My custom built expandable MFT on rolling cart

[iamnothim]

That is a work of art.

I'd build one myself, except I need to have one to build it. [huh]

 

[VW mick]

That's really cool

I like it

 

[squarecut]

Finally got around to arranging my Festool components drawer on this unit. Also created a movable standoff for hose & power cord management & thought I would add some photos to this thread.

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[alkaline]

This is pure beauty!

[wink]

 

[Wooden Skye]

Great ideas.

 

[squarecut]

The out-feed fence on my out-feed flip extension was flexing when cutting wider off cuts resulting in them being a few mm out of square. I decided to add an additional support bracket at the very end of my out feed flip extension to prevent movement. Thought I would add some photos of this modification to this thread for general information.

Fence attachment [attachthumb=1]   

Underside slide [attachthumb=2] 

Lockdown Knob [attachthumb=3]

Bracket in slide [attachthumb=4]

Bracket [attachthumb=5]   

Fence square to flip extension [attachthumb=6] 

Fence square to qwas dogs [attachthumb=7]         

 

[Carl Prentiss]

Just really impressed with your design skills. I think I will never develop that ability. Nice execution too!

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Neccesity is the mother of all invention as the saying goes.. LIke this setup very much!

 

[squarecut]

OK, this topic just reached 25000 views on this forum in a little less than 10 months.

When I initially posted this thread I hoped that it would generate some interest, apparently it has.
Now I do not imagine that the 25000 views are from 25000 individuals, so I must assume that many members of FOG have made multiple views of my expandable MFT unit. That begs some questions -
Are there FOG members out there that have built a copy of my expandable MFT?
Are there members that have built their own version of my expandable MFT utilizing some of the design components from my version?
I would really be interested to find that others have produced similar or exact copies of my unit. I have seen many types of custom MFT's on this forum, but not one true expandable version other than my own.
So how about it - If you have built something similar or even an exact copy, why not post some pictures of your unit. Especially if you have improved on my version with some new ideas that I could steal.

 

[Gary in Texas]

Squarecut, uh, sorry, I keep coming back to this thread to check out the design....  To date, I've probably revisited this thread, oh, like, 24,673 times.  LOL.

Seriously though, nice design, and a few months from now will undertake a similar design.  Well thought out design!  Thanks for sharing.

 

[squarecut]

Has anyone asked how you are storing your rails in the first pic?

No, never was asked about that - very simply, I lucked out with the overall length of my 2 x 8 shelving support being long enough for two 1400 rails so I just utilized the existing holes in the rails by placing a round head screw at each end backed out 1/4". It works very well, I just pop the rails on or off with a slight drop or lift.

 

[squarecut]

Squarecut, uh, sorry, I keep coming back to this thread to check out the design....  To date, I've probably revisited this thread, oh, like, 24,673 times.  LOL.

Seriously though, nice design, and a few months from now will undertake a similar design.  Well thought out design!  Thanks for sharing.

Wow - 24673 times - and here I thought I had gotten a lot of interest in this unit - only you & 327 others!
Seriously, would love to see photos of your version when you complete it

 

[fesmule]

This is the very first time I've read this thread, I can say categorically it won't
be the last time.
Very fine work indeed, and thanks a bunch for generously sharing it with the community.
Great thread indeed  [big grin [smile]

 

[KasualObserver]

Squarecut - I know this is an old thread, but I have to express my admiration. So many great ideas, and such outstanding execution.

 

[Dan Clark]

Squarecut,

This may be an old thread to some folks, but to me it's a excellent reference guide for building maximum functionality in minimum space.  What impresses me most is your ability to see the value in traditional woodworking concepts and adapt them to a modern Festool tool set.

I'm in the design stage of building my own version of a workbench much like yours. Mine will have many of your brilliant design elements.

Right now, the biggest issue for me is whether to use my current MFT (old version) with the legs removed or to make/buy an MFT top. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Mickfb]

That is a awesome bench. Bet many hours of thought went into the design.

 

[squarecut]

Right now, the biggest issue for me is whether to use my current MFT (old version) with the legs removed or to make/buy an MFT top. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks,

Dan.

