New to the MFT/3, have questions.

[mavrick1903]

About to pull the trigger on an MFT/3. have a few questions. I thought I read somewhere that if the 1400 rail is mounted the long way on the table, that the unit can cross cut sheet goods? (not fully supported perhaps, but enough?)

what about protecting the top? wax? anything?

any other tips/tricks would be helpful. as well as what accessories to get/skip.

 

[Sparktrician]

About to pull the trigger on an MFT/3. have a few questions. I thought I read somewhere that if the 1400 rail is mounted the long way on the table, that the unit can cross cut sheet goods? (not fully supported perhaps, but enough?)

what about protecting the top? wax? anything?

any other tips/tricks would be helpful. as well as what accessories to get/skip.

I use mine to cut sheet goods, but for clarity's sake, I have two MFT3s which provide great support for large sheets.  I've been using Butcher's Bowling Alley Wax (http://www.bwccompany.com/bowlingalley.html) to protect the tops on both MFT3s.  The 1400 track is long enough to use when cross-cutting sheet goods, and two 1400s joined together are long enough to be used to cut diagonally on sheet goods. 

[smile]

 

[Brice Burrell]

Sorry to say the answer is no, sheet goods can't be cross cut on the MFT/3.  The table top (the MDF top) is 43" by 28" or so. 

I don't bother protecting the top although there are all sorts of products members have posted about.

 

[mouppe]

I also do not bother to protect the top. My top is scored with cuts, so what would be the point of adding a protective coating? After a year or so, I will just replace the top with a new one. Some users use a sacrificial layer to avoid scoring the top, but it seems like overkill to me.

 

[tbellemare]

The top is designed as a consumable. After it gets too scored up, you can flip it. When that side gets too scored up, replace it.

Tom

 

[Bob Marino]

Unless you double up the MFT's, there not for crosscutting full panels of sheetgoods; you'd need more support. Easiest way would be to get a sheet of 3/4" foam as a a support and backer and 2 saw horses or roller stands.
Besides the  Festool clamps, the Clamping Elements (488030) (or other such hold downs) are very useful.
As for protecting the top, I don't bother; it can be rotated and flipped, so you wil get plenty of life out of it before you need to get it replaced. However, if you are using it for glue ups, a coat of wax would help out.

  Bob

 

[jmbfestool]

I dont protect my top no point like people have already mentioned above apart from one Bowling Alley Wax man.  You end up with loads and loads of cuts you would have to treat your top at the end of every working day for you to cut into it some more the fallowing day why bother.

You could cross cut full sheets if you wanted to but you would need more support and its not worth the hassle really no point.  I often have two trestles set up on site I cut the large pieces off and then use the MFT to cut it down again if needed to be honest I dont use my MFT/3 setup that much I just use the table on site. As its good for clamping things and can hold a large sheet for me to cut the end of if needed.  I can not be bothered to attach the rail and the fence and everything its not worth the hassle on site to be honest unless you know your going to be cutting ALOT smaller size sheets. I rather just mark to pencil marks and drop my guide on  then lifting the rail up marking then sliding sheet under rail then tapping it till its in the right place I dint it quicker to drop the rail on.

JMB

 

[mavrick1903]

Bump. I figured this would spark more discussion...

 

[Bob Marino]

Bump. I figured this would spark more discussion...

  You might want to take a look at Jerry Work's "Getting the most from the MFT". http://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/getting_the_most_from_the_mft_multifunction_table.pdf

Though it was written for the MFT 1080, there's a lot of pertinent info for the newer MFT/3's.

Bob