MFT3: Festool Seeking Member Questions

[Brice Burrell]

I am wondering if those V-grooves mean the use of those tiny little V-slot nuts that are used with the MFS.  If so, I hope that there will be plenty of them available.  Those things are so easy to drop.  Once they find their way thru the holes in the top, Eli's suggestion for reversability becomes a lot more serious in thought.
Tinker

Tinker, I'm guessing the V groove may be more the like the what we have seen on the Kapex to attach the crown extensions??

 

[Texastutt]

Thanks Shane.

 

[southern_guy]

I would like to see an option to purchase the MFT3 without a guide rail. I for one already have a couple of rails, but don't yet own an MFT. I don't really need another rail right now, but will grap an MFT3 as soon as I can.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

    Yes, that would be a good option.  All though many times the purchaser willwant an additional rail to be dedicated to the MFT anyway.  If Festool follows there current arrangement they will offer a basic version , with out any hardware. But the no guide rail option would be good too.

Seth

 

[Dan Clark]

I have four guide rails.  Unless the MFT3 is offered with a nice 2700mm guide rail, I have no need for more of them. 

However, what would be nice is the ability to use the new fence on my current MFT.

Dan.

 

[Corwin]

The fact that Festool's other four legged creatures (those currently NAINA) stood taller than the current MFT is one that escaped me until the word of this new MFT3.  I had wrongly assumed that all the products were the same height such that they could be joined together, but now it appears that the new MFT3 may now work in conjunction with the other offerings.  If that is the case, I view the change as a good thing, and will be most advantageous once other products reach our shores.

As to my current MFTs, now that we see the new MFT3 it looks to me that the older version might connect with the newer if one were to deal with the height issue.  Since the current table connectors are said to fit the new model, will the old and new MFT connect together AND have their perforated tops aligned?  And to modify the height of the older model, could one replace the legs of their older MFT with the newer ones and have old and new tables joined together and aligned?

I believe my current MFTs will continue to be useful either way, but it would be nice to know if they will connect with the new model somehow such that I can plan my next direction in this regard.  I am slightly disappointed to see that the new MFT3 will still be equipped with the same single adjustable leg rather than upgrading to all four -- if I get any of the new models I'll be looking to change them too.

 

[Dan Clark]

...
As to my current MFTs, now that we see the new MFT3 it looks to me that the older version might connect with the newer if one were to deal with the height issue.  Since the current table connectors are said to fit the new model, will the old and new MFT connect together AND have their perforated tops aligned?  And to modify the height of the older model, could one replace the legs of their older MFT with the newer ones and have old and new tables joined together and aligned?
...

I was going to ask the exact same questions, but Corwin beat me too it.   If the new legs will fit the old MFT, what is the cost of a new set of legs?  (I bet that would be a hot seller.)

One other question... 

Many people complain about the height of the MFT.  Some say it's too short.   However, I'm short too.   Why not offer the MFTs with either 1) four adjustable legs or 2) leg sets in several heights?

Dan.

 

[graphex]

I'd have to second that request for 4 adjustable legs. The ground here in Colorado doesn't treat concrete well and my garage floor has two separate slopes I have to account for (the legs of the table span a crack in the floor). With just one adjustable leg, I can't even prevent a table from rocking. And forget leveling!

It would be really nice if each foot could adjust up to an inch (ok, how about 30mm) or so to level the table and keep it from rocking around. Aren't these tables supposed to be used on job sites?

Even if it were an "accessory" where I could buy foot pairs where both feet were adjustable, it would save me from having to use stupid wood shims on a $400 table!

BTW-first post to FOG!

graphex

 

[Eli]

However, what would be nice is the ability to use the new fence on my current MFT.

Dan.

I think you can use a different adapter to mount the LA-650 fence to the MFT1080 profile. Anthony posted a link to that review somewhere (it's on the Ideal Tools site) , I'll look for it.

 

[Anthony]

However, what would be nice is the ability to use the new fence on my current MFT.

Dan.

I think you can use a different adaptor to mount the 620 fence to the MFT1080 profile. Anthony posted a link to that review somewhere (it's on the Ideal Tools site) , I'll look for it.

