my sysport workbench

[Timtool]

i have been thinking a long time about an additional workbench, and those white and green boxes were adding up and taking up space everywhere. so i solved both problems with a new worktable specifically designed for the festool system.
as you can see the workbench in the middle has 6 systainer drawers, a space for the vacuum and a stow away area for the tools in use, so they don’t have to be on the table.



the top is a torsion box with 20mm round holes like the festool mft.
there is an oak edge with a T-track in wich the festool track clamps fit, and also vertical beams with slots for the clamps.

on the left there is another table for the systainers to come , those drawers can hold 2 boxes.
the drawers have oak strips on them wich block the systainers in place. they extend long enough so the systainers can be
opened.





the base is made of 18 and 12mm MDF, with a pine faceframe dominoed together. the table edge and drawer fronts are scrap oak.
the top with holes is incredibly usefull with the special clamps, i can’t believe how i did without for so long!



in the future i plan on building other things around it like a boom arm so the vacuum hose can come from above, and many other stuff, but the basics are done!

 

[PeterK]

Very Nice!!!!
You have some very useful ideas. I really need to design something similar.
Thank you for posting.
Pete

 

[woodguy7]

Like the track on the front edge, that looks really usefull  [big grin]

 

[Jeff Hein]

Very nice! I may borrow some ideas from your setup. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Charles Wilson]

How'd you make the top??

 

[Kevin D.]

I like that T-track idea.  Thanks for sharing.

 

[Timtool]

How'd you make the top??

do you mean making the holes?
it's complex to explain, but simple in reality, and it didn't take more than 10 minutes to make them.

i first made the torsion box top wich consists of a 12mm sheet below, then a series of vertically placed mdf strips (30mm) and then a 18mm top. the top is screwed but not glued so it can be replaced.
this sandwich is virtually (almost) undeformable and is as flat as can be.



then i made a jig (in green on image) a simple piece of mdf, with strips at both ends to keep it paralel. on the jig i made a line every 96mm, all i had to do was align the centerline of my router to the line on the jig. i used a 20mm bit and i think it is pretty much ruined after making those plunge cuts.

inside the torsion box there are also beechwood blocks into wich the top and oak egde are fastened. mdf alone is not strong enough for that.

i have already discovered a flaw in the system, the torsion box is not deep enough for the festool clamps to get in the holes. i will add a T-track on the top of the oak edge aswell so i can clamp stuff on top.

 

[festoller]

Great design!

I am in the middle of building a new Kapex/ Sysport Table and really like your design. I'll either use the MFT top as hole drilling jig or buy to MFT tops and cut them to fit the table!

Depending on my final design I'll either steal your T-Track idea or install the long MFT extrusion for that purpose. I didn't make a decision if the MFT extrusion would be worth the extra cost though.

 

[terrystouf]

Very nice tidy setup,I just started using an mft and am considering how to use all the dead space under it,but I am wondering how much stuff will fall though the holes as you are working ?? I guess one could build some sort of sh**t catcher or deflector if needed.Anyway, bravo,nice setup !

 

[Timtool]

Hi Terry,
the fact that the top box is closed is a problem, but it wouldn't be better if the stuff (and dust) would fall through inside the cabinet onto the tools and systainers.
the top layer can be unscrewed should anything precious fall in, or to clean it periodically.
but the MFT top really excells at machining operations etc, but it is bad for assembly work.
that's why i do that on my assembly table with no risk of screws or hardware falling in the holes.

 

[Timtool]

a little update with an upgrade that id did to the bench,
i added dogholes on the vertical stiles, made with my benchtop mortiser. these allow me to rest workpieces on them.
and today it came in extremely handy.

so can your mft do this  [cool] ?



i needed to rout a mortise into a tabletop, before i had this worktable i had to do this while sitting on the floor on my knees while clamping the workpiece to the legs of another furniture piece.

 

[speed]

nice clamping solutions, i may have to incorporate some of your designs

 

[crpaulk]

This is a very nice setup. I really enjoy the creativity of this FOG group. I could say that great tools inspire, but I suspect already great craftsmen are drawn to good tools.

Thank You for letting us take a peek.

Ron Paulk
www.paulkhomes.com

 

[Alan m]

hthanks ron. i wont be too modest . your right . we are brilliant [wink] [unsure] [big grin]

 

[fdengel]

Very nice.

 

[harry_]

Like the track on the front edge, that looks really usefull  [big grin]

+1

I see this happening in my future

 

[kfitzsimons]

Did you use the Domino to cut the clamping slots on the sides of the vertical front pieces? Looks like it. Could do the same for the slots on the front of the same vertical pieces. Really nice bench.

 

[NuggyBuggy]

As I study these pictures, I realized this thread needs some more photos of the rest of the workshop.  I bet that shop is wonderfully organized and that there are lots of ideas there !

 

[Timtool]

Did you use the Domino to cut the clamping slots on the sides of the vertical front pieces? Looks like it. Could do the same for the slots on the front of the same vertical pieces. Really nice bench.

Yes i did, i used the 10mm cutter and cut from both sides to make a through mortise.
but the most usefull holes are the square holes in the front. i find new uses for it daily, like using them to support a board wich serves as a lowered benchtop when i'm nailing drawers. makes work alot more comfortable!

here are some pics of the workspace Nuggy, don't have any nice ones of the area with the stationary tools!
still have lots of ideas for improvements but not the time to do them all!

 

[NuggyBuggy]

What a nice space.  I'm impressed and a little jealous.  Thanks Timtool.

EDIT: I'm curious, what are the approximate dimensions of your shop ?