MFT update

[James Carriere]

Hello,

I wanted to inquire if there were any rough timelines for a redesigned MFT table release.  I am aware of the design competition that closed quite some time ago and was curious to where things stand with what I hope is a future release which incorporates some much needed new features i.e. a removable carrying handle and possibly some attached wheels for improved mobility, etc?

Thank you,
James

 

[peter halle]

design competition?

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi Peter,

My best guess, James is talking about this:https://www.behance.net/gallery/18071433/Festool-Workbench

Maybe someone can enlighten us on "The Workbench Revolution Competition"?  [eek]

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Cheese]

SWEET

Now that’s a MFT that I’d spend my money on. Rather than the rickety original version.

 

[James Carriere]

Hi Peter and Oliver,

Yes it is in reference to those images on Behance where I stumbled upon some preliminary design ideas while doing other MFT research. I happened to run into my local Festool rep this week who confirmed to me that the open design competition had happened and had closed quite some time ago.  He politely did not want to speculate anymore on the subject.  Adding that to the knowledge that the current MFT is from 2008 and there are numerous suggestions and mods on FOG it seems logical that Festool might have an interest in a new update.  I initially hesitated asking on the forum for not wanting to start a whole "thing" but I incorrectly concluded that the Ask Festool section might be private and not on the open forum.  My apologies if this sparks a giant discussion that is unwanted.

 

[James Carriere]

SWEET

Now that’s a MFT that I’d spend my money on. Rather than the rickety original version.

Good timing Cheese!

 

[peter halle]

I will await any news from Festool about an enhancement or redesign.  I will not be holding my breath during that interim.

The MFT/3 was designed as a transportable multifunction table.  For that purpose mine has served me well.  As to the sexy design posted, I only offer my personal opinion - I would like to see how those diagonal braces work in real life for those who want to plane and push on their tables versus the originals.

Not one table / bench / work surface  / sawhorse / trestle is right for everyone.

Hope you get a chance to use yours today or tomorrow!

Peter

 

[James Carriere]

I will await any news from Festool about an enhancement or redesign.  I will not be holding my breath during that interim.

The MFT/3 was designed as a transportable multifunction table.  For that purpose mine has served me well.  As to the sexy design posted, I only offer my personal opinion - I would like to see how those diagonal braces work in real life for those who want to plane and push on their tables versus the originals.

Not one table / bench / work surface  / sawhorse / trestle is right for everyone.

Hope you get a chance to use yours today or tomorrow!

Peter

Hi Peter,

Thank you for the follow-up.  I agree with you that the sexy design is not necessarily functionally perfect and while I love my Festool products and take good care of them they are in fact tools as opposed to family members.  Well, my Domino XL is akin to a close cousin but that's another topic for another day.    It was not that specific design that I was hopeful for and I will not hold my breath for a new MFT anytime soon but wish to forward to the design team at Festool my desire to please consider a removable handle, transport wheels, and an incorporated height adjustment in the future if at all possible.  You are correct that not one table is correct for everyone.  It's just some of us are rather tall (height adjustment), work in a city with a tremendous amount of stairs (removable handle), and are not getting any younger (wheels).

Have a great weekend!
James

 

[Cheese]

Good timing Cheese!

Hey James interesting enough, that post that Oliver pointed out was 4 years  ago.  [eek]

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Thanks for your question, [member=63880]James Carriere[/member]. We have not announced any planned updates to the MFT. I would not anticipate any significant updates to it in the next year or so.

(Tyler)

 

[Cheese]

Thanks for your question, [member=63880]James Carriere[/member]. We have not announced any planned updates to the MFT. I would not anticipate any significant updates to it in the next year or so.

However in the next 2 years or so... [popcorn]

 

[James Carriere]

Thanks for your question, [member=63880]James Carriere[/member]. We have not announced any planned updates to the MFT. I would not anticipate any significant updates to it in the next year or so.

However in the next 2 years or so... [popcorn]

Hahahahahah!

 

[Svar]

The underframe (link in post #2) looks redundant. Legs should be attached/integrated directly to corner brackets and t-profiles.
Perhaps it was an attempt to modify existing MFT.

 

[cpw]

The split top in the linked page seems like it would defeat the purpose of having the square pattern of dog holes, because you'll never know that they were put back together right.  The wheels and handle look like nice additions.

 

[sancho57]

I like the wood top. Though I dontknow how practicle it would to make and use as a cutting table as the MFT was designed to e

 

[Cheese]

The split top in the linked page seems like it would defeat the purpose of having the square pattern of dog holes, because you'll never know that they were put back together right.

I had an interesting discussion a couple of days ago with a person that owns 2 MFT’s. He brought the tops to work and ran them through their vision system. He was stunned to find that both the location of the holes and the hole diameters were all over the board. His statement was “ I’d never use the stock Festool MFT top with dogs for critical alignment, I use it for work holding purposes only”.

 

[Birdhunter]

The “all over the place” comment does not match my experience with my 2 MFTs. I have a Woodpecker framing square that’s about 16” by 26” and is extremely square. I can butt it up against Qwas dogs and there is no rocking or any other indication of hole placement errors and the dogs fit snugly in every hole I’ve tried. The MFT to MFT alignment isn’t all that good, but it’s ok for my usage.

 

[Cheese]

The “all over the place” comment does not match my experience with my 2 MFTs.

FWIW...this observation is not mine, but that of a tool designer for a large company that produces woodworking tools. The interesting part is that he is an avid Festool user and when he received the results from the previous MFT tops from the vision system he was stunned. Consequently he figured the poor results were because of his prior usage/abuse of the MFT. So he then purchased a new replacement top from Festool and subjected that to the vision system. That top was also “all over the place”. I asked what the actual numerical results were but he demurred because he didn’t want to trash another manufacturer. I get that...

 

[Svar]

He brought the tops to work and ran them through their vision system.

There is no need to go into such length. Just stick bench dogs in pairs of holes and measure the distances with caliper, diagonals too. Couple dozen measurements will give you a good idea and whether the error is systematic. I've done this for my home made top.

 

[Cheese]

There is no need to go into such length. Just stick bench dogs in pairs of holes and measure the distances with caliper, diagonals too. Couple dozen measurements will give you a good idea and whether the error is systematic. I've done this for my home made top.

Well of course not...but then it’s also not necessary to spend $600 for a simple plunge router.  Porter Cable cornered that market 30 years ago...at a fair market cost of less than $200.  [eek]  Consequently, this isn’t just a forum for the old wood working fools, but hopefully a forum for the younger generation and just maybe...just maybe, the mistakes the old farts made in the past will not be repeated by the younger enthusiasts.

Accurate information is important to disseminate and while it’s sometimes easy to assume that anything manufactured on a piece of CNC equipment is “perfect” it’s also mandatory in this age of instant gratification to understand what perfection in those terms represents. Thus my post...