New member of the club!

[HowardH]

I went from a year ago wondering what is a Festool to now being the proud owner of a TS-55, CT-22 and RO150!  My next acquisition is going to be the MFT.  For the hobbiest, is the smaller version adequate or is the larger one worth the extra? 

HowardH
I'm a believer!

 

[Bob Marino]

  Howard,

I would strongly suggest the 1080 over the 800 unless you are absolutely too tight for space. The larger crosscutting capacity alone makes it more useful.

Bob

 

[Lou Miller]

IMO, that will depend on exactly what you're doing with the MFT. If you're just going to use it to cross cut, say 6" wide boards all the time, then yes, it'll be fine.

If cost isn't much of an issue, you'd probably be better off with the larger simply because of the capacity and larger table though. Its a very versatile tool and I find myself coming up with new ways to use it almost everyday. Initially, I bought to make cross cuts on 24" panels easier. It handles that job with ease, but there's so much more it can do.

Lately, I've had a guide rail with the holes in it for the hole drilling jig. Instead of using clamps and so forth, I've been doing all of my holes for cabinets on the MFT. makes things super easy and fast.

 

[Dan Lyke]

Count me in as another vote for the 1080. We got the tools so we could work in our livingroom, where space is at a premium, and took a while deciding which one to go with. We eventually went with the 1080, and are darned glad we did, as there's always need for just a little more room to hold something, even when we're working on small boxes.

We just built a dolly on to which we can tilt the table and roll it into the closet when we're not using it. The only enhancement to the table I want to make is to switch the legs around so that the longer legs are on the end which doesn't have the angle guide rail extending from it, so that they fold up first (closer to the table surface), because they're on the end which rides under the dolly.

Hey, speaking of which, I should put that suggestion over in the "things to improve" thread.

 

[HowardH]

Thanks guys.  This stuff is addicting!  Better than crack, or so I've been told...    Bob, got your shipment last week as promised.  Looking foward to testing it out this weekend.  I'm actually selling my Delta 12" CMS.  The MFT will fit where it was located.  Figured I won't need it any more with this system.

Howard

 

[Les]

Howard,

You might want to hold on to your CMS for awhile. Make sure you're not going to need it. Crown molding comes to mind.  ;D

 

[HowardH]

I think I would rather get a splinter than hang CM...  Yikes! 

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Also ask yourself if you plan on having to move it around much, e.g. taking it to the worksite of just using it in one shop room.  I have the 1080 but am considering purchase of an 800 so I don't have to carry 73 pounds up and down stairs.

 

[Lou Miller]

Dave brings up a point I didn't consider with the weight. I guess I don't think about those things too much since mine is always set up in someone's driveway or garage. If I had to take it up stairs, I might stop and rethink things. I'd probably still get the 1080 though...

 

[Tinker]

I went from a year ago wondering what is a Festool to now being the proud owner of a TS-55, CT-22 and RO150!  My next acquisition is going to be the MFT.  For the hobbiest, is the smaller version adequate or is the larger one worth the extra? 

HowardH
I'm a believer!

Howard,
I don't have time right now to read thru all of the replies, but in my case, i would be lost without the 1080. My shop is very crowded ("next week, I'll get organized") my TS is directly across from my MFT with about 3ft between.  That space is where I sort my lumber as well as cutting to size by cross cutting and or ripping.  Both TS and MFT get called into service.  It is where I do all of my milling and then all of my assembly and gluing.  Needless to say, i must clear the decks often during the course of a project.  Most importantly is the many uses I put to the MFT.  If i had gotten the MFT 800 first, i probably would have realized much discouragement.  I found so many uses for it, that I ended up getting the 800 to use mostly when I move my work area outside during warm/dry weather.  right now, that is set up in the laundry area and is holding my planer.  i have more room to plane long lumber there.  It (the 800) would be way too small to handle half of what i handle with the 1080.
Tinker

 

[HowardH]

I went up to woodcraft last week and they had an 800 on display and it did look a bit small.  There is a concensus about going to the larger one and that's what I'll do. Thanks to all for the insight!