MFT update

[Birdhunter]

I was not in any way questioning the post re the vision system findings. I was observing that my two MFTs seem to exhibit as accurate a hole placement as I have the ability to measure.

I would guess (hope) that a tool designer has a desire to see extremely tight tolerances and be very critical of tolerances a more casual user would find acceptable.

I wish the MFTs were made of a more stable material than MDF, but they are made as expendable so the cost can’t be too high.

 

[Cheese]

I would guess (hope) that a tool designer has a desire to see extremely tight tolerances and be very critical of tolerances a more casual user would find acceptable.

I wish the MFTs were made of a more stable material than MDF, but they are made as expendable so the cost can’t be too high.

He was tasked with coming up with a method for the average Joe to duplicate the MFT top using general tools. Thus, he needed to have a baseline to compare his methodology/results to. 

I'm making a top now out of 18mm Baltic birch. We'll see how that works out.  [big grin]  The last top I made was from 1 1/2" thick maple. After 4 years of use, the dogs are still a snug fit, no looseness/sloppiness at all.

 

[James Carriere]

I would guess (hope) that a tool designer has a desire to see extremely tight tolerances and be very critical of tolerances a more casual user would find acceptable.

I wish the MFTs were made of a more stable material than MDF, but they are made as expendable so the cost can’t be too high.

He was tasked with coming up with a method for the average Joe to duplicate the MFT top using general tools. Thus, he needed to have a baseline to compare his methodology/results to. 

I'm making a top now out of 18mm Baltic birch. We'll see how that works out.  [big grin]  The last top I made was from 1 1/2" thick maple. After 4 years of use, the dogs are still a snug fit, no looseness/sloppiness at all.

Please let me know what you think after it's built and used for a bit.  I've been thinking about an 18mil BB top as well.

 

[Birdhunter]

I made a small (12” by 18”) MFT using the Woodpecker MFT kit. I used 3/4” Baltic birch. Had some tear out around the holes. Minimal issue.

 

[Cheese]

I made a small (12” by 18”) MFT using the Woodpecker MFT kit. I used 3/4” Baltic birch. Had some tear out around the holes. Minimal issue.

Hey [member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] , I'm curious how snug the dogs fit in the holes of your mini MFT? Also what dogs are you using?

I started to make an MFT with the Woodpeckers jig and I'm getting almost .015" (1/64") of slop between the dogs and the holes.

 

[Birdhunter]

My experience with the Woodpecker jig isn’t too positive. I had to modify my router (Festool 1400) base plate to accept the supplied bushing. When I routed the holes using the supplied router bit, the holes were too small. I used a 20mm Forstner bit to drill out the holes.

I had to slightly enlarge the opening in my 1400 base plate. The threads on the supplied bushing interfered with the opening. I put the base plate on my lathe and turned off just a tiny amount of material. The bushing is now a perfect fit.

I have no idea why theholes were too small.

All other aspect of the Woodpecker jig worked fine.

There are two bushingsin the kit. One is for 3/4” holes and one is for 20mm holes. Using the wrong bushing would create a lot of slop.

I use Qwas dogs and Parf dogs.

 

[Cheese]

Well that's interesting...I also had to chuck the brass bushing in my lathe to remove about .004"/side so that it would fit in the 1400.

I ordered just the metric kit. The holes are coming out to be 2.20mm in diameter while my dogs all measure 19.90mm.

I'm waiting for the Festool 20mm boring bit to arrive. I'm going to try that approach.  [sad]

 

[Birdhunter]

My kit came with the router bit. What size bit did you use to route out the oversized holes?

I didn’t modify the bushing, only the base plate. When I first encountered the bushing fit issue, I called Woodpecker. They said Festool had a base plate just for the Woodpecker bushing so I ordered it. The bushing didn’t fit the new base plate. I called Woodpecker again to verify the part number and was told that some of the special order base plates fit the bushing and some do not. That’s when I figured out a way to chuck the base plate in my lathe and enlarge the hole.

I’ve got a shop full of Woodpecker tools that are outstanding. This experience with the boring jig is highly unusual.

 

[Cheese]

1. My kit came with the router bit. What size bit did you use to route out the oversized holes?

2. I didn’t modify the bushing, only the base plate. When I first encountered the bushing fit issue, I called Woodpecker. They said Festool had a base plate just for the Woodpecker bushing so I ordered it. The bushing didn’t fit the new base plate. I called Woodpecker again to verify the part number and was told that some of the special order base plates fit the bushing and some do not. That’s when I figured out a way to chuck the base plate in my lathe and enlarge the hole.

3. I’ve got a shop full of Woodpecker tools that are outstanding. This experience with the boring jig is highly unusual.

1. I used a Whiteside spiral upcut 1/2" diameter bit. RU515, the same one Woodpecker was selling with the kits.
https://www.woodpeck.com/hole-boring-jig.html

2. I already had a set of Porter Cable interchangeable router bushings and after measuring them and the 1400 plate, I determined that the Woodpeckers brass bushing was out of whack, thus I modified the Woodpecker item.

3. I also have a ton of Woodpecker stuff and am very happy with the stuff. This jig is a disappointment.

I also called Woodpeckers and talked to them about the hole diameters I was getting. They confirmed that their own testing/trials produced the same size diameter holes...2.15-2.20mm.

Consequently, I fabricated an aluminum bushing that will fit over the Woodpecker brass bushing and at the same time it will also be snug in the Woodpeckers jig. I will then use a Festool 20mm router boring bit to drill the holes for the MFT. We'll see...

 

[Birdhunter]

I sent Woodpecker an email detailing the issues I've had with the jig/bushing and requested a refund. I'm especially glad I did so if the "perfect" jig producers oversized