MFTC portable workshop

The plans you prepared are brilliant.  I have already completed the basic cart and given it a coat of white (boring) paint.  The top will be 30 mm shorter since I boo booed on the ripping up of the valuable bbirch ply.  As for the rest of the material, it was already "in inventory".  The t track (from Lee Valley) does not fit the festool clamps so the clamps will be modified to fit the track.  I don't believe the accuarcy of a MDF top drilled with ANY technology will hold up to the rigors of constant insertion of bench dogs.  Your table will by used in conjuction with a fence system similar to the one Ron Paulk designed for his cross cut table. 
 
sean_hogan said:
Tim not sure if its been asked, do you know the total weight of the mft withouth the systainers and exstension tables ?

Tim,

I would also be interested in the loaded/unloaded weight. Is the height the same as the MFT, and will they connect together the same way?

This design is literally a godsend for me and I already purchased your complete plan package. I currently have a barn that I use for a shop and will be moving everything to a basement soon (forced move unfortunately). I use a hand truck to move my sys stacks and tools onto the job or shop and I am always interested in making fewer trips!

Do you think the unit will stand up to repeated moves up and down stairs and loading in the back of a truck? I will probably keep it loaded and use in conjunction with my MFT as my shop workbench as well.

The design is brilliant and very well thought out - would be hard to make it any better. Will probably make a secondary modified to carry the extentions instead of a work top.

I am also making my own sysports to keep things mobile and organized in the shop. Ill be sure to send you pictures of the results for your website.

Thanks again

-Ian
 
Sorry about that, i forgot to post the weight!
Mine weighs about 32kg empty, about 70lbs, more than i thought because of the wheels it feels very light.
I don't know the loaded weight though, and it's the same height and length as an MFT.
If i would be loading it in the bed of my truck and up/down stairs i would probably take the systainers out to make it more convenient and make the support pieces on the front higher and maybe cover them with something soft to avoid scuffing stairs

I also got pics from the first finished MFTC  from someone in the US!
usermftc2.jpg


I'm waiting to hear more details and write more info on how he did it and the hardware he used on my website to help others.

 
Timtool said:
Sorry about that, i forgot to post the weight!
Mine weighs about 32kg empty, about 70lbs, more than i thought because of the wheels it feels very light.
I don't know the loaded weight though, and it's the same height and length as an MFT.
If i would be loading it in the bed of my truck and up/down stairs i would probably take the systainers out to make it more convenient and make the support pieces on the front higher and maybe cover them with something soft to avoid scuffing stairs

I also got pics from the first finished MFTC  from someone in the US!
usermftc2.jpg


I'm waiting to hear more details and write more info on how he did it and the hardware he used on my website to help others.

Tim,

Taking the tools out wouldn't help me, I am trying to find a solution for having to move my tools in and out of my shop on a daily or bi-daily basis. I do this already, which is not too bad because I have a loading bay, but where I will be moving I have about 100' (~30m) from where I park to the door and a flight of stairs to negotiate with all my tools and material.

The good news is its a straight shot, but probably 12-15 treads. I am going to build a V shaped trough fitted to the stairs to slide the sheet goods down, it will be made out of 4' (~1m) sections for storage. I like your idea because it combines tool, work surface, and mobility to move anywhere.

The weight doesn't concern me too much, its roughly 15lbs (~7kg) heavier than a stock MFT, my load would probably include a CSX (2lbs, ~1kg), RO 90 (3.3lbs ~1.5kg), 4-drawer sortainer with nailer (10lbs, ~4.5kg), and compressor (25lbs, ~11.5kg). Total load about 110lbs, which I can easily lift or slide onto my bedslide.

I plan on attaching UHMW plastic to the wheel side of the supports to help it slide better.

-Ian
 
Well I've done most of the woodwork on the MFTC but I'm having problems with finding the ironmongery as well, but I'm in the UK. Ttrack and push catches and 100mm adjustable legs. Any help? Any other UK members making this?
 
For the latches you should find them in your country by googling "salice push latch"
For the tracks and levelers it's harder for me to help, you can do with any type of leveler if you adjust the plans where necessary. I used what i could find locally.
Glad to see more MFTC's are in the build!
 
Tim,

I'm in the begining stages of building the MFTC. The plans are great - Thanks.  Did you ever post the template referenced in an earlier post?  I cannot seem to find it and I am ready to cut out the sides.
 
rickbw said:
Tim,

I'm in the begining stages of building the MFTC. The plans are great - Thanks.  Did you ever post the template referenced in an earlier post?   I cannot seem to find it and I am ready to cut out the sides.

Hi Rick,
I attached the template to this post, i keep making improvements to the plans so any previous buyers who want the "latest" can always mail me to get them. But it would be silly to keep sending the latest version to everybody every couple weeks!
The German translation is now also available, i am going to send it to all previous Germanic buyers in the coming week.

there are also new images of user made MFTC's on my site!
 
All,

Has anyone found a link to purchase the salice push push drawer locks in the US?  I cannot seem to find them anywhere.

Rick
 
rickbw said:
All,

Has anyone found a link to purchase the salice push push drawer locks in the US?   I cannot seem to find them anywhere.

Rick
While helping out someone with the same question i stumbled upon these touch open drawer slides that render the separate locks unneccesary.
They seem to have the same function.

Edit, Garry beat me to it!
 
Looks great. It is amazing how long it takes to plan, design, prototype, make adjustment, and finalize the design so someone else can build it.
 
How about developing a version that could mount a standard MFT with the legs removed?  Then you could have the normal profiles for mounting the Festool fence and crosscut bridge.  And whatever else.

It might have 4 caster wheels instead of 2 wagon wheels.  Like a suitcase.  That way it could go through a fairly narrow doorway edgewise.
 
I'm sooooooooo close to completion. Well I've thought that a few times but there's a lot in the detail on this project. Still could do with some advice from the uk lot about purchasing the t track that works with the festool system?! Am also considering a bigger diameter wheel like perhaps 260mm or maybe even bigger. I've got a lot of adjustment in my 100mm m12 bolt height adjusters (don't ask ). Can't decide on its colouring either but I've started putting the acrylic varnish on. Any thoughts on the larger diameter wheel? I also hade to take 15 or 20 mm off the height of the bottom draw so that I could fit a sys3 at the bottom, a df500 in the middle and the domino systainer at the top. Only three draws. I'm also thinking of putting t track round the whole top of the mftc, so that you can end to end the extension tables with the mftc in the middle. I've got 4 meter work tops to contend with soon and that would be the perfect setup for in their garage. As you can see, I think that your design is great Tim and thanks for sharing.
 
GBCarpentry said:
Am also considering a bigger diameter wheel like perhaps 260mm or maybe even bigger... Any thoughts on the larger diameter wheel?

A lot of sack trucks use 10" wheels, so I guess 260mm wouldn't be a problem. The wheels on my Dewalt Tough System Trolley are 220mm. I suppose you'd have to try it and see how it affects maneuverability and the centre of gravity. What do you hope the larger wheels will do for you?

GBCarpentry said:
I'm also thinking of putting t track round the whole top of the mftc, so that you can end to end the extension tables with the mftc in the middle.

From the video and plans, the only thing I can see that doing that will affect is the storage of rails. If you can live with losing that capability, then I don't see that adding a track to the fourth side will cause any issues.
 
The idea of the larger wheel was to give a bit more clearance underneath the mftc for when I'm moving it over gravel and rough terrain. I was going to use the same pivot point on the mftc to mount the wheel, although I know that means that the wheel will stick out further out the front. But I should still keep the original stability.
 
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