Newbie question: can MFT and TSC replace my table saw?

[lshj]

..
I also got the Festool SYS CSC 50 recently.  It's so compact that takes very little space. I think it's a game changer for people who have limited space and for people who need tools at the site.  Unless you need to rip board wider than 11 inches, I see no reason to choose MFT than SYS 50 table saw.

Bold emphasized.

Got your point.  I have the festool track saw that I used to cut and rip large board. Cutting large board is not very convenient on table saw unless you have very large extension table.  My point is not about the track saw. It's the MFT. MFT is not cheap for what it is, take quiet some space, not sturdy compared to conventional workbench and have very limited usage, not as good and as easy to use as the table saw for most of the cutting. For ripping or cutting large board, MFT is not big enough either. I just see no point to have the MFT if you have a table saw. 

I just read that using MFT with track saw is good for crosscut for larger board than table saw, maybe that is the real advantage of MFT with track saw. 

 

[mino]

Got your point.  I have the festool track saw that I used to cut and rip large board. Cutting large board is not very convenient on table saw unless you have very large extension table.  My point is not about the track saw. It's the MFT. MFT is not cheap for what it is, take quiet some space, not sturdy compared to conventional workbench and have very limited usage, not as good and as easy to use as the table saw for most of the cutting. For ripping or cutting large board, MFT is not big enough either. I just see no point to have the MFT if you have a table saw. 

I just read that using MFT with track saw is good for crosscut for larger board than table saw, maybe that is the real advantage of MFT with track saw.

But, But!
The MFT/3 is very explicitly a multi-function table, not a "cutting station". It is a portable flexible work table that can be used to cut on. As for it not being "stable". Well, it is portable, one needs to look what other *portable* options are out there with comparable flexibility. Not much can best the MFT/3. Even after 30+ years it is on the market. That says something to me.

Being the workbench, it does not take any *additional* space, excepting any needed to store the protractor assembly. The hinge and the rail get out of the way when not in use. Now, I am not saying an MFT/3 is the most economical or best functionality for static shop use. There better options indeed. The Paulk-style setup is probably better for semi-static use and the various firmer workbenches are also a good choice for static use.

But it is a portable, relatively light, and relatively big work surface that can take the cutting station role pretty well. And when using professionally, people usually have two of them. Then there is the STM 1800 to complement it for sheet processing. Looking at the MFT/3 - no mention buying it - as a dedicated cutting station makes very little sense indeed. But once in the good-enough-yet-portable talk takes place, it is a whole different discussion.

As for price .. I was just last month disassembling a statically placed workbench. It is was a cheap-as-it-gets setup, yet still $150 worth of material in it that now cannot be reused for original purpose. Plus about 1 workday ($300) for assembly, and 1/2 workday to disassemble so the materials from disassemble did not even pay for the mantime to do so .. Had I instead purchased an MFT, it would be 5 minutes and no wasted time/material for assembly/disassembly.

Yes, now I am in the market for an MFT for a future workshop next year. Whether an MFT/3 or a Paulk-style one. Both go in the $600+ range total cost. And it is justified. My time is not free, and over just two re-build cycles it adds up on the material costs as well. Good stuff is not cheap.

 

[rst]

Yes, no, maybe

 

[luvmytoolz]

The MFT/3 is very explicitly a multi-function table, not a "cutting station". It is a portable flexible work table that can be used to cut on.

Couldn't agree more, I use mine as an invaluable work surface that I can lug around without too much effort and clamp material to that's being worked on. I've never actually used it as a precision cutting surface as others do, I use squares and angles for that when cutting timber. It's not perfect but it's by far the best "luggable" work station I've ever used.

 

[lshj]

Got your point.  I have the festool track saw that I used to cut and rip large board. Cutting large board is not very convenient on table saw unless you have very large extension table.  My point is not about the track saw. It's the MFT. MFT is not cheap for what it is, take quiet some space, not sturdy compared to conventional workbench and have very limited usage, not as good and as easy to use as the table saw for most of the cutting. For ripping or cutting large board, MFT is not big enough either. I just see no point to have the MFT if you have a table saw. 

I just read that using MFT with track saw is good for crosscut for larger board than table saw, maybe that is the real advantage of MFT with track saw.

But, But!
The MFT/3 is very explicitly a multi-function table, not a "cutting station". It is a portable flexible work table that can be used to cut on. As for it not being "stable". Well, it is portable, one needs to look what other *portable* options are out there with comparable flexibility. Not much can best the MFT/3. Even after 30+ years it is on the market. That says something to me.

Being the workbench, it does not take any *additional* space, excepting any needed to store the protractor assembly. The hinge and the rail get out of the way when not in use. Now, I am not saying an MFT/3 is the most economical or best functionality for static shop use. There better options indeed. The Paulk-style setup is probably better for semi-static use and the various firmer workbenches are also a good choice for static use.

But it is a portable, relatively light, and relatively big work surface that can take the cutting station role pretty well. And when using professionally, people usually have two of them. Then there is the STM 1800 to complement it for sheet processing. Looking at the MFT/3 - no mention buying it - as a dedicated cutting station makes very little sense indeed. But once in the good-enough-yet-portable talk takes place, it is a whole different discussion.

