New MPT (multi purpose top)

[woodman_412]

Here is the test cut from the jig on the MPT. It was dead nuts square and exactly the length I had set the jig to. It’s always a very satisfying feeling when you put this much work into making a tool and it gives perfect results when you use it. This was a great test too of how accurately the holes in the top were laid out since that’s what determined square in this cut. My MPT is becoming my favorite tool for sure.

 

[overanalyze]

Nice simple jig Dan! Really seems like a great, thought-out design!

 

[woodman_412]

Nice simple jig Dan! Really seems like a great, thought-out design!

Thanks Andrew!

 

[woodman_412]

Here is another accessory that I made for the MPT. It allows me to break down sheet goods without cutting into the MDF top at all and just uses a couple saw horses that I already had. I built a couple I beams that bring the sawhorses up to the height of the MPT top and then made 6 strips of plywood that create the support surface. Each strip of plywood has two 3/4″ dia. discs on it that register in the holes of the top so the strips can’t move. It’s super quick to set up and gives support for full 4×8 sheets.

 

[woodman_412]

I got the vacuum hose arm made this morning for my MPT. Just like the other accessories that I made it will attach anywhere around the perimeter of the table so it can be positioned where it works best for the application. The top arm rotates around to whichever position works best and locks with a wing nut. I put a small eye hook on the underside of the arm and then a loop of picture hanging wire to hold the hose. It works really well to keep the hose out of the way and keep the weight off the end of the tool.

 

[bkharman]

Is that birch or appleply or something else??  Looks very clean!  Oh, and great job with all of the accessories for your project. Great stuff.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[woodman_412]

Is that birch or appleply or something else??  Looks very clean!  Oh, and great job with all of the accessories for your project. Great stuff.

Cheers. Bryan.

Thanks Bryan. I used Baltic Birch to construct the MPT and most of the accessories as well.

 

[Vondawg]

The woodsman MFT and accessories are really great thanks for the share and ideas.

 

[woodman_412]

I just updated the MPT Blog with photos and descriptions of all of the accessories I have created to date. Check it out at:

http://multipurposetable.blogspot.ca/

 

[Frank Pellow]

Dan, congratulations on a good design for the table and for all the accessories that you seem to pumping out at a fast pace.

I already have a good maple workbench (home made) plus four portable work benches (one Festool MFT, one Walko 3, two Black & Decker Workmates) so I don't need another but I wish that I did.  I'm certain that I would love to build and to use your MPT.

 

[woodman_412]

Dan, congratulations on a good design for the table and for all the accessories that you seem to pumping out at a fast pace.

I already have a good maple workbench (home made) plus four portable work benches (one Festool MFT, one Walko 3, two Black & Decker Workmates) so I don't need another but I wish that I did.  I'm certain that I would love to build and to use your MPT.

Thanks Frank!  It sounds like you have quite a selection of benches and work tables.

 

[montyss]

Dan...Looks like a good way of saving the top of the MFT/3 , I'm just new to it after having it for only a month or so .
No cuts in it yet so I'm making one very soon ! My first project with the Mft  and parf dogs was making a large  Corain  triangle to help setup the rail and fence , it turned out pretty well

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.

 

[woodman_412]

Dan...Looks like a good way of saving the top of the MFT/3 , I'm just new to it after having it for only a month or so .
No cuts in it yet so I'm making one very soon ! My first project with the Mft  and parf dogs was making a large  Corain  triangle to help setup the rail and fence , it turned out pretty well

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.

The triangle looks great and that's a good idea to make it out of Corian.  How did you arrive at exactly square when you made the triangle?

 

[montyss]

Dan ... started with a square edge on the table saw and used the parf dogs in the mft for the 45 deg cut
checked it after cutting  and there was no wiggle with all 4 dogs in the table 

 

[woodman_412]

Here are a few action shots of the MPT set up outside today. I had to break down a sheet of melamine and a sheet of ply for the cabinet I’m building for a kitchen reno.

Check out the Blog for more info and pics.

http://multipurposetable.blogspot.ca/

 

[woodman_412]

The MPT really worked well in the kitchen reno that I just finished up. Here are some pics from the install and site work for the same job that I posted the pics of breaking down the sheet goods. I set it up right in the kitchen and it let me do everything I needed right there rather than going back and forth with things to work outside. The MPT really gave me a solid work surface that I could clamp anything to and use all my accessories with. The shelf on the bottom plus the space under it was great to keep things close at hand but out of the way. The clients were also super impressed with it and wanted to watch me take it apart so they could see how it worked. It's great having a work table that you made yourself since it serves as another example of your work to clients.

 

[woodman_412]

I made a small addition to my dust hose arm this week. I recently got two of the Bosch FL12 work lights which have magnetic bases on them. I added two metal plates to the underside of the dust arm which allow me to easily stick the lights on it to light up the surface of the MPT. Comes in really handy when I'm working somewhere without a lot of available light.

 

[woodman_412]

Check out the latest entry and photos on the MPT blog as well as the new look on the main page. The latest post is about using the MPT for finish work.  I've been so busy using the MPT lately that I haven't had much chance to post about it.

http://multipurposetable.blogspot.ca/

 

[slivers]

Does anyone know if the plans list sources for the legs, and if there is a means to make the legs adjustable to account for uneven work surfaces?

 

[GarryMartin]

Does anyone know if the plans list sources for the legs, and if there is a means to make the legs adjustable to account for uneven work surfaces?

In the MPT Hardware List, the legs are 36" Length of 1 1/4" dia. aluminium tube from Home Depot and 1 1/4" I.D. Rubber Foot from the same. I would guess you would be able to get adjustable feet that would fit the aluminium tube, but there isn't a source listed; at least not in the version of the plans I have from some time ago.