My Workbench: MFT/3 and CMS Router combo

[sebcbien]

Hello,

First post here from a fresh new hobbyist carpenter.

I've read a lot before starting to build my workbench, I started with the idea to build a roubo style workbench but ended with an MFT and a plywood base station on wheels.

It is still not finished, but the main assembly is done and the main ideas are present.

Here is the sketchup plans I've made, but during the building I changed my mind on some points.

Here is the front view:
The main thing you will notice is the foot of the mft (4 plywood of 10/10cm).
There are three reasons:
- I wanted more space under the mft for a drawer/dust collection.
- I wanted a place to store the TS75 under the CMS when not in use.
- I'm tall (1m95) and put the top level of the MFT/3 at 115cm. I've never had the chance to work at this level and although it seems very comfortable with the tests, I wanted to be able to lower the height afterward if it was too much.
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On the rear view, I want to show the place I made to store the big CMS rail when not in use
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I did not wanted to make drawers for the systainers, the main reason is that I do not have a lot of them and that they are easily accessible like that, the systainers for the domino and the TS75 are sideways because it's the easiest way to insert and retrieve the tools from the systainers.

I still have to do a lot of things but I wanted to share the plans earlier so that I can receive advices one some points before they are built.

The next points to build are the station to hold the TS75 when not in use, the drawer under the MFT, the electrical wiring with a master/slave outlet for my Nilfisk ATTIX ... ... ... ...

 

[sebcbien]

On the previous post, you will notice the strange position of the MFT guide and the piece of wood betwee the CMS and the MFT.
It was my initial plan who worked well but that I improved during the building.
I lowered the CMS from 18mm and put a MDF sheet on all the CMS.

Here are the pics:
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I really like this setup, it allows me to not cut on the MFT, to have an outfeed table, to protect my CMS, to have a bigger workbench size, a clamping area to cut small pieces and a bigger infeed size as I made the setup of my fence and rail not like the default Festool setup (see next post).

 

[Alan m]

welcome to the fog.
great set up

 

[sebcbien]

here is the detailed setup of my fence and cutting rail.
I pushed them to the boundaries of the MFT3 and used home made benchdogs to square them "to the perfection"

Home made BenchDogs
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Position of the rail
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Calibration of the fence
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Calibration of the rail
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Check of the square
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Clamping of small elements
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Locking of the MDF
There is a small locker on the left of the woflcraft clamp, I will see in the future is this is enough or if I have to think at something more though.
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[sebcbien]

other pics:

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Testing and setup
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[BMH]

Welcome to woodworking. A couple of suggestion for your planning.

1-Finding the height that is optimal for you is very important. Then having most of your working  surface at the same height facilitates your work. I would not be concern about cutting into the MFT and would have the CMS at the same level and turn it 90 degrees so you can use it as an out feed table. I am in the process of moving to a new shop and all of my surfaces will be at the same height with the exception of an assembly table that will be a little lower.

2-If you going to have your MFT on mobile surface take off the legs. This will make it easier to use and clean the under surface.

3-I would recommend that you place on the front of your bench a couple of vertical strips of wood so you can clamp work pieces on the side for different operations. Timothy Wilmots has a couple of examples on his site http://www.benchworks.be/sysport.html

4-Small drawer to store pencils, rulers is very handy.

5-Horizontal rail storage space is also nice to have.

Good luck with your project and as you get more comfortable and experience with woodworking you will built a couple more different benches till you find the one adapted to your personal style.

Bruce

 

[adugas]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Awesome build!! Im a hobbist woodworker also i recently built my first festool only build of a MFT table also. I didnt put as much thought into as you did and stumbled with making everything work but it works for and cuts sqaure. ive already strated with new ideas for a new one, this time im learning sketch up and drawing everything up for a plan first. hope you dont mind if borrow a few of your ideas for my new one.

check out my bench let me know what you think
http://festoolownersgroup.com/workshops-and-mobile-vehicle-based-shops/my-first-mft-project!!/

Cheers
Aaron
cheers
Aaron