MFT3 Dog Holes

[darita]

So I just got a new MFT3 top from Trunkworks, hoping the dog holes would be as tight as my old MFT1080 was.  I was wrong.  I'm wondering if that's the case as well, with Festool MFT3 tops?  The old dog holes fit dogs snugly.

 

[peter halle]

So I just got a new MFT3 top from Trunkworks, hoping the dog holes would be as tight as my old MFT1080 was.  I was wrong.  I'm wondering if that's the case as well, with Festool MFT3 tops?  The old dog holes fit dogs snugly.

When Steve Adams came out with the original dogs for the MFT's (1080 and MFT/3) he noted that there was a tiny difference in the size of the holes between the two Festool products.  If I recall correctly he made available two different models.  With aftermarket tops who knows what the actual tolerances are.  I know that my Qwas dogs (no longer available) and my recently purchased Festool MFT hold downs fit very snugly.

Maybe someone else has experience with the Trunkworks product.

Peter

 

[GarryMartin]

Correct; the MFT/3 has slightly larger diameter holes.

Also, the original 800 / 1080 hole sizes changed slightly (increasing in diameter) in 2006/2007, so there are at least 3 different diameters of holes on the various MFT models over the years, not accounting for differences in manufacturing tolerances.

 

[darita]

So, is the consensus that MFT3 tops now have larger dog holes than originally produced tops have?  If that's the case, then why?  It seems to me that the tighter dogs fit, the accurate they can be.  I know there are expanding dogs now, but why aren't makers just making dogs larger, to fit the modern dog holes?

 

[Vtshopdog]

So, is the consensus that MFT3 tops now have larger dog holes than originally produced tops have?  If that's the case, then why?  It seems to me that the tighter dogs fit, the accurate they can be.  I know there are expanding dogs now, but why aren't makers just making dogs larger, to fit the modern dog holes?

Most all new dogs available will be for the lager holes in your new top.
TSO Products and Parf are two good options

 

[darita]

So, is the consensus that MFT3 tops now have larger dog holes than originally produced tops have?  If that's the case, then why?  It seems to me that the tighter dogs fit, the accurate they can be.  I know there are expanding dogs now, but why aren't makers just making dogs larger, to fit the modern dog holes?

Most all new dogs available will be for the lager holes in your new top.
TSO Products and Parf are two good options

About the Parf jig...are the holes created by that jig tighter than MFT holes or the same?

 

[jgrout]

The ones I have drilled with the parf guide are tight enough I have to reach under the top to help push them back out of the hole. I used BB ply for my top.

 

[rmwarren]

The ones I have drilled with the parf guide are tight enough I have to reach under the top to help push them back out of the hole. I used BB ply for my top.

Same with mine. I use their reamer to open them up slightly and then chamfer with a palm router, after that the dogs still fit tightly but slip in and out easily.

Just did a small top this AM, total of 48 holes on 96mm centers plus 14 more @48mm between 2 rows for track saw cutting with tall dogs. Bore/ream/chamfer took