My MFT Bench Dogs

[johnsonri]

The MFT is by far my favorite tool and the corner stone of my shop. I use a whole host of bench dogs and bench dog jigs with my MFT. I have put together a small photo essay of some of the bench dogs and accessories that I use from time to time.

Below is a small collection of some of the dogs.

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The posts that follow will detail some of my bench dogs.

 

[johnsonri]

Step 1
Acquire suitable stock. I am using poplar. I like poplar for this because it's a hardwood that isn't very hard, but holds threaded inserts well.

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Step2
Next thing to do is rip the stock down to 11/16" by 11/16" strips. These strips will be the bench dog stems, as well as stems for other jigs and tool accessories. These stems will fit inside the MFT 20mm holes.

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Step3
Now, each of the corners is chamfered resulting in a 8-sided poplar rod. The 8-sided poplar rod is the bench dog stem. The next pictures show the stem as each side is chamfered.

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When all four sides are chamfered, the rod should fit snugly on the MFT holes with zero play or wiggle room.

Here is the finished stem.

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[johnsonri]

Here, each of the four ripped and chamfered poplar rods is inserted in the MFT and have  zero wiggle room.

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The next two pictures show the rods cut to a shorter length and inserted in the MFT. The chamfered sides of the rod hold the rod with zero play.

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Some of the rods receive a threaded insert, and some of them are left with a clean end so that they can be glued to a bench dog top.

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[johnsonri]

Bench dog tops can be practically any shape, size or dimension that is needed. The

following pictures show the creation of round disc bench dogs topped with a pad for

grip.

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The bench dog stems have threaded inserts and the discs can be screwed on and off. The

stems could just as easily be glued to the discs. The grey pads are cut-outs from a

router pad.

The discs provide very good lateral grip for sanding, etc.

 

[johnsonri]

When I need a low profile straight edge, I attach the poplar bench dog stems to my 48 inch aluminum ruler.

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Any ruler that has a hole or groove can have bench dog stems attached and connected to the MFT

When connected to the MFT, the ruler will not move.

 

[johnsonri]

Next are bench dogs for the Festool MFS. Here you can see that the flat side of the bench dog stems are being used. The side of the bench dog stem is connected to the side of the MFS.

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In this situation, the bench dogs allow the MFS to be placed almost anywhere on the MFT without worrying about how to clamp it, or otherwise hold it down on top of the peice being routed.

 

[johnsonri]

Basically any extrusion that has a groove along its side or botom can be securely and quickly connected to the MFT. Here are pictures of the older MFT fence securely to the MFT.

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The first picture here has the benchdog stem bolted to the MFT fence. The second and third pictures show the fence being connected to the MFT. The final picture shows the fence connected to the MFT.

 

[johnsonri]

The next pictures show a few simple custom bench dog tops. There are two single hole bench dog and a double hole bench dog.

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The bench dog tops here are low-profile tops. With these, I can sand 1/2" stock clear to the very edges without concern about running into the top of my bench dog.

 

[johnsonri]

Clamping

I have bench dog stems as accessories for my Jet clamps to allow the clamps to be quickly and securely attached to the MFT.

Here, you can see the poplar bench dog stems that I use instead of the Jet 3/4" dog stems.

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The next few pictures here show the bench dog stems attached to the Jet clamp and the Jet framing block.

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As you can see from the previous pictures and examples, the bench dog stems add increased versalility to the already versatile MFT.

There are several other jigs for the MFT, MFT rail and many other tools in my shop that I use regularly. I hope that you find benefit from me techniques here.

Rey  

 

[peter halle]

Rey,

If you were on American Idol you would be called " The Dog Dawg"! [thumbs up]

I am stealing some of your ideas.  Stayed tuned.

Thanks,

Peter

 

[Dan Clermont]

Pretty Clever Rey!!!

Dan Clermont

 

[score0matic]

Rey,
Let me guess you have a Sys 1 w/ with 20mm insert to house your "pack"  of dogs  the Label says "Da POUND"  [big grin]

 

[nclemmons]

Great set of ideas, Rey.  I've used dogs with the rails - both 8020 and the fences and they work great.  One thing I do is use two rails at 90 degrees for squaring up corners when clamping up frames.  Very easy to do with the dogs and tables.

thanks -

neil

 

[Frank Pellow]

Thanks for all the great ideas Rey.  [thumbs up]  I have used different bench dogs quite a bit with my MFT, but my uses pale in comparison to yours.

 

[Peter Hamilton-Scott]

Next thing to do is rip the stock down to 11/16" by 11/16" strips. These strips will be the bench dog stems, as well as stems for other jigs and tool accessories. These stems will fit inside the MFT 20mm holes.

Rey,

A technical question concerning the amazing examples you've shown. What did you use to chamfer the strips? I'm guessing you used a dedicated router table or a bandsaw? If you did it freehand using the MFT/3 and Festool tools then I'd love to know how you did it.

 

[johnsonri]

Thanks for the comments!! Here are a few answers to a few of the posts...

If you were on American Idol you would be called " The Dog Dawg"! [thumbs up]

I am stealing some of your ideas.  Stayed tuned.

...and I would let Simon have it...I tell'ya  [laughing]

...steal away...I look forward to your ideas...

Let me guess you have a Sys 1 w/ with 20mm insert to house your "pack"  of dogs  the Label says "Da POUND"  [big grin]

Nah, my Sys 1's hold things more valuable than the bench dogs. "Da POUND" has a place in a few strips of 20mm holes along the walls of my shop.

A technical question concerning the amazing examples you've shown. What did you use to chamfer the strips? I'm guessing you used a dedicated router table or a bandsaw? If you did it freehand using the MFT/3 and Festool tools then I'd love to know how you did it.

The chamfers in these pics are from a router and router table. However, they can be done with the MFT/TS55. I hope to have some shop time tomorrow, or Wednesday. I will snap a pic or two of the MFT/TS55 making those chamfers.

Rey

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Next are bench dogs for the Festool MFS. Here you can see that the flat side of the bench dog stems are being used. The side of the bench dog stem is connected to the side of the MFS.

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In this situation, the bench dogs allow the MFS to be placed almost anywhere on the MFT without worrying about how to clamp it, or otherwise hold it down on top of the peice being routed.

Rey, 

Thanks for many great ideas to extend use of MFT tables.

How are your wooden dogs connected to the MFS extrusion?  Have you drilled a hole through the wooden dog and connected to the extrusion using a T-headed machine bolt?

Dave R.

 

[johnsonri]

Rey, 

Thanks for many great ideas to extend use of MFT tables.

How are your wooden dogs connected to the MFS extrusion?  Have you drilled a hole through the wooden dog and connected to the extrusion using a T-headed machine bolt?

Dave R.

Dave,

Yes to that. I have a hole drilled through the bench dog stems and a 1/4-20 bolt and nut. The nut end connects to the MFT so that the bolt is able to lock inside of the MFT track...here are a few pics

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You can also see a Christmas present in the early stage of being made 

Rey

 

[sl_1800]

Rey,

Thanks a million for posting these ideas.  I just bought my first MFT and these ideas will be a big help to me.

 

[johnsonri]

Rey,

Thanks a million for posting these ideas.  I just bought my first MFT and these ideas will be a big help to me.

No problem...glad to help. I have quite a few other bench dogs and MFT accessories that I keep meaning to get pictures of. I hope to post a few more this week or so.

Rey