Here's the link. The LA-650 was designed for the old basis system, which shared the same side profile as the soon-to-be-discontinued MFT, so it fits straight onto it via the side slot in the side profile. The new MFT3 angle-guide looks the same or very similar to the CMS one, so drops straight into the top V-groove on the side rail.

 

[Eli]

Thanks Anthony.

 

[Anthony]

Thanks Anthony.

No worries.

I like the idea of a lighter yet large surface area MFT. The MFT1080 was always a bit heavy, and the MFT800 not large enough surface area. So the new MFT will be great.

Height adjustable legs would be nice, but I'm talking about 150mm of travel on all four legs. Allowing it to come up to CMS height, but allowing for a lower table when its suited to the height of the user or job at hand.

My initial impression when using the KAPEX on the MFT800 was that it was to high to be comfortable to reach the KAPEX handle. It worked out to be an acceptable height although I would have still liked to not reach as high. Putting the KAPEX on a 900mm high MFT3 is would be pushing the envelope as far as user comfort for all but the tall guys.

I will wait and see before passing judgment, because table height is a tricky one when it comes to pleasing all users. So Festool will not please everyone here, unless they can create an 150mm adjustable legs without introducing extra cost and weight.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Frans,

Thanks for the photos!!

I see "the MFT replacement" has a pair of crossed folding legs with cross-bracing between the pairs, so racking in either direction (lenthwise or crosswise) should no longer be a (nuisance) problem.  How effective is this design from a user's experience?

Can legs be adjusted so the height of the top corresponds to those of the current ("old") MFT 800/1080?  Arranging several MFTs to support large work is a key "Festool System" advantage in my experience, as is well demonstrated in manuals by Jerry Work (and perhaps others).

What is the experience to date regarding the angle head device which allows the entire guide rail to be set at an angle relative to the side rail of the table?

Is the protractor mechanism accurate and stiff enough to be reliable?

Do you have to clamp the far end of the guide rail to ensure against any side slippage and thus shifting of the angle during a cut? 

If the angle of the guide rail relative to the MFT side rail is to be changed for various cut angle, it appears that the top of the MFT is going to get grooved like the top of a radial arm saw (except that you can also move the head of the protractor device to a different position along the MFT side rail.  Are there any design features that facilitate use of a thin easily replacable or temporary sacrificial top layer such as a sheet of 1/4 plywood or MDF?

Dave R.

 

[pteubel]

Eli,

Don't forget USB connections with a few GB of storage.

 

[clintholeman]

Any thoughts about clamping on the edge - rails? of the new MFT?  I do this all the time to edge route and do it almost daily in my shop.

 

[Don Bullock]

I'll chime in here. Since I don't have the current, now obsolete MFT and actually haven't even looked at one as I've passed by it at the store, I want to know what I need one for. Yes, I realize that it's a multi-function table, but that tells me very little about why it would help me with my woodworking. I should add that stores that I've seen them in, both WoodCraft and Rockler, could sell a lot more if they at least had one or two set up showing ways that they could be used. It seems to me that in this area Festool now has some competition from at least Kreg. Before someone jumps all over me for that statement, I don't think Festool has done a good job showing off their current product and someone like me has no idea how it's different from other tables designed for woodworking. I'll be very interested is seeing how they improve that part of their business. In MHO Festool has expanded greatly this past year into a vast number of businesses that they weren't in before. As a result Festool is going to have to concentrate more on advertising their products to be able to maintain such a broad base of retailers. So Festool, I ask a simple question. Why should I buy one of your tables.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Don,

Generally, I agree with your statement that Festool at their dealers does not do a very good job of explaining why you might want one of their MFTs, likewise for many of their tools and "in spades" for most of their accesories.  Their catalogues do somewhat better, and their on-line resources much better, but still wanting in many regards.

My first Festool purchase was an RO 125 sander; the overall good performance hooked me onto Festool's slippery slope.  When I first saw an MFT at a dealer, I thought it ridiculously priced for a HD piece of pegboard surrounded by an aluminum frame on folding legs, and dealer personnel were not educated enough then to show me what it could do.  But after watching a Festool factory representative give several demos of some of the many (?infinite?) various uses of the MFT and how an MFT complete can be used with their saws and routers, I bought an MFT 1080, a TS 55 and 1400 router and extra guide rail.  It wasn't long before I realized that I use my MFT more than any other Festool product.  I highly recommend getting an assortment of Festool's clamps, and making accessories for it as described by many participants in FOG.