Dan,
Thanks for your kind words. When I built my unit, not having an existing MFT made the choice simple. In answer to your question, I would still go with a complete fabrication & save your existing MFT as an auxiliary table or sell it to absorb some of the costs  of building from scratch.
My reasoning is as follows -
Your existing MFT is probably a 1080 and you will get some necessary Festool components from it for use on the new unit.
By building your own table frame it will be easier to utilize some of my design components such as index holes for alignment of the 1400 rail for rip cuts and index pins on the extension wings where they mate to the table frame
Of course the main reason is that buying a replacement MFT-3 top gives you more real estate than with a 1080 top.

When I built my unit I only purchased one MFT-3 replacement top and fabricated the wings myself. Only after spending 16 man hours doing so, did I realize that I could have bought a second top and cut it in half, saving myself much time & anguish over hole alignment.

Bob  (aka Squarecut)

 

[Dan Clark]

Right now, the biggest issue for me is whether to use my current MFT (old version) with the legs removed or to make/buy an MFT top. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks,

Dan.

Dan,
Thanks for your kind words. When I built my unit, not having an existing MFT made the choice simple. In answer to your question, I would still go with a complete fabrication & save your existing MFT as an auxiliary table or sell it to absorb some of the costs  of building from scratch.
My reasoning is as follows -
Your existing MFT is probably a 1080 and you will get some necessary Festool components from it for use on the new unit.
By building your own table frame it will be easier to utilize some of my design components such as index holes for alignment of the 1400 rail for rip cuts and index pins on the extension wings where they mate to the table frame
Of course the main reason is that buying a replacement MFT-3 top gives you more real estate than with a 1080 top.

When I built my unit I only purchased one MFT-3 replacement top and fabricated the wings myself. Only after spending 16 man hours doing so, did I realize that I could have bought a second top and cut it in half, saving myself much time & anguish over hole alignment.

Bob  (aka Squarecut)

Bob,

Thanks for the feedback, especially about buying a second MFT-3 top.  One of my goals is to cut hassle-factor.  I like to save money, but getting quality and reducing hassle-factor trumps saving money.

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[rvieceli]

Dan if you are going to keep your 1080, you might want to get a replacement MFT-1080 top instead of a MFT/3. The 1080 top is actually a bit bigger and the price is 120 instead of 134.

 

[squarecut]

Right now, the biggest issue for me is whether to use my current MFT (old version) with the legs removed or to make/buy an MFT top. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks,

Dan.

Dan,
Thanks for your kind words. When I built my unit, not having an existing MFT made the choice simple. In answer to your question, I would still go with a complete fabrication & save your existing MFT as an auxiliary table or sell it to absorb some of the costs  of building from scratch.
My reasoning is as follows -
Your existing MFT is probably a 1080 and you will get some necessary Festool components from it for use on the new unit.
By building your own table frame it will be easier to utilize some of my design components such as index holes for alignment of the 1400 rail for rip cuts and index pins on the extension wings where they mate to the table frame
Of course the main reason is that buying a replacement MFT-3 top gives you more real estate than with a 1080 top.

When I built my unit I only purchased one MFT-3 replacement top and fabricated the wings myself. Only after spending 16 man hours doing so, did I realize that I could have bought a second top and cut it in half, saving myself much time & anguish over hole alignment.

Bob  (aka Squarecut)

Bob,

Thanks for the feedback, especially about buying a second MFT-3 top.  One of my goals is to cut hassle-factor.  I like to save money, but getting quality and reducing hassle-factor trumps saving money.

Thanks,

Dan.

Dan if you are going to keep your 1080, you might want to get a replacement MFT-1080 top instead of a MFT/3. The 1080 top is actually a bit bigger and the price is 120 instead of 134.

Dan,
Just to clarify as I do not want to mislead you. I was always of the impression that the replacement top I purchased for my build was an MFT-3 top. Now I am confused as to which top I did purchase - so here are the dimensions 43-3/8" x 28-1/4" with a field of 11 holes by 5 holes.  Correction - 11 holes by 7 holes
Bob