New MPT (multi purpose top)

[thedude306]

I have a friend that has made a pretty kick butt table/top.  He's got plans up and are available.  It's got some unique designs that really make things nice (like the tools storage shelf underneath, the easy brake down and it's SOLID)  Dan's a great guy and does some top quality work.  I just bought a set of the plans and I expect them to be GREAT.

http://multipurposetable.blogspot.ca/

Hopefully I can get him over here at some point to answer any questions.

What do you guys think? 

20150312_133626 by thedude306, on Flickr

20150223_155455 by thedude306, on Flickr

 

[overanalyze]

That looks fantastic!!

 

[mike_aa]

Dude,  That is really cool.  I like it.  Is that a standard size MFT replacement top? 

Also, what are the quick release clamps he is using in some of the pictures?

Thanks, Mike A.

 

[hayaku]

i just bought dan's plans for his mpt.  it is very well done.  impressive work. 

i'm not sure he'll pop in to answer the question so i'll post it:

in his plan, the top is 46"x30".  so it's different from a standard mft replacement top.  but obviously, you can alter it any way you like. most of the measurements are imperial, but you can convert to metric easily or just size it to your liking.

the benchtop holes and the stretcher holes are 20mm on 4" centers. perfect to use with the woodrave template if you are considering following the plans exactly.

 

[woodman_412]

Hey guys, it's Dan here.  I just joined up so I'm definitely new here but I thought I would stop in to answer questions on the MPT.

Dude,  That is really cool.  I like it.  Is that a standard size MFT replacement top? 

Also, what are the quick release clamps he is using in some of the pictures?

Thanks, Mike A.

Mike, hayaku gave a great answer on your question about the top so there's not much left to say on that.  The clamps that I use shown in some of the photos are the aluminium squeeze clamps from Lee Valley.  They are a much more robust version of the plastic Quick Grip clamps, exerting up to 700 lbs of clamping pressure. The head of the clamp is very easily removable so I just pop the head off and slide the bar through whichever hole I want and then put the head back on the other side of the top or apron.  It gives really solid clamping and of course the convenience of a squeeze clamp.  The product # is 17F91.12

Hayaku, thanks very much for your purchase of the plans and very kind compliments!

 

[guitar_ed]

Hi Woodman_412,

Like the table.  One question:  Is it sturdy enough to hold stock for hand planing? I have a mid range Sjoberg that is not quite stable enough.

Thanks,

edg

 

[woodman_412]

Hi Woodman_412,

Like the table.  One question:  Is it sturdy enough to hold stock for hand planing? I have a mid range Sjoberg that is not quite stable enough.

Thanks,

edg

It definitely is sturdy enough for hand planing. I wouldn't want to use it to plane all day but for occasional planing it works great. A proper heavy workbench made for working with hand tools is definitely better suited for heavy planing but a bench like that isn't nearly as portable as the MPT so that's the trade off. Now I'm also referring to planing the face of a board and taking a full width shaving in what I've said. If you're talking about clamping a board to the apron and planing the edge of it then that's no problem at all since there is much less force involved.

 

[thedude306]

Here's a great shot of the table all broken down and ready for transport.  SUPER slick.  Because of the lower shelf, it takes a lot of the wiggle out that you get with the MFT/3

20150224_124741_resized by thedude306, on Flickr

 

[WildCard]

Kaboom! There goes my plans for not working today! lol I could really use one of these. Welp! Better get to work.....after this beer.

 

[woodman_412]

I added up the total cost of materials today for the MPT and it works out to approximately $190. That doesn’t include accessories like the Parf dogs, just the materials and hardware for the MPT itself. You guys in the US could probably build it for even cheaper than that since us Canadians always pay more for everything. Plus if you buy the plans in the US you get them cheaper too with the exchange rate.

 

[woodman_412]

Here are a couple pics of the MPT in use. I was working on making some quick plywood carrying rails out of 2x4 the other day and was really enjoying working at the MPT.  The shelf below really comes in handy to keep tools or cases close at hand but out of the way.  The aluminium squeeze clamps work really well to hold the work down and are super quick to use.  The sturdiness of the MPT is also great since I was doing some chiseling and paring.

 

[woodman_412]

I got the mounting plate made today for my power block to mount on the MPT. The plate will mount anywhere either on a stretcher or an apron and has 3/4″ discs on the back that register in the 20mm holes. The plate gets secured with a couple 1/4-20 knobs from the back side. I’m planning to make a tool caddy tomorrow that mounts in the same way. The holes in the aprons and stretchers are great since it is so easy to make accessories that will mount anywhere.

 

[NHSP759]

Dan that looks fantastic my friend! I can't wait to get going on mine. This spring probably

 

[nclemmons]

Bought the plans.  Really well thought out and executed.  Definitely a nice table for a workspace.

neil

 

[thedude306]

Hi Dan,  [member=47215]woodman_412[/member] any plans for a vacuum hose attachment? 

 

[woodman_412]

Hi Dan,  [member=47215]woodman_412[/member] any plans for a vacuum hose attachment?

Brad, I don't have the design done up on the hose attachment yet but I'm definitely going to be building one. I'll post some pics once it's done. I was working on the tool caddy today that will attach to any one of the aprons. The power block was coming in super handy today when I was working, it's nice to have it mounted out of the way and solid for plugging and unplugging.

 

[sylthecru]

Hello Dan,

I just purchased your plans, I am looking forward to building a few of the tables to compliment my MFT/3.

 

[woodman_412]

Bought the plans.  Really well thought out and executed.  Definitely a nice table for a workspace.

neil

Thanks Neil!

Hello Dan,

I just purchased your plans, I am looking forward to building a few of the tables to compliment my MFT/3.

Thanks [member=29170]sylthecru[/member] , I just sent the PDF so you should have it now. The MPT would make a great complement to the MFT/3.  Be sure and post some photos when you have them done.

 

[woodman_412]

I got the tool caddy finished today and it works great. It gives a convenient place to keep tools, glue, screws etc that is out of the way but close at hand. Also keeps things from rolling off or getting knocked off the table top. The nice thing about it is it can be mounted anywhere around the perimeter of the table that you need it. I also sized it so that it will fit in an L-boxx for transport. The wood discs register in the 20mm holes and it just locks on with knobs and washers from behind. The MPT really allows for an endless range of accessories that can be made and easily mounted on the system of 20mm holes.

 

[woodman_412]

Here is another accessory that I made for the MPT. It is a very simple but very accurate cross cut jig that gives me a few advantages. First I don’t have to cut into my MPT top at all since the 1/4″ MDF jig gives me enough thickness so that I don’t have to cut all the way through. I figure if I can avoid cutting into the top it will last that much longer and since it was a decent amount of work to make that’s a good thing. Second, the jig has a built in tape that is calibrated to the cutting edge of the guide rail so all I have to do is clamp the stop strip down with one of my squeeze clamps at whatever measurement I want and then cut as many parts as I need. The tape sits in a shallow dado so that it is flush with the surface. The stop strip is long enough that I can keep the clamp in one position for any measurement and just slide the strip back and forth. And third, the jig registers in exactly the same place every time with 6 discs that fit into the holes in the MPT top so it’s always accurate. Everything still references off of the Parf dogs as far as the work piece and the track but the jig gives some big advantages over using them by themselves.