MFT Table Repair /Insert

[sancho57]

Hi my name is Ron, Im a long time lurker (about a year)  and first time poster.

I was at my local supplier the other day and I was discussing with a FessTool nut much like myself that I wanted to repair the groove in my MFT table.

I was going to use some putty much like my pal Joe (RIP) demonstrated on his U Tube video .

Which I did but wasnt happy with the look of the repair.

Well this guy told me how he repaired his.

He routed a slot in his table where the groove is.

The slot went the entire width of the table 3/8" deep and and 2" wide.

He then used the saw to cut a angle in the groove creating a dove tail groove.

Next he planed a piece of hardwood to 3/8" thk and 2" wide cut the width of table and cut the corresponding angle creating a matching dove tail.

He slid the hardwood in the groove and then counter sunk a couple of screws to hold it in place.

Now if he has to repair the saw cut groove he just swaps out the insert he made.

My question to you all is, does anyone see a down side to this insert/repair?

I have a nice piece of oak Im ready to plane and cut to install.

But still a little unsure if this will compromise the integrity of the table.

Maybe I should just flip the top over.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Ron  [welcome]

I don't understand why you would want to repair the table top when the purpose of it is to take cuts from the tools during use, eventually you would just flip the top over when the one side is too far gone to use.  It's not a show piece, but a functional part of the Festool system.  The other thing I see you doing that presents a problem is installing screws into the top.  What happens when a saw blade hits those screws?  Blades for Festool saws aren't very inexpensive, so that'll cost you at least a sharpening or tooth replacement which isn't inexpensive either.

Consider the condition of the top "character" and just enjoy the benefits and use of the MFT.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Now this is what an MFT top should look like when it needs replacement  [big grin].

(Kreg's top)

 

[Corwin]

Hi my name is Ron, Im a long time lurker (about a year)  and first time poster.

I was at my local supplier the other day and I was discussing with a FessTool nut much like myself that I wanted to repair the groove in my MFT table.

I was going to use some putty much like my pal Joe (RIP) demonstrated on his U Tube video .

Which I did but wasnt happy with the look of the repair.

Well this guy told me how he repaired his.

He routed a slot in his table where the groove is.

The slot went the entire width of the table 3/8" deep and and 2" wide.

He then used the saw to cut a angle in the groove creating a dove tail groove.

Next he planed a piece of hardwood to 3/8" thk and 2" wide cut the width of table and cut the corresponding angle creating a matching dove tail.

He slid the hardwood in the groove and then counter sunk a couple of screws to hold it in place.

Now if he has to repair the saw cut groove he just swaps out the insert he made.

My question to you all is, does anyone see a down side to this insert/repair?

I have a nice piece of oak Im ready to plane and cut to install.

But still a little unsure if this will compromise the integrity of the table.

Maybe I should just flip the top over.

I must have your shirt.

[attachimg=#]

No, my wife gave this to me for Christmas.  I could not understand how this could happen, as she walks by a bunch of stuff in the hall every day that all clearly say 'Festool' in nice green lettering...    [unsure]

... and in all fairness, she did learn of her mistake prior to Christmas and just in time to order me another shirt that came out correctly.  [wink]

 

[Kristian]

Corwin, it's a good thing she found out and corrected her mistake 'cause I'm not sure "It's the thought that counts" applies here...!  [wink]

 

[Alan m]

Now this is what an MFT top should look like when it needs replacement  [big grin].

(Kreg's top)

there is still a lot of top to be used there , do you see the top right corner.  [big grin] [wink].
wow thats a lot of use [eek]

 

[fshanno]

I think it's a good idea.  Why not route the grove with a dovetail bit?  Then you can mill the filler strip at the router table with the same bit

I'm all for sacrificing the table and replacing it as needed.  This idea sort of facilitates that.  Go ahead and slice it up but when it's time to crosscut delicate melamine, slide in the insert for better tear out protection.

 

[sancho57]

Thanks Guy for all your feed back. I was thinking that with a removable insert it would save me the hassel and $$ of eventually replacing the top. I would only have to replace the insert.

Maybe I am being a bit to choosey on how I want tp perserve the table.

But my Pal Joe mention on his video that we need the 1/8 deep groove on the table to help get a better cut. Is this true?

The zero clearance definate helps on my TS. But Im not sure if the 1/8" groove would help on the quality of the cut.

 

[mouppe]

If you do not want to mark the top, why not just clamp or screw a sacrificial piece of 1/4" MDF on top of it? You can remove it when you need to use the perforated top. Repairing it seems like a lot of trouble for little reward in my HO.

 

[nickao]

Well you would lose all the holes unless you drilled them all out which defeats the purpose.

I see nothing wrong with the OP's idea and do not think the insert hurts the table at all. Since I use the MFT tops 99% for assembly I was kind of bummed when I cut a line in one of my tops. So now I have one top with cuts and just swap it out with a nice top when I want to cut.

I think the insert idea and the idea of making it replaceable with a dovetail as described by fshanno are both good.