My custom built expandable MFT on rolling cart

[badtastex]

As others has already said - brilliant!

Is this the first version of your MFT? I have built a simpler design and I already have lots of things that I will try to incorporate in the next version. Your table looks pretty finished to me.

I guess that you use dogs to align the guide rail in both rip and crosscutting operation but I am wondering about the Qwas rail dogs - how accurate are they with thick material?

 

[squarecut]

I agree with all the comments above.

I'd also like some more details.  In particular, did you use an actual MFT/3 top?  It looks like it with the screw holes in the corners.  What t-track did you use -- I like how it works with the clamps.  More close ups of the guide rail mount as well.  A listing of the Festool part numbers used.  Are the holes down the sides filled with threaded inserts or is there some hidden t-track behind for the knobs to tighten against?

Yes, I used a replacement MFT/3 top.
The track was Lee Valley 48" with 5/16" T-slot.  Cat# 12K79.38
Festool #494071 MFT 1080 Hardware Kit for the basic unit
Festool part # 448841 (Stop Profile) for off-cut fence with part # 490555 (Adjustable Stop) for flag stop on off-cut fence
I used 5/16" tee nuts in a backer strip of poplar behind each face board. Mounted backer strip with 3 screws first. Using a template I drilled 10 - 5/16" holes into each face board, then removed backer strip, enlarged holes in backer strip to 3/8" then installed tee nuts & refastened backer boards.
Both the MFT/3 top & the hardware kit I managed to find on eBay for a great price.
Some close up shots of the guide rail mount adapters I built to interface the Festool components to my design (please forgive poor quality on photos but I did not want to dis-assemble the adapter again) -
[attachimg=#]
[attachimg=#]
[attachimg=#]
[attachimg=#]

 

[squarecut]

As others has already said - brilliant!

Is this the first version of your MFT? I have built a simpler design and I already have lots of things that I will try to incorporate in the next version. Your table looks pretty finished to me.

I guess that you use dogs to align the guide rail in both rip and crosscutting operation but I am wondering about the Qwas rail dogs - how accurate are they with thick material?

Yes, my first version - not planning to build another version as I gave this one a lot of thought. Your correct, I used the Qwas dogs for alignment. Cannot tell you if any problem using rail dogs with thicker material as I have only used them for 3/4" stock, but I do not think there would be a problem. What is your concern? Deflection? They are quite solid, I do not believe they would move as long as they penetrated the 20mm holes by about 15 to 20mm

 

[lemonstr]

Very nice! Great details! This design addresses issues I've been thinking about for the garage shop MFT - storage, mobility and flexibilty. Why didn't you make the "boom arm" taller?

 

[squarecut]

Very nice! Great details! This design addresses issues I've been thinking about for the garage shop MFT - storage, mobility and flexibilty. Why didn't you make the "boom arm" taller?

A taller boom arm would have shortened the overall length of reach of the hose which would have impacted long rip cuts.

 

[dutchie]

I'd love it if you could post some close up pictures of the Festool 448841 stop profile? I'm curious to see how it attaches/works!

 

[squarecut]

I'd love it if you could post some close up pictures of the Festool 448841 stop profile? I'm curious to see how it attaches/works!

I fabricated the off-cut fence module to be easily attached & removed from the MFT frame.

There is 5" of space on the rear face of the frame at the rear right corner. (Photo 1)

The module is built from the same stock as the MFT frame and has a 5" deep rabbet at the attachment end. Utilizing two pieces of 1/8" thick aluminum stock I created a "C" channel that would engage with the rear face of the right rear corner & butt tightly to the lead edge. It is secured via a 5/16" t-bolt & threaded knob. (Photos 2, 3, 4, 5).

The cut-off fence is mounted to a 1/2" aluminum angle section with 6mm cap screws & nuts to allow for re-calibrating to the off-cut face of the saw blade (Photo 6)

Photos 7, 8, 9 show stock set up for an off-cut at 10" (254mm)

 

[pmarcusm]

thanks for the awesome cart and detail photos. I am in the planning and drawing stages of a similar cart and you have given me some great food for thought. I am glad that I have an eraser, so I can change some of the design that I have already put on paper.
I have an extensive array of CAD programs at my disposal at work, but still love to layout drawings by hand.
I am glad now that I haven't started building yet. I am really going to rethink the whole concept now.

Marcus

 

[Sparktrician]

I'm very positively impressed by the functionality that you built into that workcenter.  Well done!!! 

 

[sgryd]

Great thinking and great build!
Will the bench fit a full sheet good? When I use my bench for ripping sheet goods I'll have to over-hang the sheet on booth sides of the table. This would not be doable with a boom arm like yours. But it seems to be detachable which would solve this, is it?
//Michael

 

[squarecut]

Great thinking and great build!
Will the bench fit a full sheet good? When I use my bench for ripping sheet goods I'll have to over-hang the sheet on booth sides of the table. This would not be doable with a boom arm like yours. But it seems to be detachable which would solve this, is it?
//Michael

I had not designed the unit with that option in mind as I have an I-beam setup for initial sheet-goods ripping into manageable widths.  In full expanded mode the surface area of the top measures 84-1/4 long x 28-1/4 wide so I would be able to place a full sheet of stock on top with overhang, but that would limit control over support of long off-cuts which I would find undesirable.
Yes, the boom arm is detachable.

 

[CarolinaNomad]

Our own Guido Henn!!! [not worthy]

This is definitely nominated for the Guido Henn Award.  But before we give him the Award, he needs to publish plans, an article and a you tube video starring . . . . . . . .. . Squarecut.  Are you up for the challenge Squarecut?  [big grin]

Very nice build.  Thanks for sharing.  And welcome to the FOG.

 

[NuggyBuggy]

Squarecut, I'm curious about the Bosch table saw in the background of one of your pics, under the mitre saw.  It looks like it might be on an extendible shelf, but that's not clear.  Does the saw slide out for use, or do you store the saw on a shelf and put it somewhere else when needed

 

[squarecut]

Squarecut, I'm curious about the Bosch table saw in the background of one of your pics, under the mitre saw.  It looks like it might be on an extendible shelf, but that's not clear.  Does the saw slide out for use, or do you store the saw on a shelf and put it somewhere else when needed

The Bosch TS is mounted on a wheeled cart which stores under the mitre saw. It has a lower compartment that houses TS jigs, blades & Dado set. The overall height is set to match a mobile variable function table I built to house my dust collector and serve as an out-feed table for both my TS & DeWalt planer as well as an assembly platform.
Here is an old photo of the TS & mobile table before I added a pullout drawer to contain saw blades -
[attachimg=#]

 

[sicd_steve]

Excellent work and well done I AM IMPRESSED

 

[rrmccabe]

Just saw this. Nice job!

 

[ryansmythe]

Great job. Definitely put a lot of  effort into that.

 

[Bigchasbroon]

Squarecut are you of Scottish descent?

 

[squarecut]

Squarecut are you of Scottish descent?

No - married to a Glaswegian Scottish Lass 50 years this April 11th - so I have heard a lot of Scots sayings!

 

[Bigchasbroon]

A Glaswegian lass eh? I married a Dundonian they're much the same. I'm glad she's taught you the finer nuances of our language  [big grin]