MFT with or without accessories?
- Thread starter bobfog
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Birdhunter
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I use the flip down rail all the time with my TS55 track saw. I have never used the protractor that comes with the kit. Qwas dogs are a wonderful addition to the MFT. If you buy the flip down rail, buy a SlopStop. It's a cheap gadget that eliminates side to side movement in the rail. You can either use a very accurate large square to true up the rail or use the Qwas dogs and some imagination. I have a BIG Woodpecker framing square to true up my rail although it doesn't need it often. I have seen posts recommending a square made of phenolic that's a lot cheaper than the Woodpecker square.
The MFT isn't very solid without the leg supports. I'd recommend a set of those. The Festool clamps that work with the MFT are very good. They slide through the holes and allow you to clamp anywhere on the table.
The top may sag over time, but it can be easily flipped over and remounted.
I added an extension to my pair of MFTs to mount a heavy woodworking vise. The lack of a vise is my only beef with the MFT.
The MFT isn't very solid without the leg supports. I'd recommend a set of those. The Festool clamps that work with the MFT are very good. They slide through the holes and allow you to clamp anywhere on the table.
The top may sag over time, but it can be easily flipped over and remounted.
I added an extension to my pair of MFTs to mount a heavy woodworking vise. The lack of a vise is my only beef with the MFT.
Merry Christmas Bob.
Personally I always recommend getting the full kit even if it is the second or more MFT. At least here in NA the cost of the extra flexibility is nominal and can easily be sold if not needed in the future.
Dogs can replace the protractor head for 90 and 45 degree cuts but not for 22.5 or so many odd angles. For that reason I would suggest the whole kit unless you live in a woodworking world where everything is exactly 90 or 45. Why limit yourself?
Respectfully,
Peter
Personally I always recommend getting the full kit even if it is the second or more MFT. At least here in NA the cost of the extra flexibility is nominal and can easily be sold if not needed in the future.
Dogs can replace the protractor head for 90 and 45 degree cuts but not for 22.5 or so many odd angles. For that reason I would suggest the whole kit unless you live in a woodworking world where everything is exactly 90 or 45. Why limit yourself?
Respectfully,
Peter
Holmz
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bobfog said:
I cannot see getting one without it, but I tried to offload my unused fence and protractor for 1/2 price but they have little value on the market.
The floppy fence is useful if one has a track saw.
You are not saving any money buying the kit unless you can use the kit. If you only need 1/2 of the kit, then you have a chin scratch.
I use the protractor and fence every now and then as a second fence for my cs70, the longer fence with the flipstop is handy for medium length repeat cuts (longer than the standardfence, and it's less fuss than setting up the kapex trimstops with the cs70.
This will also work with the cms if you have one of those.
This will also work with the cms if you have one of those.
Hurricane Whisperer
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The flip down rail is useful but it isn't very well made for the price. You can improve it with a stop slop dramatically, but If you are doing precision squaring work on large pieces, it's best to realign it to the fence every time you change material thickness and you have to change height. I do this with a dial indicator attached to the OF1400 rail guide and a giant Woodpecker's square. I kind of would like two flip down rails, one at the original location and one located at the other end of the table to make cuts on the left side of the rail. It would need to have the hinge on the same side of the table as the original rail. And I don't know if the rail could be mounted in that direction.
The fence that comes with it takes up a lot of room from the width. The flag stop is unnecessarily huge and buying multiples costs too much. I have replaced it with Incra T track plus and Woodpecker's flip stops so I can put far more length stops in a much smaller area. I put a wood fence under the rail all the way to the right end of the table that is thin enough for thinner materials and is sacrificial at the cut line. It's easier to see both sides of the cut this way.
The fence that comes with it takes up a lot of room from the width. The flag stop is unnecessarily huge and buying multiples costs too much. I have replaced it with Incra T track plus and Woodpecker's flip stops so I can put far more length stops in a much smaller area. I put a wood fence under the rail all the way to the right end of the table that is thin enough for thinner materials and is sacrificial at the cut line. It's easier to see both sides of the cut this way.
Hurricane Whisperer said:
The flag stop is that size so it can also be used with the fence upright aswell as on the flat, I actually like that feature, I don't know what it costs to buy seperately, but I do have a second one that came with the protool angle guide.
As for Bobfog's question, when I bought my mft3, the price difference was much lower and it was a no-brainer to get the full version instead of the basic. Anyway, I'm happy I got the full version, and I used it plenty over the years.
Kodi Crescent
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Get the kit. If it's a second MFT you can have the standard cross cut location, and an adjustable cutting location using the rail hardware. You also have spare parts in case you need them.
MrToolJunkie
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I too would recommend the kit, especially if it is your first one. I would also add the cross-braces - they help with stability.
Hurricane Whisperer
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Frank-Jan said:
No doubt you are correct, but I meant unnecessarily huge in relation to using the more handy system below that allows you to put the stops quite close together.
Works better for the things I am making now.
ShadyMaple
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I find I use my MFT with the flip rail quite a bit. I usually have the guide rail with the flip stop for most of my cutting. If I have to make some rip cuts - that is the only time I don't use the flip rail.
I don't have all the items in the accessory kit - but I do tend to use a couple of clamps and my Parf Dogs. The dogs are a must IMO - either Parf or otherwise. They make keeping the table square fast and easy.
I don't have all the items in the accessory kit - but I do tend to use a couple of clamps and my Parf Dogs. The dogs are a must IMO - either Parf or otherwise. They make keeping the table square fast and easy.
