New Hole Size on MFTs??

[pteubel]

I have 2 each of the 1080 and 800 MFTs. Two I purchased over a year ago and two just recently. I finally got around to using the new ones and I find that everything that goes in the holes are loose (clamping elements, miter rail). Weird...everything is snug on my old tables. I measured them and they are 20.25mm. My older MFTs have snug 19.25mm holes.

Anyone else experience this? It's a bummer because before I could use the clamping elements without using the knobs underneath. Not now. Too much play without them in the new MFTs.

- Pete

 

[Tinker]

that sounds like a real bummer.  It is very handy not having to use those knobs all the time.  mine are all stored away except for the ones holding the miter guage.  It is a real pain to try to reach way under the MFT if i need to loosen the knobs to occasionally change the angle.  I would go nuts if i had to reach under every time i wanted to lock in or unlock my clamps or those little clamping dogs.  I suspect Festool received some flack about how tight the metal clamps fit and that thay needed to be opened ALL the way to insert into the 19.25 mm holes.  Personally, i don't mind that little problem, but i would sure hate to have to reach under the table to remove those knobs every time i wanted to move those flat clamps and dogs.  (Sorry, i don't have the nomenclature for all of these clamps down indelibly in my head.)  I think this is one of those situations where the engineers tinkered with a good thing until the improved to the point of ruining the good thing.  Maybe they will go back to the old sized holes in the future.
Tinker

 

[jimwho]

I have 2  of the 1080's and have noticed the same thing . My first, I purchased in 2005 and the second about six months later. I never noticed it until recently as I  have finally gotton around to making some jigs and recognized the difference. I have not measured the diameter but one is smaller than the other. It is a little of a pain but not that big a deal for me.

 

[ejantny]

My MFT was purchased a couple of months ago and the holes are the smaller ones. I wonder if it is something that happens once in a while being a table purchased prior to mine had the problem.

 

[Loren Hedahl]

Glue a strip of veneer in each hole some day when there's not much going on.

Loren

 

[nickao]

I have the same thing. One three top table and two units are loose fit, one tight. I think in the summer the holes get tighter. Maybe from the massive humidity here. In the winter they seem a little looser. I know MDF may not move as much as hardwood, but I think it does move.  A little water on the edge of MDF expands the heck  of it. Possibly heavy humidity or the lack of makes a difference.

Any comments?

Does this sound feasible? Can the shop conditions effect the holes to a noticeable degree on these tops? Or do you think it is a machining problem?

 

[Corwin]

I don't think there is a machining problem.  And I know the environment will have its effect -- slight sagging and some of the holes (especially the outer ones) swell yielding a tighter fit. 

It might be best to wrap tape around the 20mm fixtures if they would otherwise fit too loose in the holes.  Not necessary in all cases, but best in my case where one table has tight holes and the others are loose.