Later I bought an MFT 800 basic, which I use for portability around my house, and as an extension table for my MFT 1080.  I hope to acquire another MFT later, which will allow me to set one at either end of my fully equipped 1080 as an extension table as well as many other configurations.  I made a pair of squaring arms as recommended by Jerry Work in his MFT user's manual, which I also use mounted to the side channels in the side rails to join a pair of MFTs together in alignment.

Dave R.

 

[Jerry Work]

Hi Don,

Many people who first look at the MFT have much the same reaction you do - what do I need it for?  I thought that as well until I purchased my first one (now have five) and found just how indespensable they are for making furniture and other woodworking tasks.  Take a look at the manual I wrote for Festool (festoolusa.com> application tips > woodworking > Getting the most from the Festool MFT).  Besides all the general purpose clamping and  guided rail cutting applications, there are three things you do building fine furniture that must be done nearly perfectly that are made easy by use of the MFT.  

The first is doing glue ups.  If you clamp your glue up good face down to the top of the MFT (on a sheet of white butcher paper) while you are drawing the edges together your glue up panel will come out perfectly flat, with the good face properly aligned and ready to sand and use.  Second, is squaring assemblies like rail, stile and panel components, drawers and the like.  If you set up a simple known square corner (fast to do on the MFT) and clamp your assembly into that known square corner while the glue dries, that component will come out square, flat and ready to sand and use.  Third is mirroring such things as perfectly matching blind sliding dovetail groves or dados on the insides of cabinet carcasses.  That is very difficult to do by conventional means, but is easy to do perfectly by clamping the two sides down to the MFT with their front edges aligned the way the will be in the finished piece.  Now use the guide rail and router to cut as may blind sliding dovetail groves in the two sides as you wish and wherever you wish.  They will always come out perfectly aligned because they were cut at the same time in both pieces.

The list goes on and on.  So, what at first might look like an innocent, simple table with a bunch of holes in the top, turns out to be an indespensible partner in helping you build a better quality piece of furniture, faster, a true win win.  

Finally, the current MFT is far from "obsolete".  Festool changed the height of their very popular interchangeable tool work system (originally called the "Basis system", now called the "compact modular system") - neither available in NA - so they changed the height of the MFT to match.  They also changed the extruded side profiles a bit to accommodate a new edge clamping process to make available even more accessories and add ons.  Most all the previous add ons and accessories still fit as well.  That is how they do things.  Continuous improvement engineering.  They never repaint or rebadge the same old thing and offer it as "new" as is unfortunately the case with so many other tool manufacturers and importers.

Hope this helps.  Once you try a MFT I think you will find it one of the most used things in your shop or studio.

Jerry

I'll chime in here. Since I don't have the current, now obsolete MFT and actually haven't even looked at one as I've passed by it at the store, I want to know what I need one for. Yes, I realize that it's a multi-function table, but that tells me very little about why it would help me with my woodworking. I should add that stores that I've seen them in, both WoodCraft and Rockler, could sell a lot more if they at least had one or two set up showing ways that they could be used. It seems to me that in this area Festool now has some competition from at least Kreg. Before someone jumps all over me for that statement, I don't think Festool has done a good job showing off their current product and someone like me has no idea how it's different from other tables designed for woodworking. I'll be very interested is seeing how they improve that part of their business. In MHO Festool has expanded greatly this past year into a vast number of businesses that they weren't in before. As a result Festool is going to have to concentrate more on advertising their products to be able to maintain such a broad base of retailers. So Festool, I ask a simple question. Why should I buy one of your tables.

 

[bruegf]

Don,

I'll second what Jerry said.  I originally bought the MFT as part of a package deal with the TS55 and thought it would be good for cross cutting panels.  As I drove home and for several weeks afterward I had serious reservations as to whether or not it was worth the money.

Over the last year I've found that it is the single most used piece of Festool gear that I own.  There seems to be no end of things that the table excels at.

Fred

 

[dltflt]

Are they coming out with a larger size?