As for price .. I was just last month disassembling a statically placed workbench. It is was a cheap-as-it-gets setup, yet still $150 worth of material in it that now cannot be reused for original purpose. Plus about 1 workday ($300) for assembly, and 1/2 workday to disassemble so the materials from disassemble did not even pay for the mantime to do so .. Had I instead purchased an MFT, it would be 5 minutes and no wasted time/material for assembly/disassembly.

Yes, now I am in the market for an MFT for a future workshop next year. Whether an MFT/3 or a Paulk-style one. Both go in the $600+ range total cost. And it is justified. My time is not free, and over just two re-build cycles it adds up on the material costs as well. Good stuff is not cheap.

Totally understood. I think probably I use wood working hand tool a lot. When I first saw the MFT/3 I felt this thing is so unstable and have very little usage as a workbench for hand tool wood worker, more likely an assembly table than a real workbench.  I think you explained it very well.

Recently, I built a workbench using Douglas fir which is cheap, cost $200 for the Dougals fir. But I added two nice bench vise which cost me close to $700 just for the vises alone. The workbench ended up more than 300 lbs and it's very sturdy, but not portable. I think people could built a sturdy workbench within $500 if choose less expensive bench vise. To buy a nice workbench will cost easily several thousand dollars if using hardwood. MFT is relatively cheap compared to that although it's not a fair comparison.

 

[ChuckS]

Yes, no, maybe

You can say that again!

And this answer works for so many questions we've seen on this Forum.

 

[AJD3]

So, I am 54 and a complete and total novice / newcomer to woodworking. I have always been interested in the subject, but life always seemed to have other plans for my time. Recently, the planets aligned, and I had the opportunity to dive in, and love the few things I have been able to learn about.

As I got more into this, I realized that my Worx foldable plastic table would not really work for the types of projects I wanted to make. Like many others, I don't have a ton of space, so I read about my options and ended up deciding to get an MFT and track saw for this purpose - because of my profession, I obsessively protect my hands and just didn't want to get a table saw (even a SawStop... Maybe if I were to win the lottery I could get a Felder with PCS? )

I would say that the MFT / track saw does well for many functions, especially ripping / crosscutting. Getting a side bevel in thicker wood is pretty tricky as the saw's plunge depth is not very deep and I found that there are some considerations with wood positioning that are inherent to the sided-ness of the track saw if you are trying to cut from a certain direction. Lots of good resources and advice out there, but I think many operations would likely be simpler if I had a table saw.

As far as the stability of the MFT is concerned, I haven't had any significant issues. I was thinking about buying the extra leg cross members as a preventative measure, but ended up finding several different options for a support frame / table after seeing Jason Bent's setup. Even Festool has a video series and plans for an MFT cart that looks awesome. ( https://www.festoolusa.com/-/media/...wnloads/buildseries/build-series-4-layout.pdf )

I hope this is helpful - one of the things I like about this subject is that there are always multiple ways to do things and problem-solve.

Cheers!

 

[Michael Kellough]

So, I am 54 and a complete and total novice / newcomer to woodworking. I have always been interested in the subject, but life always seemed to have other plans for my time. Recently, the planets aligned, and I had the opportunity to dive in, and love the few things I have been able to learn about.

As I got more into this, I realized that my Worx foldable plastic table would not really work for the types of projects I wanted to make. Like many others, I don't have a ton of space, so I read about my options and ended up deciding to get an MFT and track saw for this purpose - because of my profession, I obsessively protect my hands and just didn't want to get a table saw (even a SawStop... Maybe if I were to win the lottery I could get a Felder with PCS? )

I would say that the MFT / track saw does well for many functions, especially ripping / crosscutting. Getting a side bevel in thicker wood is pretty tricky as the saw's plunge depth is not very deep and I found that there are some considerations with wood positioning that are inherent to the sided-ness of the track saw if you are trying to cut from a certain direction. Lots of good resources and advice out there, but I think many operations would likely be simpler if I had a table saw.

As far as the stability of the MFT is concerned, I haven't had any significant issues. I was thinking about buying the extra leg cross members as a preventative measure, but ended up finding several different options for a support frame / table after seeing Jason Bent's setup. Even Festool has a video series and plans for an MFT cart that looks awesome. ( https://www.festoolusa.com/-/media/...wnloads/buildseries/build-series-4-layout.pdf )

I hope this is helpful - one of the things I like about this subject is that there are always multiple ways to do things and problem-solve.

Cheers!

With an observant open mind and the willingness to experiment you can overcome most obstacles.

 

[AJD3]

With an observant open mind and the willingness to experiment you can overcome most obstacles.

Most excellent advice; I agree with you 110%!!!

Cheers,
Alex

 

[onocoffee]

So, I am 54 and a complete and total novice / newcomer to woodworking.

Since you're in Pittsburgh, have you heard about the HandTool Haven event happening in May? It's being held in Butler, just north of Pittsburgh May 16-17th.

I think it will be a good event - especially for someone new to the craft. The presenters look like a good range with both YouTuber woodworkers and non-YouTuber woodworkers.

Hand Tool Haven 2026

handtoolhaven.org