Mft3 table..... Should I buy one

[Paddyfin1]

As a kitchen fitter all my woodworking is mobile, I don't have a workshop (just a bloody big van)
I tend to use a pair of fold up trestles when working but they aren't great and hence the question....
How good is the mft3 table and is it a benefit when working in people's houses as it seems a lot of money for a fold up table but as with all festool kit I'm sure I'll be proven wrong

 

[Alan m]

as great as the mft is (dont have one but have a mft top on a dewalt cjop saw stand) is think a walko workbench bight be better for you. it is very veritile  on site  as you can use it to cut up full sheets as well as small ones. on its side it is up off the ground and can cut smaller pieces. my favorite way is folded flat and put against the wall. great for screwing things together. 
althow you will have to swap positions a lot .
perswonally i think i would want both a mft and a walko

 

[festooldude]

for your job, definitly a walko..

mft/3 is mostly for cutting sheetgoods..

tnks..

 

[MAK]

hi paddyfin

I fit alot of kitchens and have a mft. If I'm in a big house usually a 10k kitchen or above I find I have room to use it mainly for infills etc. never use it for worktops (use tresles) except maybe a small piece if routing a mitre joint. it is a handy tool but is alot of money.
i also put it up in my garage to use as a workbench as i haven't got the luxury of a proper workshop ( which i would love to have).

If you've the cash and are truly addicted you will get one.  [wink]

 

[pugilato]

clarification, please... what is a walko?

 

[Umbro]

I do a lot of kitchens and the mft has really made it easier and nicer to work.
From clamping the W/tops down when routing the joints to drilling all the handles holes in all the doors.
I use the mft along with 2 trestles that I got from wickes. Wickes tools are generally pony but these are made by draper but they're a lot cheaper.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/167430
I put 22mm pipe insulation over the top bar and it brings it up to the perfect height for the mft.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/210012

If you get some large Lin bins they clip onto the v groove on the side of the mft. That way you can put all the tools in there to free up the table top
Get yourself the Lever clamps they make a lot of difference from the scre up ones.
http://www.festool.co.uk/Products/Accessories/Pages/Detail.aspx?pid=491594&name=Accessories-for-guide-rails-FS-HZ-160

I did look into the Walkos, nice bit of kit but if kitchen fittings your game you're probably better of with an mft.
It's nice when you've got the cms set up along with the kapex and they're all at the same height (extra support).
The kitchen ive just finished I had it all set up on the clients decking outside the kitchen door. I was like a pig in ####, it looked like a festool factory [big grin]
Wish I'd taken a picture..

 

[Umbro]

clarification, please... what is a walko?

http://www.walkoshop.com/index1.html

 

[semenza]

Here is a link to a Walko site. http://www.walkoshop.com/en-uk/

Funny I use the MFT for all kinds of things , but rarely cutting  sheet goods.  Though it can certainly do that  with in size limits.

I don't know how  useful the Walko is because I don't have one and can't say compared to the MFT. But I think the MFT would certainly be  very good for fitting kitchens. It is certainly  good to use in houses.  Pricey , yes, but one of those things that you appreciate once you put it into use. 

Seth

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I wouldn't be without my MFT, just bought a second one.  As I recall, though, some Brits have noted that it is too large to use inside a typically small British kitchen.

The MFT does raise your work up a level.  I can cut with the TS55 and the mft just as precisely as I do on my Unisaw.

 

[sancho57]

I use 2 MFTs been thinking about a 3rd..
But you can always build the ultimate work bench. That might work for ya

 

[Alan m]

I use 2 MFTs been thinking about a 3rd..
But you can always build the ultimate work bench. That might work for ya

not in a kitchen it wont.

 

[vkumar]

hi paddyfin

I fit alot of kitchens and have a mft. If I'm in a big house usually a 10k kitchen or above I find I have room to use it mainly for infills etc. never use it for worktops (use tresles) except maybe a small piece if routing a mitre joint. it is a handy tool but is alot of money.
i also put it up in my garage to use as a workbench as i haven't got the luxury of a proper workshop ( which i would love to have).

If you've the cash and are truly addicted you will get one.   [wink]

Translation please what is a 10k kitchen or above? (10k square feet--no, 10k pounds maybe)

Vijay

 

[score0matic]

Ok I have a couple Questions for you.
as a "fitter"  what  are you looking for as far as  table size.  if you are looking for a place to set your tools do a bit of drilling/ sanding/ sawing and still cary easly in and out  these looked like something i might try that are available in UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/DeWalt-DEWDE1000-Dewalt-DE1000-Universal/dp/B0001IWG1C/ref=sr_1_55?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1331258339&sr=1-55  or  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-08712-Professional-Work-Table/dp/B0038XY6SS/ref=sr_1_32?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1331258575&sr=1-32  the problem with both the MFT and Walko is they are quite large and heavy to actually take into someones living space and set up  I cary 2 earlier modles of this http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202021304&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=202021304&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D25X-_-202021304  and set them up i bathrooms and kitchens all the time  they only weigh 13 lbs but i dont see anything  like them in UK  (I own both walko and MFT )

 

[MAK]

10000 pounds sterling . people who spend that much or above normally have a big house.

The walko looks good , does anyone know who stock them so i can have a butchers (butchers hook-cockney for look,for those across the pond)

 

[waho6o9]

Walko 4 totally rocks. Makes ripping sheet goods a breeze.  Then you fold it up and the Walko becomes a work station. Well thought  out.
That might work out well for you Paddyfin1.
An mft3 is great but not to cut down sheet goods as you will need two. Or, purchase and mft3 and make your trestles work to cut down sheet goods.
Good luck Paddyfin1.    [big grin]

 

[Paddyfin1]

What I was thinking of was a place to cut down units, small panels, plinths etc
I use my ts55 every day but some times I need a little help holding every thing hence the table with all the possible clamping possibilities
Also need an easy way to rip down plinths using a long guide rail without the whole thing tipping over  [scared]

 

[Guy Ashley]

Paddy

Just a suggestion for compromise, I have a Kapex MFT table which is very useful for clamping and doing general assembly, sanding, fixing, etc , etc and is a smallish footprint.

Then I carry a pair of these and an old section of worktop on which to cut down, rip or handle long stuff.

[attachthumb=#]

 

[Alan m]

what do you think of those guy. i was thinking of geting those. willl the normal brackets fit them

 

[Guy Ashley]

Alan, do you mean the Dewalt mitre saw brackets? In which case I think so.

I got them for their weight rating (450kg). I have two pairs which I can lay out in the workshop for heavy oak joinery, gates, stairs and the like.

I think if you type DeWalt 7035 into You Tube there are a couple of videos.

 

[sancho57]

I use 2 MFTs been thinking about a 3rd..
But you can always build the ultimate work bench. That might work for ya

not in a kitchen it wont.

I was thinking of reducing its size to fit the OPs needs.

Thats the beauty of building things yourself.