parf Dogs, but they're quite a loose fit in the holes in my (5 year old) MFT/3.

I have a square piece of 1/2" ply I cut using the "5 cuts" method, and I have to use that to reset the track each time.  A royal PITA.

Anyone else have this problem/found a fix?

Andrew

 

[tjbnwi]

I can set my track perfectly square but if I then unclamp the rail to adjust it to a different thickness (as in switching between cutting 1/2" and 3/4" ply) it can be out of square by a millimetre or so over the 650mm.

I got some Parf Dogs, but they're quite a loose fit in the holes in my (5 year old) MFT/3.

I have a square piece of 1/2" ply I cut using the "5 cuts" method, and I have to use that to reset the track each time.  A royal PITA.

Anyone else have this problem/found a fix?

Andrew

The only time I've had this problem is when I camber the rail fixing devices. Raising and lowering, I keep the moving part of the bracket tight against the same side of the fixed part of the bracket they were adjusted to. After a few times it becomes second nature.

Tom

 

[Roseland]

Thanks, I'll give that a try!

Andrew

 

[Mickfb]

Hi jobs worth.
I check my squares by putting it on the edge of something straight, draw a line with the square then turn it over and draw another line on top of the first line. If the square is correct then the lines will line up, or if not you will see the difference.
I have since bought a 10inch Woodpecker square( very accurate)

 

[iamnothim]

I use the Paul Marcel technique.  I have found that using the "seldom used" protractor fence works great to square the rail.

 

[sancho57]

Hi jobs worth.
I check my squares by putting it on the edge of something straight, draw a line with the square then turn it over and draw another line on top of the first line. If the square is correct then the lines will line up, or if not you will see the difference.
I have since bought a 10inch Woodpecker square( very accurate)

That woodpeckers square is very accurate. I had a similar issue when I first got my MFT. I was up set cuz I couldn't get a square cut for the life of me. Then I went to a end users class in LV. I told Steve my problem, We went over the set up procedure and it turned out to be my square, wasn't :>D.

But also check for squareness after you tighten every. That black clamp and the end of the fence tends to pull it out of square when tightened. So double triple check when ya get every thing tightened up.

Let me know how it works for you.
Heres another video on MFT set up by steve base at the end user class I mentioned.



There is a Pt 2 to this maybe a Pt 3 can't remember

 

[Billedis]

Jobsworth, how do you bookmark a video on the blog?  I checked the help function, but could find nothing.  Thank you.  Bill

 

[sancho57]

If ya mean here on the FOG. I just book mark the entire thread. Say this for example. Ill just go to my bookmarks add it place it in a folder I named festool.

That way I capture all the info on the thread about what ever subj Im interested in.

Oh you could also go to Utube and find it there. I usually check Festool TV for it first

 

[Billedis]

Thank you Sir for your prompt reply.  Now have it bookmarked.  I was looking inside the FOG to bookmark, but now have done as you posted.  Did not mean to hijack this thread.  Bill